Jay-Z: Top 50 Songs

Jay-Z Top 50 Songs

Rap singer, record executive, and entrepreneur born Shawn Corey Carter on 12/4/1969 in Brooklyn, NY. He grew up in a public housing project, raised by his mother. His father abandoned the family. He dropped out of high school during his sophomore year, started selling drugs, and was shot three times. He founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1994 and released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, in 1996. He holds the record for most #1 albums by a solo artist (14) on the Billboard album chart. He has sold 140 million records and won 24 Grammy Awards. In 2023, he was named the greatest rapper of all time by both Billboard and Vibe magazines. As an entrepreneur, he founded the clothing retailer Rocwear in 1999 and 40/40 Club, a luxury bar chain, in 2003. In 2008, he launched Roc Nation, a multi-disciplinary entertainment agency. In 2019, he became the first hip-hop billionaire. As of 2023, he has a net worth of 2.5 billion, making him the wealthiest musical artist in the world. In 2008, he married R&B/pop singer Beyoncé Knowles. Above information based on Wikipedia bio. Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Jay-Z Bio on Wikipedia Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists”

Awards:

Top 50 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs on which Jay-Z appeared as a guest artist are noted with an asterisk (*). DMDB Top 1%: 1. Crazy in Love (with Beyoncé, 2003) * 2. Umbrella (with Rihanna, 2007) * 3. Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z with Alicia Keys, 2009) DMDB Top 2%: 4. 99 Problems (2003) 5. N****s in Paris (with Kanye West, 2011) DMDB Top 5%: 6. Drunk in Love (with Beyoncé, 2003) 7. Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (1998) 8. Run This Town (with Rihanna & Kanye West, 2009) 9. Big Pimpin’ (with UGK, 2000) DMDB Top 10%: 10. Numb/Encore (with Linkin Park, 2004) 11. Suit & Tie (with Justin Timberlake, 2013) * 12. Izzo (H.O.V.A. (2001) 13. Holy Grail (with Justin Timberlake, 2013) 14. Heartbreaker (with Mariah Carey, 1999) * 15. ’03 Bonnie & Clyde (with Beyoncé, 2002) 16. Otis (with Kanye West & Otis Redding, 2011) 17. Déjà Vu (with Beyoncé, 2006) * DMDB Top 20%: 18. Monster (with Kanye West, Rick Ross, Bon Iver, & Nicki Minaj, 2010) * 19. Dirt Off Your Shoulder (2003) 20. Can I Get a… (with Amil & Ja Rule, 1998) 21. Clique (with Kanye West & Big Sean, 2012) * 22. Apeshit (with Beyoncé, 2018) 23. All the Way Up (remix) (with Fat Joe, Remy Ma, French Montana, & Infrared, 2016) * 24. Beware of the Boys (Mundian to Bach Ke) (with Pan’Jabi MC, 2003) * 25. Frontin’ (with Pharrell Williams, 2003) * 26. The Story of O.J. (2017) 27. Swagga Like Us (with Kanye West & Lil Wayne, 2008) 28. Lost! (with Coldplay, 2008) * 29. I Just Wanna Luv U (Give It 2 Me) (2000) 30. No Church in the Wild (with Kanye West, 2011) 31. Talk That Talk (with Rihanna, 2011) * 32. Roc Boys (And the Winner Is) (2007) 33. DOA (Death of Auto-Tune) (2009) 34. Show Me What You Got (2006) 35. Change Clothes (2003) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 36. Young Forever (with Mr. Hudson, 2009) 37. Excuse Me Miss (2003) 38. On to the Next One (with Swizz Beatz, 2009) 39. 4:44 (2017) 40. H*A*M (with Kanye West, 2011) 41. Fiesta Remix (with R. Kelly, Boo & Gotti, 2001) * 42. Girls Girls Girls (2001) 43. God Did (with DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Lil’ Wayne, John Legend, & Fridayy, 2022) * 44. Mood 4 Eva (with Beyoncé , Childish Gambino, and Oumou Sangaré, 2019) * 45. Love All (with Drake, 2021) * 46. Get By (with Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Kanye West, & Busta Rhymes, 2002) * 47. What’s Free (with Meek Mill & Rick Ross, 2018) * 48. Pound Cake (with Drake, 2013) * 49. Talk Up (with Drake, 2018) * 50. I’ll Be (with Foxy Brown, 1997) * Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Jay-Z Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 12/3/2023; last updated 12/4/2023.

Jay-Z hit #1 with “Empire State of Mind”

Empire State of Mind Jay-Z with Alicia Keys

Writer(s): Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Alexander Shuckburgh, Burt Keyes, Janet "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic, Shawn Carter, Sylvia Robinson (see lyrics here) Released: October 20, 2009 First Charted: September 19, 2009 Peak: 15 US, 5 RR, 39 A40, 13 RB, 2 UK, 3 CN, 4 AU, 10 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 5.51 US, 0.77 UK, 6.49 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 0.4 radio, 213.07 video, 767.29 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: “Empire State of Mind” was written by Angela Hunte and Jane’t Sewell Ulepic as a tribute to their hometown of New York City. They wrote it while overseas in London and feeling homesick. They submitted the song to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label and it was initially rejected. However, EMI’s Jon Platt heard the track at a barbeque and sent it to Jay-Z again. Jay-Z kept the singing part of the hook, but changed the verses. WK Initially Hunte was still going to sing the hook, but she suggested Alicia Keys. WK Because of the track’s piano loops based on a riff from the Moments’ “classic 1970 soul ballad ‘Love on a Two-Way Street,’” SS Jay-Z wanted Key’s piano and vocal talents. He called her and said, “I feel like I have this record that’s going to be the anthem of New York…and it couldn’t be the anthem of New York without you.” WK She went by the studio and listened to it and, as she said, “I really felt the energy of New York all through it…I said ‘I love it, so let’s do it.’” SF The song allowed Jay-Z and Alicia Keys “to shout the praises of the city in which both…had been raised.” SS Complex magazine agreed with Jay-Z’s assessment, saying that the song “has replaced Frank Sinatra’s ‘New York, New York’ as the city’s go-to anthem.” WK The New York Racing Association concurred when they replaced “New York, New York” with “Empire State of Mind” as the opening song at the 142nd running of the Belmont Stakes. WK The song also got attention during the New York Yankees’ World Series run and Jay-Z performed it at their victory parade. SF The song was Jay-Z’s fourth time to reach the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100, but his first time as a lead artist. WK The song was a top ten hit in Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. WK The song won Grammys for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Entertainment Weekly named it the best single of 2009. WK Resources: SF Songfacts SS Steve Sullivan (2013). Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings (Volumes I & II). Scarecrow Press: Lanham, Maryland. Page 726. WK Wikipedia Related Links: Last updated 6/20/2023.