What was Jay-Z’s childhood like?

He was raised in Marcy Houses, a housing project in Brooklyn’s Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood. After their father, Adnis Reeves, abandoned the family, Jay-Z and his three siblings were raised by their mother, Gloria Carter. Reeves would later meet and reconcile with Jay-Z shortly before dying in 2003.

What age was Jay-Z when he blew up?

Jay Z – There are many reasons that Jay Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, is viewed as a classic. Included among them is the fact that Hov had a wealth life experience to draw from, since he dropped the disc at the age of 26. (Photo: Ron Smits/London Ent/Splash News)

What did Jay-Z fail at?

Jay Z himself dropped out of high school, despite showing a great deal of potential, to sell crack to make money. He even shot his brother in the shoulder once during an argument. Luckily, Jay Z was able to turn some of this depravity into art.

How did Jay-Z get his start?

Born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969, Jay-Z grew up in Brooklyn’s drug-infested Marcy Projects. He used rap as an escape, and appeared on Yo! MTV Raps in 1989. After selling millions of records with his own Roc-A-Fella label, Jay-Z created his own clothing line.