Born Shawn Corey Carter December 4, 1969, American rapper better known as Jay-Z is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America. Being that he is the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records. Currently co-owns The 40/40 Club and the New Jersey Nets NBA team. Jay –Z has sold over 26 million units in the U.S. and 50 million copies worldwide. His album The Blueprint was written in only two days. Jay-Z announced retirement from recording music in 2003, and then later returned in late 2006 selling 680,000 copies in the first week of release with the album Kingdom Come. Kingdom Come was Jay-Z’s highest-selling album in a one-week period. The New York Times announced that Jay-Z is on the verge of a partnership with Live Nation which is a live event company based in Beverly Hills California for $150 million. This by far was one of the most expensive contracts ever awarded to a musician. Jay-Z has been with long-time girlfriend Beyoncé Knowles since 2002, though until very recently they have tried to stay out of the public eye as far as their relationship is concerned. They just got married on April 4, 2008.