英语名人堂：Jay-Z

 Jay-Z（1969年12月4日－），本名Shawn Corey Carter，美国嘻哈歌手、唱片制作人、企业家。歌手生涯共发行了18张大碟，全球销量达到7500万。在Billboard专辑榜上的冠军专辑数达13张（历史第二，超越猫王，仅次于披头士）。而他的音乐作品共获得17项格莱美奖。

1996年，Jay-Z推出处女大碟《Reasonable Doubt》，1996年到2003年，Jay-Z每年都发行一张专辑，此后他担任了Def Jam唱片公司的总裁，随后与Live Nation合作创立了Roc Nation。

在2008年4月4日与碧昂丝结婚。2012年1月7日女儿布鲁·艾薇出世。

Jay-Z被MTV评为“有史以来最伟大的说唱歌手”第一名。滚石则将其评为最伟大的艺术家的第八十八位。

 

Jay-Z is a rap artist and former CEO of the record label Def Jam Recordings². He co-owns the American basketball team the New Jersey³ Nets. He has successfully expanded his career as a rapper into the wider business world as a recording¹ executive. Jay-Z released his tenth album in 2007, making him one of rap’s most prolific⁴ artists. 

 

Jay-Z was born as Shawn Carter in Brooklyn in 1969. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood. His father abandoned him when he was 11 and he shot his brother in the shoulder when he was 12. He went to high school with fellow rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. Jay-Z was interested in drum rhythms and writing lyrics⁵ from a young age.

 

Carter’s nickname was "Jazzy", which eventually developed into his stage name, "Jay-Z". He appeared on several hip-hop artists’ records in the late 1980s. Other rappers recognized his ability to rap and he recorded his first single in 1995. He was unable to secure a contract and founded Roc-A-Fella Records. He released his debut⁶ album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in 1996, to critical acclaim⁷.

 

Jay-Z turned into one of rap’s biggest stars over the next decade. He invested a lot of time into developing his business interests. He developed a hip-hop clothing line called Rocawear and received ‘GQ’ magazine’s International Man of the Year award. He also co-owns an American sports bar chain and has got into property development. Jay-Z married R&B star Beyonce in 2008.

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 recordings   

n.记录( recording的名词复数 )；录音；录像；唱片

参考例句：

• a boxed set of original recordings 一套盒装原声录音带
• old jazz recordings reissued on CD 以激光唱片重新发行的老爵士乐

3 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

4 prolific   

adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的

参考例句：

• She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。
• The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

5 lyrics   

n.歌词

参考例句：

• music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hart 由罗杰斯和哈特作词作曲
• The book contains lyrics and guitar tablatures for over 100 songs. 这本书有100多首歌的歌词和吉他奏法谱。

6 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

7 acclaim   

v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞

参考例句：

• He was welcomed with great acclaim.他受到十分热烈的欢迎。
• His achievements earned him the acclaim of the scientific community.他的成就赢得了科学界的赞誉。