Everything you need to know about Jay-Z's past as he faces sexual assault accusations

Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter on December 4, 1969, is a global icon in music and entertainment, with a life marked by extraordinary achievements beyond his legendary music career.

Jay-Z has recently been named in a civil lawsuit alleging involvement in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in 2000, alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. The case, initially filed in October, has drawn widespread attention following its amendment to include the rapper.

He launched his career with Reasonable Doubt (1996) under Roc-A-Fella Records, which he co-founded. Since then, he has sold over 140 million records and won 24 Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded artists in hip-hop history.

Beyond music, Jay-Z built a vast business empire, co-founding Roc Nation, venturing into fashion, and acquiring a streaming platform.

Jay-Z’s childhood in Brooklyn’s Marcy housing projects was tough but formative. He recalled in a 2010 NPR interview: "There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around...and suddenly it would turn just violent...one day, your best friend could be killed. The day before, you could be celebrating him getting a brand-new bike."

Music provided solace, inspired by his parents’ record collection featuring legends like Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, sparking his love for rhymes and rhythm.

By age nine, Jay-Z was drawn to freestyle rap, experimenting with his parents' record player and learning from local rappers. As a teenager, he wrote rhymes on paper bags, sharpening his memory and lyrical skills.

In his youth, Jay-Z was exposed to street life and involved in drug dealing in Trenton, New Jersey. A trip to London to record with mentor Jaz-O helped him escape when a secret indictment led to the arrest of 30 friends. He credits his survival to timing and luck.

One of his remarkable talents is memorizing lyrics instead of writing them. This skill began in his youth, allowing him to freestyle entire albums by the time he recorded his debut at 26. However, he has admitted to losing albums' worth of material by forgetting his verses.

Jay-Z’s business ventures span fashion (Rocawear), liquor (Armand de Brignac champagne, D'Ussé cognac), streaming (Tidal), and sports (Roc Nation Sports), making him a billionaire. His partnership with the NFL for halftime shows and social justice initiatives further demonstrates his influence.

In his personal life, Jay-Z reconciled with his father, Adnis Reeves, after years of estrangement. Encouraged by his mother, he expressed his pain and disappointment during their reunion, which brought healing. Sadly, his father passed away soon after, but Jay-Z honored him by buying and furnishing an apartment.

Jay-Z’s intellectual side is equally impressive. Excelling academically as a child, he scored at 12th-grade reading levels in sixth grade. His love for literature, including classics like The Odyssey and Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, shapes his storytelling, evident in his socially conscious and philosophical lyrics.