Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper and current president and CEO of Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella Records. In addition, he co-owns The 40/40 Club, and is owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team. He is one of the most financially successful American hip-hop artists.  Known for his flow and blending of street and popular rap, he has become one of the best-selling rappers in the hip hop industry. He has also received a considerable amount of critical acclaim, with legendary Public Enemy front man Chuck D calling him "the greatest MC of all time" and "the embodiment of all of the MCs up to his point".  He is admired for his ability to compose lyrics without the use of pen and paper(his critically acclaimed album The Blueprint was written in only two days).  He also returned from retirement in late 2006 with the album Kingdom Come which sold 680,000 copies in its first week, his highest-selling album in a one-week period.  Along with Damon "Dame" Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, he was one of the founders of Roc-A-Fella Records, a hip-hop record label.  Jay-Z was recently named the greatest rapper of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. This honor can most likely be attributed to his talents, his financial successes, and his longevity in the forefront of mainstream hip-hop consciousness.  See Jay-Z LIVE!  Purchase your Jay-Z tickets today!