The following year's 'The Dynasty: Roc La Familia 2000', another US chart-topper, was originally planned as a supergroup collaboration with fellow Roc-A-Fella rappers Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek and Amil. Carter' confirmed his status as one of hip-hop's most popular artists when it topped the album charts the following month.

On the highway of life, nigga its sharp in my sight. Intuition is there even when my visions impaired, yeah. Im stevie wonder with, beads under the doo-rag. Despite a hectic schedule as a guest producer/writer and rapper, Jay-Z still found the time to enter the studio and record tracks for his new album. The theme song to (the sopranos) Plays in the key of life on my, mental piano. 2: Hard Knock Life' easily succeeded in its aim, staying at US number 1 for five weeks, before finally being deposed by Alanis Morissette's new album. Guest rappers included DMX, Foxy Brown and Too $hort, on a package that diluted Jay-Z's hard-hitting lyrical edge in an attempt to corner the crossover market. The album of the same name featured hotshot producer Timbaland (aka 'Timbaland'), in addition to the usual team of Ski and DJ Premier. One of the more bizarre samples to be used on a hip-hop track, the single nevertheless became an international hit (UK number 2, December 1998/US number 15, March 1999).

' and 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)', the latter built around a line from the musical, 'Annie'. Jay-Z then became a major star with the hit singles, 'Can I Get A.

The gold-selling soundtrack introduced several of Roc-A-Fella's rising stars, including Memphis Bleek, Rell and Diamonds N' Ruff, and featured the hit single, 'It's Alright'. Although in demand as a guest artist, Jay-Z found the time to write, produce, and direct the semi-autobiographical short, 'Streets is Watching'. Featuring guest appearances from Sean 'Diddy' Combs (aka 'Puff Daddy'), Lil' Kim, Too $hort, Blackstreet and DJ Premier, this sombre and intensely personal album included the stand-out tracks, 'You Must Love Me' and 'Where I'm From'. 1', was released in the aftermath of The Notorious B.I.G.'s murder, and debuted at US number 3 in November 1997. His debut set, 'Reasonable Doubt', which reached US number 23 in July, attracted fans with a mixture of hard-hitting street lyrics and rhymes, epitomized by the collaboration with The Notorious B.I.G. Drawing on Jaz's dealings with mercenary labels, Jay-Z set up his own Roc-A-Fella imprint in 1996 with entrepreneur 'Damon Dash' and 'Kareem 'Biggs' Burke'. In 1990, he appeared on records by his close friend, Jas ('The Originators') and Original Flavor ('Can I Get Open'), and later scored an underground hit single with 1995's 'In My Lifetime'. He first started releasing records in the late 1980s. Carter was a school friend of The Notorious B.I.G. Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter on Decemin Brooklyn, New York City, New York.

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