Jay Z: From Rags to RichesShawn Carter, formally known as Jay Z, is the biggest entrepreneur in the Hip-Hop/Rap

industry today. He started out at the bottom of society living in a poor community in Brooklyn, New York. He came from absolutely noting and today he is one of the richest African Americans in the world. He is considered to be one of the greatest rappers ever by numerous credible sources and also has produced some of the greatest rap albums of all time. His story seems cliché but he is the epitome of coming from nothing because of how much he has accomplished.He has not always been the entrepreneur that he is today though. For example, he started off his career young and ignorant. He had a more “gangster” or “thug” look to him back when he first got a name for himself. He did not just look the part but also acted the part out also because he was charged with assault in 1999 and was arrested for having an unlicensed gun in 2001.

Since then Jay Z has been nothing but a top rapper and distinguished philanthropist. He is involved in such a wide variety of businesses and different accommodations in the world today it is amazing. He is one of the most powerful men in the world because of all the entrepreneurship he has done over the course of his career. He uses his music and tours to get messages out and to sometimes increase people’s awareness for certain issues. He does not make his fortune only through his music though. Actually most of his money is made through many different things like sports, clothing lines, and other companies.

I used one of McCloud Transitions, moment to moment, to illustrate one moment in Jay Z’s life when he was a “thug” to another moment when he became a sophisticated businessman. Another transition I used from McCloud is the Non–Sequitur, where I use this for the last two slides to try and portray one last time how powerful Jay Z has become today. Jay Z is the most powerful Rapper in the industry today. He represents an empire or business side of music instead of the classic thug or rebellious side.

Jay Z as a Young “Thug”

New York City

Sophisticated Jay Z

Sophisticated Jay Z on the Cover or Time Magazine

Jay Z’s Wife Beyonce

Jay Z’s Daughter Blue Ivory

The All Seeing Eye

Recording Studio

President Barack Obama

Kevin Durant

Video Game Controller

Roc-a-Fella Records Members

Volume Button

IPod Headphones

CEO Desk

Money, Shoe, and Party Cup

Jay Z and Justin Timberlake

Jay Z the Business Man