Beefs (13)
VS
Jadakiss dissed Jay-Z on Why (2004). One of the notable beefs of the era.
"Why is Jigga lyrics getting accepted and mine not" · Why, 2004
VS
KRS-One dissed Jay-Z for commercializing hip-hop.
"Jay-Z is entertainment not hip-hop" · Interview, 2007
VS
Basketball rivalry at NYC Entertainment Basketball Classic escalated into recorded diss exchanges about commercial success.
VS
DMX and Jay-Z had a history of competition from a 1993 rap battle, and tensions resurfaced when Jay-Z became president of Def Jam in 2004.
VS
Conflict stemmed from years of tension and subliminal jabs before Jay-Z dropped Game's name while performing The Blueprint 3 intro, prompting Game to release the diss track 'I'm So Wavy'.
VS
Beanie Sigel felt disrespected by Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records over contract disputes and perceived slights regarding his position in the label hierarchy.
VS
Brief tension between Biggie and Jay-Z over East Coast hip-hop supremacy and business dealings, though largely overshadowed by larger conflicts.
VS
Gucci sent subliminal jabs at Jay-Z during his feud with Jeezy, referencing Jay's fiancée Beyoncé.
VS
Drake came for Jay-Z on Iceman (2026) — two songs worth of shots, telling OGs "the jig is up" and turning down a hypothetical dinner.
"I'll take $500K, not the dinner, I never could learn shit from none of y'all." · Whisper My Name, 2026
Collab
Kanye West
Collab
Watch the Throne (2011). Blueprint 2 collabs. Later fell out publicly.
Pharrell Williams
Collab
Neptunes produced Excuse Me Miss, N***a What, multiple tracks.
Timbaland
Collab
Big Pimpin, Dirt Off Your Shoulder. Blueprint era collaboration.
Just Blaze
Collab
Core Blueprint producer. The Takeover, N***a Please.
No I.D.
Collab
No I.D. executive produced Jay-Z's 4:44.
Hit-Boy
Collab
Hit-Boy produced N****s in Paris and 4:44 co-production.
UGK
Collab
Big Pimpin' (2000). Jay-Z with UGK — landmark South-North collab.
Young Jeezy
Collab
Go Crazy (Jay-Z and Jeezy). Blueprint 3 era.
Swizz Beatz
Collab
On to the Next One. Swizz produced multiple Jay-Z tracks.
Nipsey Hussle
Collab
Jay-Z and Nipsey worked together. Jay-Z was deeply affected by his death.
Lauryn Hill
Collab
Rap/R&B crossover era peers. Jay-Z and Lauryn moved in same NYC circles.
Wyclef Jean
Collab
Two Wrongs — Jay-Z and Wyclef collab. Late 90s NY connection.
Dave
Collab
Dave samples and references Jay-Z. UK rap acknowledges US hip-hop roots.
Foxy Brown
Collab
Ain't No N***a (1996) — debut collab with Jay-Z launched Foxy's career.
Big Pun
Collab
Capital Punishment features Jay-Z collab. 90s NY rap crossover.
Childish Gambino
Collab
Donald Glover appeared in projects with Jay-Z adjacent circle.
Missy Elliott
Collab
Got Ur Self A Gun (Sopranos). Roc-A-Fella/Bad Boy era collabs.
Aaliyah
Collab
Are You Feeling Me and other tracks. Both Atlantic/Def Jam orbit.
Erykah Badu
Collab
Jay-Z and Erykah Badu moved in same late-90s NY/ATL artistic circles.
Big L
Collab
Big L and Jay-Z battled and recorded together in Harlem.
Irv Gotti
Collab
Irv Gotti produced early Jay-Z records before Murder Inc.
Jermaine Dupri
Collab
Jermaine Dupri and Jay-Z collaborated. So So Def connection.
DJ Khaled
Collab
Multiple anthems together across the 2010s. Khaled was a key connector for Jay-Z collabs.
Mentored
Big Daddy Kane
Mentored
Big Daddy Kane mentored Jay-Z. Kane is his biggest influence.
Signed
Def Jam Recordings
Signed
Jay-Z became Def Jam president/CEO 2004-2008.
Megan Thee Stallion
Signed
Roc Nation management deal. Backed Megan in label dispute with 1501.
Beanie Sigel
Signed
Signed Beanie Sigel to Roc-A-Fella. The Reason, The Truth.
Freeway
Signed
Signed Freeway to Roc-A-Fella. Philadelphia Freeway.
Jadakiss
Signed
The LOX signed to Roc-A-Fella / Def Jam. Jay-Z co-signed them.
Produced
DJ Premier
Produced
D'Evils on Reasonable Doubt. Premier/Jay-Z early collab.
Bink!
Produced
Bink! produced multiple Roc-A-Fella tracks for Jay-Z including Blueprint era.
The Neptunes
Produced
The Neptunes produced multiple Jay-Z tracks.
Founded
Roc-A-Fella Records
Founded
Co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 with Damon Dash.
Roc Nation
Founded
Founded Roc Nation in 2008 after leaving Def Jam CEO role.
Damon Dash
Founded
Co-founded Roc-A-Fella with Dame Dash. Split publicly in 2004.
Friendship
The Notorious B.I.G.
Friendship
Close friends. Jay-Z has called Biggie the greatest rapper ever.
MF DOOM
Friendship
DOOM cited as influence by many in Jay-Z's world. Underground/mainstream bridge.
Rakim
Friendship
Jay-Z has cited Rakim as one of the greatest. Same NY lyrical tradition.
Fugees
Friendship
The Fugees and Jay-Z are both defining acts of the mid-90s NY hip-hop scene.
L.A. Reid
Friendship
L.A. Reid and Jay-Z industry peers for decades.
J. Prince
Friendship
J. Prince and Jay-Z are music industry power brokers.
Media
Drink Champs
Media
Legendary Drink Champs episode. Revealed Tidal details, 4:44 insights.
Rap Radar
Media
Rap Radar long-form Jay-Z interview.
Discography
Studio Albums
Reasonable Doubt
1996
In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
1997
Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
1998
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter
1999
The Dynasty: Roc La Familia
2000
The Blueprint
2001
The Best of Both Worlds
2002
The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse
2002
The Black Album
2003
Unfinished Business
2004
Kingdom Come
2006
American Gangster
2007
The Blueprint 3
2009
DJ Hero: Renegade Edition
2009
Watch the Throne
2011
Magna Carta… Holy Grail
2013
4:44
2017
Mixtapes
S. Carter Collection
2003
Operation Desert Storm, Part 2
2003
God's Black
2004
The Purple Album
2004
Serious Business DJ Clue & Keyz Collaboration
2005
God’s Gift: The Nas/Jay-Z Project
2005
Brooklyn Soul
2007
The Latin Album
2007
My President Is Black
2008
Jay-Z Sings the Blues “The Forgotten Stories”
2008
A Prelude to Blueprint 3
2009
Creative Control
2010
Before Reasonable Doubt: The Demos
2015
The Black Gangster
2015
EPs
Hustlers EP
1996
Collabo EP
2002
Collision Course
2004