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    Jay Z

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    44 Awesome JAY-Z Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

    Here's your essential guide to all things factual about JAY-Z, including his award wins, wealth, collaborations, albums and more.

    1. JAY-Z Mercedes Benz London

      1. JAY-Z actually lived in London during the late 1980s.

      The rapper, who was pictured in a Mercedes Benz, lived in London in 1989. JAY recorded music with Monie Love and soaked in the culture, before moving back to the States. Picture: Instagram

    2. Michael Jackson

      2. Michael Jackson secretly sang on Jay Z's hit single 'Girls, Girls, Girls'.

      "He was on my song ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’, singing these background vocals and I didn’t even put his name on it,” Jay once revealed in an interview with NME.

    3. JAY-Z Graduation Picture

      3. JAY-Z's father left the house when we was 11 or 12-years-old and never returned.

      JAY-Z was forced to become the man of the house at a very young age after his father Adnes Reeves walked out. The pair briefly renunited back in 2003. However Adnes died a few years later from liver disease, developed from a drinking problem. Picture: WENN

    4. Jay Z Reasonable Doubt

      4. 'Reasonable Doubt' was originally called 'Heir To The Throne'.

    5. Beyonce and Jay-Z kiss

      5. Jay Z tries to take Beyonce on a pizza date every Sunday in Brooklyn.

    6. Jay Z and Busta Rhymes

      6. Jay Z and Busta Rhymes went to school together and once battled with each other in their cafeteria.

    7. Jay- Z on the tube

      7. Jay Z rode the subway to a gig in Brooklyn New York.

      Picture: Splash

    8. blue ivy

      8. Jay Z's daughter Blue Ivy featured on his song 'Glory' when she was just two days old.

    9. Jay Z and Chris Martin on the underground

      9. And here he is riding the tube to London's O2 Arena with Coldplay's Chris Martin.

    10. Jay Z with Money

      10. Jay Z is worth $500 million, according to Forbes.

    11. Marvin Gaye

      11. Jay Z's earliest musical memory was listening to his parents copy of Marvin Gaye's albums.

    12. Jay Z and Kanye West- "Otis"

      12. He's used samples of these songs throughout his career, including the Kanye-produced The Blueprint.

    13. Jay Z The Blueprint

      13. He wanted "Heart of The City" to be the first single for The Blueprint.

    14. Jay-Z and Beyonce meet Barack Obama

      14. Despite a close friendship with Barack Obama, he says he will never be a politician.

      Picture: BarackObama Twitter

    15. Radiohead

      15. Radiohead allowed The Roots to sample one of their songs after Jay Z intervened.

    16. Jay-Z Sean P Diddy pose for photo

      16. Jay Z and Diddy both pledged $1 million to the US Red Cross' relief effort after Hurricane Katrina.

    17.  Beyonce and Jay-Z fist bump at Madison Square Garden

      17. In 2009, Jay Z and wife Beyonce were named the most powerful couple in the world.

    18. Barclays Center New York

      18. Up until September 2013, the rapper had a stake in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

    19. Jay Z  attends the Rocawear party

      19. Jay Z founded Rocawear along with Damon Dash. The label's annual revenue is $700 million.

    20. Jay Z 99 Problems

      20. Jay Z writes all his lyrics in his head - he doesn't write any down.

    21. Jay-Z Glastonbury

      21. Jay Z became the first major hip-hop artist to headline Glastonbury Festival in 2008.

    22. Liam and Noel Gallagher

      22. He only decided to cover Oasis' 'Wonderwall' an hour before taking to the Pyramid stage.

    23. Def Jam

      23. Jay Z was president of Def Jam records from 2004-2008.

    24. Rita Ora At British Fashion Awards

      24. He left to form Roc Nation - a collaboration with Live Nation home to artists like Rita Ora.

    25. Hip Hop Beefs

      25. Jay Z and Nas ended their feud at the I Declare War concert in 2005.

    26. Tupac Shakur

      26. Jay Z and Beyonce's ''03 Bonnie & Clyde' samples Tupac's 1996 song 'Me And My Girlfriend'.

      Tupac Shakur

    27. Jay-Z  on stage at T in the Park

      27. Jay Z's name was inspired by his old nickname Jazzy.

    28. Jay Z performs on is tour

      28. Jay Z's mum said he used to keep his family awake banging drum patterns on their kitchen table.

    29. Jay Z and Russell Simmons

      29. Jay Z refers to Russell Simmons as The Godfather.

    30. Jay Z Rolling Stone Magazine

      30. Jay Z is ranked the 88th best artist - of any genre - of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.

    31. Carols Daughter Beauty Products

      31. Jay Z is an investor in Carol's Daughter, a range of beauty products.

    32. Jay Z Press Conference Launch of 40/40 club

      32. Jay Z owns the nightclub 40/40 in New York, which takes its name from the baseball term.

    33. Jay Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith

      33. Jay Z produced the musical Fela! - based on Fela Kuti - with Will and Jada Pinkett Smith.

    34. Roc Nation Logo

      34. And in April 2013 the rapper launched Roc Nation Sports, a sport management group.

    35. Jay Z, Linkin Park and Paul McCartney

      35. Jay Z and Linkin Park were joined by Paul McCartney when they performed at the 2003 Grammy Awards.

    36. Jay Z and Mariah Carey on stage

      36. In 1999, Jay Z dueted with Mariah Carey on a song called 'Heartbreaker'.

    37. FBI Logo

      37. The FBI were called in when Jay Z's single 'Show Me What You Got' leaked online in 2006.

    38. Jay Z Albums

      38. Jay Z has sold 50 million albums worldwide.

    39. Jay Z - 'The Black Album' artwork cover

      39. It was at 40/40 that Jay Z first announced 'The Black Album'.

    40. Roc A Fella lgoo

      40. Jay Z sold records from his car before creating Roc-A-Fella with Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs.

    41. beyonce and jay z

      41. Jay Z is the first artist Beyonce goes to when she records new music to get the rapper's opinion.

    42. Jay Z - Decoded

      42. Jay Z's memoirs, Decoded, were released in November 2010.

    43. Jay Z Picasso Baby Still

      43. Jay Z shot his 'Picasso Baby' in a New York museum over six hours.

    44. Jay Z leaving court

      44. Jay Z's real name is Shawn Corey Carter.

      Picture: Getty

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