Jay-Z (Shawn Corey Carter)

Music is a huge part of my life. I may not play an instrument, sing or rap, but music and hip-hop specifically is a big part of who I am. Although I have an enormous amount of respect and love for hip-hop as a whole, I especially love Jay-Z. He just put out his eleventh album and it went number one in its first week. He just passed Elvis by having more number one albums in Billboard history. I'm not sure if anyone else recognizes how amazing that is but I do. Although he has a huge amount of success with the music he's made he is not just known for making music.

Over the last thirteen years Jay-Z has built an empire. He has created two different record labels, was the CEO of Def Jam, has a very successful clothing company, makes champagne, cosmetics, he is also the owner of sports clubs 40/40 and part owner of the NBA team the New Jersey Nets. That's not even all of his accomplishments. He has showed that you can come from virtually nothing and make it all the way to the top.

My love and respect for him is beyond most people's. He is an amazing artist and businessman.