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Jay-Z

Date: Dec 08 2003

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Jay-Z is, without a doubt, one of the biggest stars in the world of hip-hop. After the deaths of the Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., he rose to the top of the rap game. He has since become one of the most prominent and most wealthy people in the music business.
Jay-Z recently released a new album entitled The Black Album. He says that it’s the last album he’ll ever make. Read on to learn more about it.

Dialog

1. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Shawn Carter was born in Brooklyn, New York on December 4, 1969. He is now known by his nickname, Jay-Z. He first started making music in the 1980s, and became very popular in the 1990s. He has now sold over 17 million albums and become a very successful entrepreneur. In addition to music, he also has a popular clothing line called Rocawear, a movie company called Roc-a-Fella Films and a restaurant/bar in New York City called 40/40 Club.
There are many things that set him apart from other rappers, but the most important thing about Jay-Z is his honesty and his ability to express his true feelings in his music. Rap fans all over the world feel connected to Jay-Z, because he tells it like it is and he always seems very sincere.
The Black Album features many great songs and is full of interesting and entertaining stories about Jay-Z’s life. In the first single from the album, “Change Clothes,” he asks for support from the people who love him and offers his support to them as well. Check out some of the lyrics:
Tell the whole world the truth is back
You ain’t got to argue about who could rap
Cause the proof is back
Just go through my raps
New York, New York
Yeah, where my troopers at
Where my hustlers where my boosters at
I don’t care what you do for stacks
I know the world glued your back to the wall

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Discussion

I like Jay-Z a lot. I definitely think he is up there with the best rappers of all time. If I honestly believed that The Black Album was going to be his last album, I’d probably be a little bit sad. But I don’t believe it. Jay-Z is too popular. He’s too successful. And, he’s too smart. He’d be leaving too much money on the table if he never made another album.
If you’re a rap fan, you should check out The Black Album. Every song on the album is worth listening to.
You can learn more about Jay-Z at www.rocafella.com
Rock on,
Migs