On Jay-Z's hit single "Girls, Girls, Girls," an uncredited Michael Jackson can be heard singing background vocals.

Blue Ivy Carter was born at New York's Lenox Hill Hospital on January 7, 2012. Jay-Z released "Glory", a song dedicated to his daughter, two days later. The song detailed the couple's pregnancy struggles, including a miscarriage Beyoncé had suffered. Blue's cries were included at the end of the song and she was officially credited as "B.I.C", making her the youngest person ever (at two days old) to appear on a Billboard chart when "Glory" debuted at No. 74 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

On October 27, 2005, Jay-Z headlined New York's Power 105.1 annual concert, Powerhouse. The concert was entitled the "I Declare War" concert leading to intense speculation in the weeks preceding the event on whom exactly Jay-Z would declare war. The theme of the concert was Jay-Z's position as President and CEO of Def Jam, complete with an on-stage mock-up of the Oval Office. At the conclusion of the concert, Jay-Z put many arguments to rest to the surprise of hip hop fans. The most significant development was closure to the infamous hip hop rivalry between Jay-Z and Nas. The two former rivals shook hands and shared the stage together to perform Jay-Z's "Dead Presidents" blended with Nas's song "The World is Yours".

Along with Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jay-Z pledged $1 million to the American Red Cross' relief effort after Hurricane Katrina.

When Jay-Z founded Roc Nation Sports in 2013, his first major move was signing New York Yankees All-Star second baseman Robinson Canó.

He reworked Tidal and relaunched it as a high definition streaming service that attempts to divert revenue back to the actual artists themselves.

Jay-Z became the first rapper ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million.