Shawn Corey Carter, a.k.a. Jay-Z, Jigga, or Hov/Hova (as in J-Hova King of Rap) is worth $1 billion dollars. He was brought up in poverty on the mean streets of Brooklyn in New York City. Violence and drugs were everywhere. In the early days of his rap career, there were run-ins with the law, time spent on probation, and talk of feuds and disagreements with other rappers.
But is there another side to the toughie that we think Jay-Z is? There certainly is. He is the devoted father of three beautiful children and (after a cheating scandal) he is all loved up with Beyoncé. He has a charitable foundation, a streaming service that donates to charity, and, on a number of occasions, he has ridden to the rescue of people in trouble, be it tax debt, drug addiction, or legal problems.
Here are 15 totally sweet and nice things Jay-Z has done. Prepared to be surprised.
15 He Helped Lil Wayne Pay Massive Tax Bill
Despite the fact that rapper Lil Wayne and Jay-Z were not on the best of terms, Jay-Z helped Lil Wayne pay off some $7.72 million dollars in back taxes dating from 2002 forward. The rapper called Jay-Z a "real friend". The friendship is definitely back on.
14 Following Hurricane Katrina, Jay-Z Donated $1 Million To The Red Cross
In 2005 Hurrican Katrina devastated New Orleans. Flooding, wind damage, and homelessness were the order of the day. Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs pitched in and donated some $1 million to the American Red Cross to help with disaster relief. It was so needed.
13 Just Being Nice Number One: Are You Famous?
So you are a little old lady riding the Subway in New York City and this guy you can't quite place is sitting next to you. You ask him if he's famous. And it turns out to be Jay-Z. Jay-Z riding the subway? Yep. On the way to a gig. You chat a bit and then get a few snaps. 15 minutes of fame, here I come.
12 He Forked Out $1 Million For Rapper DMX Rehab
Jay-Z and rapper troubled rapper DMZ are so not best buds. So, it surprised some when Jay coughed up $1 million to pay for special drug rehab for the singer. Jay-Z also signed DMX to his entertainment agency Roc Nation. Nice one, Jigga. Too bad the Feds got DMX on tax charges.
11 Just Being Nice Number Two: Who Is Jay-Z?
You're a woman at a convention in Atlantic City. You see a bunch of beefy bodyguard types and then a black guy ahead of you in an expensive suit turns and stops, smiling, holding the door open for you. "After you ma'am," he says. You think him very kind. A girl tells you it was Jay-Z. So when you get home you call your son to ask who Jay-Z is.
10 The Shawn Carter Foundation
Jay-Z and his mom Gloria Carter founded the Shawn Carter Foundation. Its specific goal is to raise money to help disadvantaged students further their education. The gala fundraiser in November of 2019 raised $6 million. Hov had a packed house, having sent Rolex watches out as invitations to his VIP friends. Who could say no to that?
9 Just Being Nice Number Three: Paid For Game Food For Strangers
Okay, you're Jay-Z and you are enjoying a Yankees game. You absentmindedly reach into a bag and pop some peanuts into your mouth. Oops. The story goes that the peanuts belonged to the guys sitting next to you. So, you reach into your pocket and buy them food, food, and more food. They were touched and impressed. Every day niceness, we think.
8 Hired Lawyer To Fight Deportation Of English Rapper 21 Savage
UK rapper 21 Savage had been living in the U.S. since he was 7-years-old. His children were all born in America. In 2019 Customs and Immigration got it into their heads that they were going to deport him and slapped him into custody. Jay-Z sent a legal team to help. 21 Savage is back with his kids.
7 His Music Streaming Service Tidal Helps Charities And Artists
Tidal is Jay-Z's music streaming service. It is, trust us, doing very well. It is structured to channel more money back to the artist, which is a nice touch. Like his Foundation, Tidal holds charity concerts and donates the proceeds to charities and disaster relief. Another nice touch. In 2016, it donated $1.5 million to Black Lives Matter.
6 Jay-Z Signs Nas To Record Deal
MTV.com said it was like Shaq and Kobe moving next to one another. What was? Well, when Nas signed a recording deal with Jay-Z led Def Jam Recordings. See, the two guys had this famous feud running for years and years. Peace in a recording studio is a nice thing to behold. Not to mention the profits.
5 Set Up Trust Fund For Sean Bell's Kids After His Death
Sean Bell was shot and killed by police in November of 2006. It was to have been his wedding day. The New York Times reported that not only has Jay-Z employed his fiancé Nicole Paultre Bell in his Rocawear ads, but he also set up an education trust fund for the couples' two young children.
4 On Father's Day, He Posted Bail For Dads So They Could Go Home
In 2017, Beyoncé and Jay-Z welcomed twins Rumi and Sir Carter. That Father's Day, the proud father wrote an op-ed for Time Magazine, saying he planned to donate money to organizations that help bail out black dads in time for their big day. Having grown up poor and been on the wrong side of the law more than once, he knows where he is coming from.
3 Just Being Nice Number Four: Made The Day Of One Baseball Fan
"He was cooler than just about anyone I had ever met ever." That was the reported verdict of a young Yankees fan who sat next to Jay-Z at a game. They chatted for 3 hours and Jay-Z bet him $20 that A-Rod would hit a home run in the 5th inning. Hova lost and paid up with a smile. The verdict? It was a boss evening.
2 Jay-Z/Beyoncé Anonymously Posted Bail For Baltimore Protestors
The Ferguson Protest began Baltimore in response to the police shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. Over 300 protesters were jailed. According to a source that leaked the story, Jay-Z and Beyoncé donated tens of thousands of dollars in bail money anonymously to help out. The incident sparked a vigorous debate over policing methods.
1 Helped To Have Case Against Arrested 6th-Grader Dismissed
Whatever you think about people not standing for the Pledge of Allegiance or the Star-Spangled Banner, you probably think that getting arrested for it is, well, a little extreme. But that's what happened to a 6th-grade student in Lakeland, Florida. Jay-Z's team secured the services of an attorney pro bono to handle the case. The case was dismissed.