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doing multiple takes of a song, he gets maximum production<br />

on minimal time. Jay-Z is a model of efficiency.<br />

• Album Consistency - A byproduct of being a consummate<br />

professional in the studio, Jay-Z has an unusually high<br />

rate of productivity. Reasonable Doubt came out in 1996,<br />

which means that he has been rapping as a professional<br />

for sixteen years. If you count his collaborative albums<br />

with R.Kelly, Linkin Park, and Kanye West, Jay-Z has<br />

released fifteen albums. This neither includes the dozens<br />

of guest appearances he has made on other's songs nor<br />

Jay-Z: Unplugged, his live album with The Roots. Also,<br />

bear in mind that he briefly retired from rap in 2004-05.<br />

So really, he has made fifteen albums in roughly fifteen<br />

years, a solid 1:1 album-to-year ratio. I can honestly say<br />

that all of his solo albums are at least good, but most are<br />

great. Depending on who you ask, at least two of his albums<br />

are classics. By this standard, Jay-Z is arguably the<br />

most prolific modern musician of the moment.<br />

• Stage Hustle - A ticket to a Jay-Z concert anywhere in<br />

the world is a hot item. He doesn't just sell out Madison<br />

Square Garden; he can sell out any venue on the globe.<br />

But Jay-Z has a rabid following for more reasons than<br />

just his name and music. It's because he is an exceptional<br />

performer. Talk to anyone who has ever been to a Jay-Z<br />

concert and they will confirm this. More than just a guy<br />

reciting lyrics on stage, he knows how to engage with an<br />

audience and get them involved with the music. He is a<br />

true showman. Tickets to his concerts may be pricey, but<br />

he makes the experience worth every penny.<br />

• Expanding Roc-A-Fella - Being the co-founder and Ceo<br />

of Roc-A-Fella Records, as well as being The Roc's topselling<br />

artist, brought Jay-Z immense wealth. But rather<br />

than just enjoy the money, he pushed the envelope. He<br />

transformed Roc-A-Fella from a label into a brand. Roc-<br />

A-Fella signed an impressive roster of rappers and did a<br />

masterful job marketing them. They branched out into<br />

fashion with Rocawear and film with RoC films. If it<br />

could turn a profit, they got involved with it.<br />

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