JAY Z isn't just a hip-hop mogul—he's one of the most successful and influential hitmakers of all time, having transformed the pop landscape many times over. Whether spinning Brooklyn street tales on his gritty early albums, storming the charts with futuristic Timbaland and Neptunes productions, or adopting the soulful Roc-A-Fella signature sound with Just Blaze and Kanye West, Shawn Carter has carried himself like a kingpin with the heart of a poet. But even as a wealthy businessman who rubs elbows with world leaders, he speaks his mind bluntly and carries the torch for New York hip-hop.