BALLER: JAY-Z

JAY-Z’s influence is everywhere in hip-hop, from his early, incendiary work as an artist to his impressive career as a music exec (from his Roc-a-Fella roots to president of Def Jam and founder-leader of Roc Nation) and billionaire entrepreneur.

A magician of an MC with an acrobatic flow and uncanny storytelling powers, he has maintained and expanded the narrative of the music and culture in all his endeavors. He has leveraged his relationship with the NFL to ensure Black music has a proper perch at some of the most-watched events in the world.

No one person can fully embody hip-hop’s growth from underground phenomenon to the world’s biggest cultural form, but Mr. Carter comes as close as anyone could.