How Did Jay Z Impact The World
Jay-Z, His Upbringing, and Impact on the World
Blake Soulet
Walden University
Jay-z, His Upbringing, and Impact on the World For hundreds of years, individuals and our world have always had an impact on others and their respective societies. From artists to world leaders, the world never ceases to create individuals who strive to be the best they can be and impact others. One person that has strived to be the best he could be and impact others is Jay-Z. Jay-Z, a drug dealer, turned rapper, turned businessman, has had an incredible journey to success that is deserving of a movie, depicting the life in times of Jay-Z. The purpose of this manuscript is to decode the life of Jay-Z. He is a person I feel has been very influential on others …show more content…
in society. I first heard of Jay-Z when I was a child. He was a famous rapper that came from poverty, and living the American Dream. I am 22 now, and Jay-Z he is more successful than ever before.
He is also known by many people throughout the United States and different parts of the world. From hustling in the streets, to hustling to the top of the music charts, and hustling his way into the boardroom, Jay-Z has become “one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in America with an estimated net worth of $500 million” (Jay-Z). While millions of dollars have accumulated in Jay-Z’s bank account over the years, they do not tell the whole story of the person behind the success and impact on others, which is what this manuscript will do. I found that a lot goes into the makeup of Jay-Z, a very complex person, but what I did not know is how he got that way. With the help of Zach O’Malley Greenburg’s biography, Empire State of Mind, I will discuss that in several sections throughout this manuscript. The first section of this manuscript, Jay-Z’s Nature versus Nurture, will discuss the influences of each on his life. The next section, Jay-Z’s Major Domains of Development (e.g., cognitive, physical, and social-emotional), will provide an analysis of how each played a role in his …show more content…
life. The third section, Major Milestones and Turning Points, will discuss influential moments in Jay-Z’s life, along with a theory that best explains each. The following section, Impact of Diversity, handles how diversity (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status) made a difference in Jay-Z’s life. Finally, I will present a conclusion section.
Jay-Z’s Nature versus Nurture Each person is a byproduct of their nature (e.g., genetics) and nurture (e.g., environment), and Jay-Z is no different (Berk, 2010, p. 7). In this section, I am going to go back to the beginning of his existence, with (a) birth and early life, and then discuss how (b) nature and (c) nurture influenced whom he is. Birth and Early Life Jay-Z’s real name is Shawn Corey Carter. He was born December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn New York (Greenburg, 2011, p. 1). Growing up in the Marcy housing projects, Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) was his country, and Brooklyn was his planet (J., 2010, p. 4). His mother, Gloria Carter, said that when she gave birth to Jay-Z, she knew he was a special child because he was the only one who did not give her any pain when he was born (Greenburg, 2011, p. 13). That assumption would set the tone for the rest of his life, especially growing up in a rough neighborhood.
Nature
Early on, Jay-Z began showing just how special he was. At four years old, he taught himself how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle (Greenburg, 2011, p. 13). People were amazed at what he was doing, and it was in that moment that Jay-Z felt famous and, he loved it (Greenburg, 2011, p. 13). His experience as a youngster, without much formal training, showed that his nature had a positive impact on him. The inborn biological information he received from his parents was high quality, which, allowed him to excel at such a young age, but things would change, and nurture would begin to affect his development.
Nurture
When Jay-Z was 10, his father, Adnis Reeves, left the family (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14). With his father gone, Jay-Z plummeted. In his own words, he was, “A kid torn apart once his pop disappeared” (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14). His mother tried to help him, but it did not work (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14). Like many kids, Jay-Z was hurt by his father leaving, which made him determined to be nothing like him, and put up a wall so thick that no one else could hurt him (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14).
Jay-Z’s Major Domains of Development The three major domains of development all play important roles in the transformation of Jay-Z. The next section will analyze how (a) cognitive, (b) physical, and (c) social-emotional development has each contributed to make Jay-Z whom he is today.
Cognitive
For clarification, Cognitive development can be seen through changes in intellectual abilities (Berk, 2010, p. 9). As a child, Jay-Z’s intellectual abilities increased because knew the importance of hard work and discipline. Claiming himself to be the best rapper alive, he had developed an outstanding repertoire for improving himself and living up to his statement (J., 2010, p. 7). The hard paid off. By the time he was a teen he was mastering complex language skills and reading the dictionary to build his vocabulary (Greenburg, 2011, p. 2). Jay-Z was good at rhyming, but he did not know how to make money off of that. To survive, he turned to drug dealing. The lessons he learned from the drug game, were like receiving a practical education, better than any four year business degree from the top schools (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20). Growing up in the streets did a number on Jay-Z’s cognitive development. His exceptional rhyming skills and innate ability to hustle set him apart from everyone else. Physical Physical development can be seen through changes in body size, proportions, appearance, functioning of body systems, perceptual and motor capacities, and physical health (Berk, 2010, p. 9). The biggest physical event for Jay-Z was growing up in the projects. When he was 15 years old, he was already out on his own (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20). Social–Emotional Social-Emotional development can be seen through changes in emotional communication, self-understanding, knowledge about people, interpersonal skills, friendships intimate relationships, and moral reasoning and behavior (Berk, 2010, p. 9). Jay-Z’s social–emotional development was very important in his life. From learning to rap at a young age, he discovered his voice before he even attended high school (J., 2010, p. 7). Right at the time when kids go through the emotional mental conflict of industry versus inferiority, Jay-Z’s self-esteem was high because of his rapping abilities (Berk, 2010, p. 330; J., 2010, p. 5). Another important aspect of Jay-Z’s social – emotional development was his moral development. Selling drugs were wrong and Jay-Z knew it, but he was doing what he had to do to live (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20).
Major Milestones and Turning Points We each have major milestones and turning points in our lives. Jay-Z also has major milestones and turning points in his life. Those milestones and turning points have been told many different ways throughout his music and are the focal points for this section. This section will discuss those focal points, and a psychological theory that explains each.
That First Cipher That first cipher he witnessed when he was 9 is arguably the most important moment in Jay-Z’s life (J., 2010, p.
4). It was in that moment that he envisioned himself being able to perform in a cipher (J., 2010, p. 5). The theory that best explains this first milestone is Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, which emphasizes modeling, also known as observational learning (Berk, 2010, p. 18). Pops Leaving A second major milestone in Jay-Z’s life was his father leaving. When he left, Jay-Z took it hard (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20). Actively learning from what was happening in his environment, Jay-Z would fall in line with Jean Piaget’s cognitive-developmental theory. Under Piaget’s stage of concrete operational development, he became emotionally detached (Berk, 2010, p. 20; Greenburg, 2011, p. 16). Role Models Jay-Z’s father taught him to be confident and aware of his surroundings through games that exercised his observational skills (J., 2010, p. 202). The best way that skill was implemented in Jay-Z’s life was by finding mentors and mastering their lessons, so he could improve himself. The best theory to explain the mentors in Jay-Z’s life is Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. Jay–Z models Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory through social interaction (Berk, 2010, p. 23). He took what he needed to know from each of his mentors and built success from
it.
Impact of Diversity Most people have experienced diversity. Jay-Z has also experienced his fair share of diversity throughout his lifetime, which shaped him. Growing up in the Marcy projects in Brooklyn, Jay-Z had a lot going against him even before he was old enough to realize it. When he was old enough, he understood that America (the government) hated his black ass (J., 2010, p. 154). He grew up in government-funded housing, his family worked government jobs, and people that looked like him were spending their lives in prison (J., 2010, p. 154). Growing up where he did is the reason Jay-Z is so wildly successful. He was not content with where he was, so he hustled. He hustled out of a sense of hopelessness, and through desperation he became addicted to having a better life. Since he had nothing to lose but his life, he gave his all, and still does today (J., 2010, p. 243).
Conclusion
Jay-Z has a fascinating life, and it is his upbringing that makes him so influential on others and society. His genius has always been his ability to make himself profitable, whether it was drug dealing or rapping, or the many other avenues that he has ventured upon. He continues to add to his legacy and touch people’s lives, and this manuscript, with the sections given, provides a better understanding of why he has been able to do that.
References
Berk, L. E. (2010). Development through the lifespan 5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education
Greenburg, Z. O. (2011). Empire state of mind: How Jay-Z went from street corner to corner office. New York, NY: Portfolio/Penguin.
J. (2010). Decoded. New York, NY: Spiegel & Grau.
Jay-Z Net Worth | Celebrities Net Worth 2014. (n.d.). Jay-Z Net Worth | Celebrities Net Worth 2014. Retrieved from http://www.celebritiesnetworth.org/jay-z/
Blake Soulet
Walden University
Jay-z, His Upbringing, and Impact on the World For hundreds of years, individuals and our world have always had an impact on others and their respective societies. From artists to world leaders, the world never ceases to create individuals who strive to be the best they can be and impact others. One person that has strived to be the best he could be and impact others is Jay-Z. Jay-Z, a drug dealer, turned rapper, turned businessman, has had an incredible journey to success that is deserving of a movie, depicting the life in times of Jay-Z. The purpose of this manuscript is to decode the life of Jay-Z. He is a person I feel has been very influential on others …show more content…
in society. I first heard of Jay-Z when I was a child. He was a famous rapper that came from poverty, and living the American Dream. I am 22 now, and Jay-Z he is more successful than ever before.
He is also known by many people throughout the United States and different parts of the world. From hustling in the streets, to hustling to the top of the music charts, and hustling his way into the boardroom, Jay-Z has become “one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in America with an estimated net worth of $500 million” (Jay-Z). While millions of dollars have accumulated in Jay-Z’s bank account over the years, they do not tell the whole story of the person behind the success and impact on others, which is what this manuscript will do. I found that a lot goes into the makeup of Jay-Z, a very complex person, but what I did not know is how he got that way. With the help of Zach O’Malley Greenburg’s biography, Empire State of Mind, I will discuss that in several sections throughout this manuscript. The first section of this manuscript, Jay-Z’s Nature versus Nurture, will discuss the influences of each on his life. The next section, Jay-Z’s Major Domains of Development (e.g., cognitive, physical, and social-emotional), will provide an analysis of how each played a role in his …show more content…
life. The third section, Major Milestones and Turning Points, will discuss influential moments in Jay-Z’s life, along with a theory that best explains each. The following section, Impact of Diversity, handles how diversity (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status) made a difference in Jay-Z’s life. Finally, I will present a conclusion section.
Jay-Z’s Nature versus Nurture Each person is a byproduct of their nature (e.g., genetics) and nurture (e.g., environment), and Jay-Z is no different (Berk, 2010, p. 7). In this section, I am going to go back to the beginning of his existence, with (a) birth and early life, and then discuss how (b) nature and (c) nurture influenced whom he is. Birth and Early Life Jay-Z’s real name is Shawn Corey Carter. He was born December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn New York (Greenburg, 2011, p. 1). Growing up in the Marcy housing projects, Bedford-Stuyvesant (Bed-Stuy) was his country, and Brooklyn was his planet (J., 2010, p. 4). His mother, Gloria Carter, said that when she gave birth to Jay-Z, she knew he was a special child because he was the only one who did not give her any pain when he was born (Greenburg, 2011, p. 13). That assumption would set the tone for the rest of his life, especially growing up in a rough neighborhood.
Nature
Early on, Jay-Z began showing just how special he was. At four years old, he taught himself how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle (Greenburg, 2011, p. 13). People were amazed at what he was doing, and it was in that moment that Jay-Z felt famous and, he loved it (Greenburg, 2011, p. 13). His experience as a youngster, without much formal training, showed that his nature had a positive impact on him. The inborn biological information he received from his parents was high quality, which, allowed him to excel at such a young age, but things would change, and nurture would begin to affect his development.
Nurture
When Jay-Z was 10, his father, Adnis Reeves, left the family (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14). With his father gone, Jay-Z plummeted. In his own words, he was, “A kid torn apart once his pop disappeared” (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14). His mother tried to help him, but it did not work (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14). Like many kids, Jay-Z was hurt by his father leaving, which made him determined to be nothing like him, and put up a wall so thick that no one else could hurt him (Greenburg, 2011, p. 14).
Jay-Z’s Major Domains of Development The three major domains of development all play important roles in the transformation of Jay-Z. The next section will analyze how (a) cognitive, (b) physical, and (c) social-emotional development has each contributed to make Jay-Z whom he is today.
Cognitive
For clarification, Cognitive development can be seen through changes in intellectual abilities (Berk, 2010, p. 9). As a child, Jay-Z’s intellectual abilities increased because knew the importance of hard work and discipline. Claiming himself to be the best rapper alive, he had developed an outstanding repertoire for improving himself and living up to his statement (J., 2010, p. 7). The hard paid off. By the time he was a teen he was mastering complex language skills and reading the dictionary to build his vocabulary (Greenburg, 2011, p. 2). Jay-Z was good at rhyming, but he did not know how to make money off of that. To survive, he turned to drug dealing. The lessons he learned from the drug game, were like receiving a practical education, better than any four year business degree from the top schools (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20). Growing up in the streets did a number on Jay-Z’s cognitive development. His exceptional rhyming skills and innate ability to hustle set him apart from everyone else. Physical Physical development can be seen through changes in body size, proportions, appearance, functioning of body systems, perceptual and motor capacities, and physical health (Berk, 2010, p. 9). The biggest physical event for Jay-Z was growing up in the projects. When he was 15 years old, he was already out on his own (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20). Social–Emotional Social-Emotional development can be seen through changes in emotional communication, self-understanding, knowledge about people, interpersonal skills, friendships intimate relationships, and moral reasoning and behavior (Berk, 2010, p. 9). Jay-Z’s social–emotional development was very important in his life. From learning to rap at a young age, he discovered his voice before he even attended high school (J., 2010, p. 7). Right at the time when kids go through the emotional mental conflict of industry versus inferiority, Jay-Z’s self-esteem was high because of his rapping abilities (Berk, 2010, p. 330; J., 2010, p. 5). Another important aspect of Jay-Z’s social – emotional development was his moral development. Selling drugs were wrong and Jay-Z knew it, but he was doing what he had to do to live (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20).
Major Milestones and Turning Points We each have major milestones and turning points in our lives. Jay-Z also has major milestones and turning points in his life. Those milestones and turning points have been told many different ways throughout his music and are the focal points for this section. This section will discuss those focal points, and a psychological theory that explains each.
That First Cipher That first cipher he witnessed when he was 9 is arguably the most important moment in Jay-Z’s life (J., 2010, p.
4). It was in that moment that he envisioned himself being able to perform in a cipher (J., 2010, p. 5). The theory that best explains this first milestone is Albert Bandura’s social learning theory, which emphasizes modeling, also known as observational learning (Berk, 2010, p. 18). Pops Leaving A second major milestone in Jay-Z’s life was his father leaving. When he left, Jay-Z took it hard (Greenburg, 2011, p. 20). Actively learning from what was happening in his environment, Jay-Z would fall in line with Jean Piaget’s cognitive-developmental theory. Under Piaget’s stage of concrete operational development, he became emotionally detached (Berk, 2010, p. 20; Greenburg, 2011, p. 16). Role Models Jay-Z’s father taught him to be confident and aware of his surroundings through games that exercised his observational skills (J., 2010, p. 202). The best way that skill was implemented in Jay-Z’s life was by finding mentors and mastering their lessons, so he could improve himself. The best theory to explain the mentors in Jay-Z’s life is Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. Jay–Z models Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory through social interaction (Berk, 2010, p. 23). He took what he needed to know from each of his mentors and built success from
it.
Impact of Diversity Most people have experienced diversity. Jay-Z has also experienced his fair share of diversity throughout his lifetime, which shaped him. Growing up in the Marcy projects in Brooklyn, Jay-Z had a lot going against him even before he was old enough to realize it. When he was old enough, he understood that America (the government) hated his black ass (J., 2010, p. 154). He grew up in government-funded housing, his family worked government jobs, and people that looked like him were spending their lives in prison (J., 2010, p. 154). Growing up where he did is the reason Jay-Z is so wildly successful. He was not content with where he was, so he hustled. He hustled out of a sense of hopelessness, and through desperation he became addicted to having a better life. Since he had nothing to lose but his life, he gave his all, and still does today (J., 2010, p. 243).
Conclusion
Jay-Z has a fascinating life, and it is his upbringing that makes him so influential on others and society. His genius has always been his ability to make himself profitable, whether it was drug dealing or rapping, or the many other avenues that he has ventured upon. He continues to add to his legacy and touch people’s lives, and this manuscript, with the sections given, provides a better understanding of why he has been able to do that.
References
Berk, L. E. (2010). Development through the lifespan 5th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education
Greenburg, Z. O. (2011). Empire state of mind: How Jay-Z went from street corner to corner office. New York, NY: Portfolio/Penguin.
J. (2010). Decoded. New York, NY: Spiegel & Grau.
Jay-Z Net Worth | Celebrities Net Worth 2014. (n.d.). Jay-Z Net Worth | Celebrities Net Worth 2014. Retrieved from http://www.celebritiesnetworth.org/jay-z/