Jay Z’s 45 Top Moments of 2014

As he celebrates another birthday, it’s understandable if Jay Z spends this one out of the spotlight. He understandably made numerous headlines and was the target of gossip for all of 2014. Last year was one of Jay Z’s biggest in music, as he released Magna Carta…Holy Grail, went on the “Legends of the Summer” tour with Justin Timberlake and embarked on his own world tour.

Jay Z only had a few guest verses this year for the “On The Run” tour with his wife Beyonce, but he still had press looking his way. A lot of that was his fault: you tend to elicit chatter when you mention Drake‘s name in a song or wear a woman’s jersey. Some was because of circumstance, because hell hath no fury like a woman scorned — especially with a shoe in an elevator.

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Yes, even the great Hov took some punches and these weren’t his first. In fact, this is the 15-year anniversary of when he stabbed Lance “Un” Rivera over the leak of Vol. 3…Life and Times Of S. Carter.

But through it all the headlines this year, Jay Z also found ways to flourish. He’s still (apparently happily) with Beyonce and he’s made major moves at Roc Nation Sports.

For a full look at Mr. Carter in 2014, check out Jay Z’s year in 45 moments below.

Jan. 27 — Jay Z got on the Grammys stage with Beyonce to perform “Drunk In Love.” The handful of Beyonce’s ass Jay Z grabbed assured us things were OK with the couple, before one elevator video changed that.

Jan. 29 — Probably not as epic as when Kanye West got his Roc-A-Fella chain, but you still have to note how complete J. Cole must’ve felt when Jay Z gave him his original chain during a Madison Square Garden concert on his 29th birthday. Happy chaining day, J. Cole.

March 10 — There are reasons why some things go unreleased. Jay Z and Timbaland’s infamously terrible “Ghetto Techno” was one of them. “Computerized,” a Daft Punk/Jay Z collaboration intended for Magna Carta Holy Grail, isn’t as bad, but it comes off as more retrograde than progressive. The Blackberry gets a mention for some reason.

May 4 — The Brooklyn Nets are still as middling as they were when they first came to Brooklyn, but at least they were temporarily able to silence Drake. The team was able to take down the Raptors at in the playoffs’ first round, giving Jay Z the final laugh over Drake in their short trade of words.

March 23 — Jay Z has obviously been involved in more serious beefs (**cough** Nas **cough**), but it was still interesting to see him trade words with Drake. Hov caught wind of Drake’s Rolling Stone comments and bit back on the “We Made It” remix: “Sorry Mrs. Drizzy for so much art talk/ Silly me rappin’ ’bout shit that I really bought.” Drake made it a hot line; Jay Z made it a hot line. The circle of life.

March 24 — Jay Z has grown into a staple of New York music, so it makes sense that New York magazine had him on the cover of its celebration of 100 years of pop music. It also was a rare photo: this was taken at his birthday graffiti artist Edwin “PHADE” Sacasa’s birthday party in Queens, N.Y.’s Jamaica Colosseum Mall on Jan. 21, 1987.

April 7 — The Five Percent Nation medallion is a symbol of power and unity for many. It also pisses off white people even if Jay Z’s the one wearing the said medallion. He caught some flack for wearing one during a Nets game.

April 9 – Jay Z was the final answer on Jeopardy. That’s how you know he’s major.

April 12 — Nas was busy promoting the 20th anniversary of this landmark Illmatic for most of the beginning of the year. During this tour, he performed that album in its entirety. He had a little something extra for Coachella, though. Nas brought out his former rival Jay Z to perform “Dead Presidents” and “Where I’m From.”

April 19 —Pharrell’s performance at Coachella should’ve been called “Pharrell & Friends,” because he brought out a bunch of his collaborators. They included Pusha T, T.I. and, hence why this is mentioned, Jay Z.

April 25 — Jay Z even got himself caught up in an extortion plot. Producer Chauncey Mahan, who worked with Jay Z from 1998 to 2002, got questioned by police over the alleged theft of master tapes that went missing in 2002. Mahan apparently tried to auction the tapes to Roc Nation for $100,000 (bad on him since the tapes are worth at least $15 million), but settled for $75,000 to meet up with Jay Z’s crew. The plan didn’t work, however; Jay Z’s people contacted the LAPD and Mahan was instead taken in for questioning without being arrested.

Hov accused Mahan of grand larceny and extortion, while Mahan has since filed a copyright ownership suit. Perhaps the best thing to come from this was Just Blaze’s evisceration of the troubled producer.

April 28 — Jay Z made his way on to DJ Khaled’s “They Don’t Love You No More.” His verse was notable only for continuing his uncooked beef with Drake and making an entire sport angry with just two lines: “Haters wanna ball, let me tighten up my draw string /Wrong sport, boy, you know you’re as soft as the Lacrosse team.” Tsss…

#RocNationSports celebrates one year! Times Square NYC – thanks @brandedcities! pic.twitter.com/kFUIvhyKgG

— Roc Nation (@RocNation) April 28, 2014

April 29 — Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports celebrated one-year in business. To celebrate, Jay Z bought himself a gift: a sign in the middle of Time Square.

May 8 — The Guardian listed Jay Z as one of the most influential people in the art world. This isn’t because of The Blueprint (although that would’ve been a valid case because it’s The Blueprint), but because of his “Picasso Baby” performance at the Pace Gallery.

May 12 — In May, TMZ leaks footage of Solange beating on Jay Z in an elevator at the Met Gala after party. Apparently, either Jay Z was planning on going to an after party hosted by Rihanna without Beyonce or he got a little too close to fashion designer Rachel Roy (Dame Dash’s ex-wife). The family didn’t confirm reason, though, and it looks like they got over their issues.

May 17 — Almost as if they knew Saturday Night Live was going to spoof the fight, Jay Z and Beyonce decided to film and drop a fake trailer for “Run” the same night the skit aired. The film that’s “coming never” looks like it would’ve been no joke.  Sean Penn, Don Cheadle and Jake Gyllenhaal make appearances in this non-existent thriller.

May 28 — This didn’t make as much waves as the Dame Dash and Jay Z split, but Hov’s most recent one is still pretty important. Jay Z and business partner John Meneilly split after doing over a decade of him. Although he’s not really a known name, Meneilly’s importance comes from being huge in founding the RocaWear brand and securing the Samsung deal linked to the Magna Carta Holy Grail release.

June 6 — Following in line with Kanye West’s leather skirts, Jay Z was caught wearing a women’s football jersey. That’s a trend that didn’t catch on.

June 12 — “Fans” had the audacity to create and sign a petition to force Jay Z and Beyonce to comb baby Blue Ivy’s hair. This petition earned 6,000 and offered more proof that the world doesn’t deserve Jay Z.

June 15 — This one was more about the money. Jay Z was commissioned by Beats by Dre to deliver a verse for The X Ambassadors and Jamie N Commons’ “Jungle.” Unless you’re a Jay Z completist, look elsewhere.

June 17 — Mariah Carey has had a rough year, but her few highlights included finally releasing Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse and joining Jay Z on a business endeavor. Carey’s pink lemonade “Butterfly” and Jay Z’s Arnold-Palmer-style “40/40” are canned drinks released by KWL Enterprises that come with packaging that allow consumers to use their smartphones to access exclusive content related to the stars. Sounds fancy, but they go for only $1.99.

June 25 – Jay Z and Beyonce kicked off the “On The Run” tour this summer amidst rumors of an eminent divorce and falling ticket sales. Neither were true. The critically acclaimed tour grossed over $100 million and ended with a Paris concert broadcast on HBO. Also, the world didn’t end; Beyonce and Jay Z are still together.

 July 7 — Yes, Jay Z can still rap when he gets that spark. On Jeezy’s “Seen It All,” that spark was his crack-slinging past when he was just a youngin’ in Marcy. Even if you’re not that enthused, the fact that he’s taking us back to getting work in Virginia and struggling around were the Barclays Center now stands is a reminder Hov will give a piece of himself from time to time. He even had tears in his eyes while recording these bars.

July 11 — Jay Z shouted out the “Shmoney Dance” during an On The Run Tour performance. You made it, Bobby Shmurda.

July 13 — It looks like this will mark another year without a Jay Electronica album. This stings more because he’s been getting busy, giving out guest verses and dropping new material on his own. However, his most memorable moment came when he performed at the summer’s Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival with the backing of the Fruit of Islam. Jay Electronica stood mighty, and Jay Z was a respected member of the kingdom when he helped him out on “We Made It,” “Shiny Suit Theory” and “Public Service Announcement.” The world still awaits for the debut.

July 24 — Jay Z was one of many celebrities to appear on that Derek Jeter commercial. It makes sense that he’d have to tip his hat as a fellow New Yorker.

Aug. 4 — (Alleged) Side chicks strike again. An aspiring model and rapper named Liv caught some seriously slander for releasing the very pettily titled “Sorry, Mrs. Carter.” Jay Z didn’t suffer much blow back, and it was Liv who caught all the shade.

Aug 18 —Even though he’s worth half a billion, Jay Z still finds a way to stay ambitious. Roc Nation Sports is a success with the likes of Kevin Durant and Skylar Diggins under its wing, but the agency is getting ready to spread into boxing promotion. It’s hired well-known boxing promoter David Itskowitch to get ready for this upcoming conquest.

Sept. 16 — DJ SKEE announced that Jay Z and Beyonce are working on a collaborative project. There’s not much known about it other than the fact that this project will sell hundreds of thousands of copies and there will be at least on lyric people can’t stop repeating.

Sept. 19 — Jay Z is the second highest-earning man in hip-hop behind Dr. Dre and his Beats by Dre empire, according to Forbes.

Sept. 27 — Jay Z headlined the Global Citizen Festival on Sept. 27. Beyonce helped him out on “Holy Grail” and “Young Forever,” giving poverty a kick in the rear.

Sept. 30 — There isn’t many soccer references in Jay Z lyrics (or the whole of hip-hop for that matter), but he does have a passing interest at least. Either that or Lionel Messi is just good enough to attract the likes of Jay Z and Beyonce to a soccer game.

Oct. 6 — A Jay Z in his 30s throwing shade involves him saying harsh things like, “Left condoms in your baby seat.” A 44-year-old Jay Z is much nicer, but swifter with his shade. Prime example: The “Who are you?” brush off when a paparazzo tries to get smart.

Oct. 11 — That one time Jay Z and Beyonce remixed the Mona Lisa.

Oct. 13 — Jay Z has been dropping Basquiat references since the Kingdom Come days, so Jay Z deciding to dress up like the famed artist for this Halloween isn’t too much of a surprise. Would Basquiat have a deal with a champagne brand? Eh…

Oct. 22 — After a summer of divorce rumors, Jay Z and Beyonce silenced them temporarily by renewing their wedding vows last October in Europe. Congrats (and great PR), guys.

Nov. 4 — Beyonce and Jay Z was spotted at a Brooklyn Nets game, where they even made regular couple activities like stealing a pretzel look extravagant.

Nov. 4 — A street CD seller named Joel Mac was outside of SoHo’s Mercer Hotel one day when he sold a CD to Mike Dean. It just so happened that Jay Z, Kanye West and Frank Ocean were recording Watch The Throne in the hotel’s rooms, and Dean was a producer involved with the album. So Mac thought he had a case when he claimed “Made In America” was stolen from him. There hasn’t been any developments since, but who’s really betting on Mac on winning this copyright lawsuit?

Nov. 6 — Armand Du Brignac did not make the same mildly racist mistake Crystal made. Jay Z bought a $200 million stake at the champagne brand early in November.

Nov. 11 — Rick Ross assisted Jay Z with another club hit last year’s “F*ckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt,” originally intended for Mastermind. Hov returned the favor with an assist on the Timbaland-produced “Movin Bass” — one of the few highlight from Hood Billionaire.

Roc Nation Sports is still going strong. In addition to the already strong lineup, the firm has also added Hakeem Nicks, NBA rookie James Young from national champion Kentucky and Dez Bryant. Roc Nation did take an “L” though; Antonio Brown left two months after signing in July.

Nov. 16 — There was that time in November when Jay Z showed up to Beyonce’s all-white wedding. He had to — you know the media was going to be all over him if he didn’t show up.

Dec. 1 — You can rest easy knowing Jay Z is still rich. He’s the eighth highest-earning recording artist in the world, according to CNN Money. This puts him in the same list as legends like Paul McCartney and Bono. His queen Beyonce is the 10th richest.