Beyoncé announces she’s pregnant with twins on Instagram.
Jay-Z

VF interview: Healing Kanye rift
Swift talks to Vanity Fair about how Jay-Z helped her heal the relationship with West.
I feel like I wasn’t ready to be friends with [West] until I felt like he had some sort of respect for me, and he wasn’t ready to be friends with me until he had some sort of respect for me—so it was the same issue, and we both reached the same place at the same time,” Swift says. “I became friends with Jay Z, and I think it was important, for Jay Z, for Kanye and I to get along. . . . And then Kanye and I both reached a place where he would say really nice things about my music and what I’ve accomplished, and I could ask him how his kid’s doing.
Defends Tidal
Jay-Z defends Tidal in a series of Tweets.
Tidal is doing just fine. We have over 770,000 subs. We have been in business less than one month…The iTunes Store wasn’t built in a day. It took Spotify 9 years to be successful…We are here for the long haul. Please give us a chance to grow & get better…There are many big companies that are spending millions on a smear campaign. We are not anti-anyone, we are pro-artist & fan…We made Tidal for fans. We have more than just music. We have video, exclusive concerts, tickets for events early, live sports!..Tidal is where artists can give their fans more without the middlemen…Indie artists who want to work directly w/ us keep 100% of their music. “If you don’t want the CEOs all in the videos” haa
NYU Q&A
The rapper, along with Tidal exec Vania Schlogel, holds a Q&A session with students at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. He talks about how Tidal gives a higher royalty to its artists.
You don’t want to single anyone out, per se — but currently we pay the highest royalty percentage. And there is no free tier service. If you have five people paying for music, and 10 people consuming it, then the artist starts at -5. We start at 1. There is no free tier and we’ll pay the highest royalty percentage. That’s how we’ll change the industry…You guys may have seen some of the stats like, Aloe Blacc had a song that was streamed 168 million times and he got paid $4,000. For us, it’s not us standing here saying we’re poor musicians. If you provide a service, you should be compensated for it.
On the discussion about ‘rich artists’ benefiting:
You never hear Tim Cook’s net worth whenever he tries to sell you something. Steve Jobs, God bless, he had to have been pretty rich — nobody’s ever said, ‘Oh, the rich getting richer! I won’t buy an iPhone!’ Yeah, right. It’s not about being pretentious; again, this is a thing for all artists. You pay $9.99 for Spotify, so why not $9.99 for Tidal? We’re not asking for anything else, we’re just saying that we’ll spread that money to artists more fairly. We’re not saying anything other than that, and we’re saying that we’re in a position to bring light to this issue. We’re using our power that way.
Launch Tidal
Jay-Z launches his streaming music service TIDAL at an industry event, #TIDALforall at Skylight in Moynihan Station in New York City. He announces his partnership with 16 other artists, including Beyonce, Madonna, Usher, Rihanna, Butler and Chassagne of Arcade Fire, Jason Aldean, J. Cole, Jack Wright, Chris Martin, Daft Punk, Deadmau5, Nikki Minaj, Coldplay and Calvin Harris, who formally sign a declaration of partnership. Tidal is the first service to offer ad-free music, video and editorial content owned by the stars who actually create it. The high quality sound service is available across iOS and Android devices, as well as in Web browsers and desktop players, in the U.S. and 30 other countries. Tidal Premium is $9.99, and Tidal Hifi is $19.99. Alicia Keys:
We come to you with one voice in unity. The first ever artist owned global music and entertainment platform!
Aspiro acquisition complete
Jay-Z wins control of Aspiro after more than 90% of shareholders accepted the star’s $54m offer. A spokesman for Project Panther Bidco, says all the conditions for completing the acquisition have now been met. The offer is declared unconditional on Friday and Aspiro will be delisted from the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange.
Aspiro had 500,000 paying users for its streaming services at the end of 2014, which includes 35,000 subscribers for its “lossless” HiFi-quality music service that is available in the UK under the Tidal brand, a service that costs £19.99 a month – double the price of Spotify in the UK. The company had posted a net loss of $5m for the last three months of 2014, and admitted that it could run out of money at some point this year. The company plans to launch Tidal in 22 countries, mostly in Europe, by the end of March.
Aspiro Acquisition Bid
Jay Z, though his company, Project Panther, will buy Aspiro, a Swedish music streaming service WiMP for 464 million Swedish crowns ($56 million) in cash. Shares in Aspiro leap 59 percent in early trading, to the bid level of 1.05 crowns per share. Norwegian media house Schibsted, Aspiro’s main shareholder, says it had accepted the offer, while Aspiro’s board said it is united in recommending the bid, virtually ensuring its success. Project Panther:
Panther believes that the recent developments in the entertainment industry, with the migration to music and media streaming, offers great potential for increased entertainment consumption and an opportunity for artists to further promote their music. Panther’s strategic ambition revolves around global expansion and up-scaling of Aspiro’s platform, technology and services.
VMA performance
Knowles closes the awards show with a twenty minute performance. With tears streaming down her face, her husband, Jay-Z, and daughter join her on stage. As she accepts the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award, which is VMA’s version of life time achievement award, she kisses her daughter and her husband, who calls her the greatest living entertainer.
I have nothing to say, but I am filled with so much gratitude.
RT if this was your favorite moment of the night. @Beyonce #VMAs #MTVVMAs2014 pic.twitter.com/bAIjOijk0N
— People magazine (@people) August 25, 2014
Lucky interview
In an interview in Lucky magazine, Knowles says she’s ready to move on following her fight with Jay-Z.
What’s important is that my family and I are all good. What we had to say collectively was in the statement that we put out, and we all feel at peace with that.
Shows Bieber mugshot on stage
During her On the Run tour with Jay Z, Beyonce displays Justin Bieber , Tupac Shakur and other celebrity mugshots on the stage screen, saying
Even the greatest can fall
Add tour dates
Beyonce and Jay-Z add a second show at the Met Life stadium, on their On The Run Tour. $1 dollar from each ticket sale will go to the Shawn Carter foundation, which helps provide scholarships to students in need, and Beyonce’s BeyGOOD movement.
Beyoncé, Jay-Z skip West wedding
Part II (On the Run)
Beyonce and Jay-Z release a video for Part II (On the Run). The video is presented as a faux movie trailer and features Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, Blake Lively, Rashida Jones, and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Solange statement
Beyonce and Jay-Z release a statement about the elevator attack.
As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident. But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it. Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public. They both have apologized to each other and we have moved forward as a united family. The reports of Solange being intoxicated or displaying erratic behavior throughout that evening are simply false. At the end of the day families have problems and we’re no different. We love each other and above all we are family. We’ve put this behind us and hope everyone else will do the same.
Solange attacks Jay-Z
On route to the Met Ball Gala after-party, Jay-Z is physically attacked by his sister-in-law, Solange Knowles. Security camera footage shows Beyonce, Jay-Z and Solange entering the elevator with with a team of bodyguards. As soon as the elevator closes, Solange kicks and punches Jay-Z, who blocks the attack. She continues to shout insults and tries to hit him two more times. Beyonce stands against the wall with her hands clasped together.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z and West wins Grammy for Best Rap Performnace for N****s In Paris.
Drunk In Love performance
Beyonce and Jay Z perform Drunk In Love during the Grammy Awards show to promote Beyonce’s self titled album.
Grammy nomination
Jay-Z and Beyonce are Grammy nominees for Best Rap/Sun Collaboration for Part II (On The Run).
Grammy nomination
Jay-Z is a Grammy nominee for Best Rap Album for Magna Carta…Holy Grail.
Grammy nomination
Jay-Z is a Grammy nominee for Best Music Video for Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film.
Wins Grammy
Timberlake and Jay Z win the Grammy for Best Music Video for Suit & Tie.
Grammy nomination
Timberlake and Jay-Z are Grammy nominees for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Suit & Tie.
Grammy nomination
Jay Z is a Grammy nominee for Best Rap Performance for Tom Ford.
Suit And Tie performance
Timberlake and Jay Z perform single Suit And Tie during the Grammy Awards show to promote his album The 20/20 Experience.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z, The Dream, Ocean, and West wins Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for No Church In The Wild.
I’d like to thank all the fans…
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z and West win Grammys for Best Rap Performance for Otis. Both Jay-Z and West were not present to accept the award.
Otis performance
West and Jay-Z perform Otis at VMA’s from the album Watch the Throne.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z and Swizz Beatz wins Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for On To The Next One.
Oh man, I got a lot of Grammys already. But this particular Grammywas super special because it was my first Grammy as an artist.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z and Keys wins Grammys for Best Rap-Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song for Empire State Of Mind.
Masterclass
Jay-Z discusses his life, the music business and lessons about both that he has learned along the way. He focuses on the difference between amazing vs. excellence. Also how to be comfortable with yourself.
Belief in oneself and knowing who you are, I mean, that’s the foundation for everything great
Monster video
West releases Monster featuring Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and Jay-Z from his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, directed by Jake Nava. The video features Minaj holding her self captive and torturing herself. Ross:
It was a moment in history. I knew then she’s one of the greatest. I was actually in the studio with Kanye in Hawaii when he played the concept for me. I was blown away. I had the opportunity to sit in the studio while Nicki wrote her verse just off the record. That was when she earned my respect as a lyricist. She was a dope entertainer up until that day that I sat in the studio and watched her come up with what I feel is one of the dopest verses of the year.
Not Afraid, Renegade performance
Eminem ft Jay-Z perform Renegade and Not Afraid during The Late Show with David Letterman to promote Jay-Z album The Blueprint.
Forever Young performance
Knowles and Jay Z perform Forever Young during the Coachella Music and Arts festival.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z wins Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune).
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z, West, and Rihanna wins the Grammy for Best Rap-Sung Collaboration and Best Rap Song for Run This Town.
Empire State of Mind performance
Keys and Jay-Z performs Empire State of Mind at the American Music Awards from the album The State of Freedom.
O Magazine interview
Jay-Z gives his thoughts about why his first album, Reasonable Doubt played a pivotal part in boosting his hip-hop career:
Yes—and that first album, Reasonable Doubt, is my favorite, because all the emotions and experiences of 26 years came out in it. That was the record I had 26 years to make.
O Magazine interview
Jay-Z gives an interview to Oprah for O Magazine about being abandoned by his father when he was 11.
[I felt] Anger. At the whole situation. Because when you’re growing up, your dad is your superhero. Once you’ve let yourself fall that in love with someone, once you put him on such a high pedestal and he lets you down, you never want to experience that pain again. So I remember just being really quiet and really cold. Never wanting to let myself get close to someone like that again. I carried that feeling throughout my life, until my father and I met up before he died.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z, West and Lil Wayne wins the Grammy for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for Swagga Like Us.
Lost+
The band releases Lost+, featuring Jay-Z, from their album, Viva La Vida. Martin:
The line in this song ‘Just because I’m losing, doesn’t mean I’m lost‘ is what the whole record came out of, because we were feeling down at the end of the last tour. That line arrived and it was, ‘OK, that’s how we kinda feel. We know we can improve’.
Wins Grammy
Rihanna and Jay-Z win the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Umbrella. This is Rihanna’s first Grammy win.
You don’t even understand. It is so exciting for me just to be nominated.
Wins Grammy
Linkin Park and Jay-Z win the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Numb/Encore.
Thank you to everybody who threw their vote our way and thank you fans.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z wins the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for 99 Problems.
Wins Grammy
Beyonce and Jay-Z win Grammy for Best R&B Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for Crazy In Love
MTV Unplugged performance
Jay Z and The Roots perform a full concert including the single Izzo (H.O.V.A.) during MTV Unplugged to promote their album Jay-Z Unplugged.
Wins Grammy
Jay-Z wins the Grammy for Best Rap Album for Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life.