New York ? Jay-Z took the job as president of Def Jam Recordings for a couple of reasons: He needed a challenge and he wanted to prove he’s more than just a rapper.
“I’d been in my comfort zone for a while,” the rapper and mogul told The New York Times for its Sunday editions. “I was bored. I didn’t want to be doing rap just to do it: Oh, it’s November again. Time to put out another record.”
Jay-Z, who’s real name is Shawn Carter, said the limited number of black executives in the music industry was also a concern.
Jay-Z, 35, released 10 albums in less than a decade that have sold more than 33 million copies. He also won four Grammy Awards.