Jay-Z reveals name change with personal meaning behind it
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Valerie Macon / AFP via Getty Images
Jay-Z has unveiled his brand-new name change, which has a very personal meaning behind it.
The 56-year-old American rapper, famous for hits like 'Empire State of Mind', 'Run This Town' and 'Young Forever', has been around for quite some time now.
He released his debut album, Reasonable Doubt, back in 1996, but it wasn't until two years later in 1998, that he broke into the mainstream with Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life album.
His status as one of the biggest names in rap and hip-hop was solidified in the late 1990s and early 2000s following the release of his The Blueprint album in 2001, and, since then, he's gone on to win 25 Grammy Awards from 89 nominations, tying with Kanye 'Ye' West for the most wins in history.
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Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, has now subtly changed his moniker, in preparation for his upcoming reunion with The Roots, adding an umlaut to his name so it now reads 'JAŸ-Z' on the billing for the annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia concert set to take place later this year (30 May).
Additionally, streaming platforms like YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal all show the recently-tweaked name.
Long-time fans will no doubt find the presence of the umlaut familiar, given that it appeared on his Reasonable Doubt album alongside his breakout singles, which helped skyrocket him to fame: 'Ain't No N---a,' 'Can't Knock the Hustle' and 'Feelin' It'.
After catching light of the name change, fans rushed to social media to share their thoughts, with one Instagram user writing: "Who’s jaÿ-z what’s w the umlaut?"
"He updated his stage name (it’s how he used it in 96)," explained a second as another chimed in: "JayEEE Z? Am I saying that right? Lol."
And a final fan added: "Ok, yes, we like it, can’t beat the 90s."
And this isn't the first time the rapper has played about with punctuation in his name as, back in 2013, he decided to scrap the hyphen.
Speaking in a Big Boy's Neighborhood interview, he explained: "The hyphen was really big back in the day. It’s not useful anymore.
"You change with the times."
He continued: "I had umlauts over one of the letters. I removed the umlaut, too."
But the hyphen returned just in time for his 4:44 album, which came out just a few years later in 2017.
"'Jay Z' is now a relic of the past, consigned to the dustbin of history," a statement from his team to Entertainment Weekly read at the time. "In its place stands JAY-Z, now with the hyphen back in its place and the whole name in all-caps."