Jay Z

Beyoncé announces her first album in six years, Renaissance

It will be the follow-up to 2016's Lemonade, a meditation on black identity and marital infidelity that topped multiple end-of-year lists.

Fans had been waiting for the news ever since Beyoncé deleted her social media profile pictures last week.

She put them out of their misery on Thursday morning, by sharing the words "act i … RENAISSANCE" on her accounts.

Streaming sites including Spotify and Apple Music swiftly posted artwork for the record, offering fans the chance to pre-save the release.

Billionaire rapper Jay-Z just got a whole lot richer

In the past week, Jay-Z has signed an agreement to sell his majority share in the music streaming company Tidal for US $297 million (NZ$414 million). Forbes reports he is selling to Jack Dorsey’s mobile payment company Square.

Earlier in the week the rapper bought back 33.3 per cent of Tidal from T-Mobile, before onselling those shares and the third he already owned to Square. He retains a small percentage of shares in the company, as do Tidal’s “artist shareholders”.

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Jay Z's 99 problems include an online Australian kids store that he's suing for copyright

The US billionaire is suing retailer The Little Homie for knowingly infringing on his trademarks and misleading conduct, including selling the book "AB to Jay-Z".

The conduct is "flagrant, glaring and contumelious", court documents filed in the Federal Court of Victoria last week show.

The online retailer raised $8000 on Kickstarter to publish a picture book called "AB to Jay-Z", which refers to well-known rap musicians to teach the alphabet.

Blue Ivy Earns a Spot on the Billboard Hot 100 at the Tender Age of 7

The seven-year-old entered the chart at the No. 76 spot for her writing and composing work on the song “Brown Skin Girl” from The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack, Billboard reports.

As Billboard notes, Blue Ivy is following in the impressive steps of both her parents.

Beyoncé has made an appearance as a soloist on the Billboard Hot 100 63 times, the fourth-most of any woman, Billboard reports, plus 14 in collaboration with Destiny’s Child and five more appearances alongside hubby, Jay-Z.

Jay-Z named world's first billionaire rapper

The US magazine has estimated that the rapper's wealth now "conservatively totals" $1bn (£800m).

Forbes says the husband of singer Beyonce has succeeded because he built brands rather than just endorsed them.

In its rankings, Forbes rejected claims that rapper and producer Dr Dre had reached billionaire status.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, grew in one of New York City's most notorious areas.

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Beyoncé and Jay-Z: Crazy In Love as tour opens in Cardiff

As they raced through more than 40 hits - from Crazy In Love to 99 Problems - the couple flirted, teased and held hands - not just when the spotlights were on, but deep in the shadows, between the songs.

At one point, Beyoncé sidled up to her Jay-Z and started twerking, giving him the giggles. When he rapped about "the rock on your finger" in Upgrade U, she flashed her wedding ring, a big goofy grin spread across her face.

Blue Ivy raps on JAY-Z's new track

The song, called Blue's Freestyle/We Family, is one of three bonus tracks released with the physical edition of JAY-Z's platinum-selling album.

Other bonus tracks on the CD of 4:44, out today, are called Adnis and ManyFacedGod (featuring James Blake).

But it was the 45-second clip of five-year-old Blue's rapping that sent Twitter fans crazy.

Not all of Blue's lyrics are that clear - but that didn't matter to most fans.

Confusion over advert for Jay Z 4:44 'film'

The rapper and his wife Beyonce are well known for loving the number four and there have been rumours of fresh material for some time.

But the situation's got more confusing after a TV advert aired in America on Wednesday night.

It's apparently for a new film called 4:44 starring Mahershala Ali.

The minute-long advert shows Mahershala, who became the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar last year, as a boxer training with Danny Glover.

The credits at the end of the clip say 4:44 also stars Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o.

Jay Z pulls most of his music off Spotify

Spotify told Newsbeat: "We can confirm that some of Jay Z's catalogue has been removed at the request of the artist."

Jay Z bought his own streaming service, Tidal, in 2015 for £45m.

But it only has around three million subscribers.

That compares to Spotify's 50 million paying subscribers and Apple Music's 20 million while Deezer, Google Play Music and Amazon Music still lag behind.

Blue Ivy channels Beyoncé at NBA All-Star Game

Beyoncé and Jay Z's five-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy Carter appears to be transforming into her mother's mini-me.

The child sat courtside with her superstar parents at the NBA All-Star game Sunday and stole the spotlight.

From her style to her mannerisms, Blue Ivy had Beyoncé fans doing a double take.