imagine...: Season 14, Episode 6

14 - 6: Jay-Z: He Came, He Saw, He Conquered

In this Imagine, Alan Yentob explores the life and work of the chart topping rapper and multi-millionaire business mogul Jay-Z.

Over a period of six months, Alan follows Jay-Z through key moments in his career, including the media frenzy and build up to his triumphant headline gig at Glastonbury. Jay-Z gives an exclusive insight into his world, with backstage access to his concerts in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New York, where Alan rubs shoulders with the stars and meets some of Jay-Z's friends including Chris Martin and P.Diddy.

The programme reveals Jay-Z's other passions, which extend well beyond music to modern art, architecture, politics, sports and fashion. Alan also uncovers the source and inspiration of Jay-Z's music, from his misspent youth hustling on the streets of the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, to his meteoric rise to success; not only has Jay-Z sold an estimated fifty million albums worldwide, but he has also become responsible for a multi-million dollar business empire, and is listed along with his partner Beyonce Knowles as one of the most powerful celebrity couples in the world.