Try the online quiz, reading, listening, and activities on grammar, spelling and vocabulary for this lesson on Jay-Z. Click on the links above or see the activities below this article:
READ
Jay-Z is a rap artist and former CEO of the record label Def Jam Recordings. He co-owns the American basketball team the New Jersey Nets. He has successfully expanded his career as a rapper into the wider business world as a recording executive. Jay-Z released his tenth album in 2007, making him one of rap’s most prolific artists.
Jay-Z was born as Shawn Carter in Brooklyn in 1969. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood. His father abandoned him when he was 11 and he shot his brother in the shoulder when he was 12. He went to high school with fellow rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. Jay-Z was interested in drum rhythms and writing lyrics from a young age.
Carter’s nickname was "Jazzy", which eventually developed into his stage name, "Jay-Z". He appeared on several hip-hop artists’ records in the late 1980s. Other rappers recognized his ability to rap and he recorded his first single in 1995. He was unable to secure a contract and founded Roc-A-Fella Records. He released his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in 1996, to critical acclaim.
Jay-Z turned into one of rap’s biggest stars over the next decade. He invested a lot of time into developing his business interests. He developed a hip-hop clothing line called Rocawear and received ‘GQ’ magazine’s International Man of the Year award. He also co-owns an American sports bar chain and has got into property development. Jay-Z married R&B star Beyonce in 2008.
245 words
Sources: http://www.wikipedia.org/ and assorted biographies.
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SYNONYM MATCH
Match the words from the article on the left with their synonyms on the right. Are your answers the same as other students’?
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
former
a.
productive
2
expanded
b.
left
3.
prolific
c.
widened
4.
rough
d.
ex-
5.
abandoned
e.
words to songs
6.
lyrics
f.
tough
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
changed
g.
spent
8.
secure
h.
praise
9.
acclaim
i.
prize
10.
invested
j.
transformed
11
award
k
real estate
12
property
l
get
PHRASE MATCH
Match the following phrases from the article:
1.
former CEO
a.
line called Rocawear
2
one of rap’s most
b.
when he was 11
3.
He grew up in a
c.
name, "Jay-Z"
4.
His father abandoned him
d.
prolific artists
5.
Jay-Z was interested in drum
e.
a lot of time
6.
developed into his stage
f.
rough neighbourhood
7.
He was unable to secure
g.
development
8.
He invested
h.
rhythms and writing lyrics
9.
He developed a hip-hop clothing
i.
of the record label Def Jam
10.
got into property
j.
a contract
LISTENING GAP FILL
Jay-Z is a rap artist and _________________ the record label Def Jam Recordings. _____________ American basketball team the New Jersey Nets. He has successfully expanded _________________ rapper into the wider business world as a recording executive. Jay-Z released his tenth album in 2007, making him one of rap’s _________________.
Jay-Z was born as Shawn Carter in Brooklyn in 1969. He grew up in a _________________. His father abandoned him when he was 11 and he _________________ in the shoulder when he was 12. He went to high school _________________ The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. Jay-Z was interested in drum rhythms and _________________ a young age.
Carter’s nickname was "Jazzy", which _________________ into his stage name, "Jay-Z". He appeared on several hip-hop artists’ records in the late 1980s. Other _________________ his ability to rap and he recorded his first single in 1995. He was unable to _________________ and founded Roc-A-Fella Records. He released his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in 1996, _________________.
Jay-Z turned into one of rap’s biggest stars over _________________. He _________________ time into developing his business interests. He developed a hip-hop _________________ Rocawear and received ‘GQ’ magazine’s International Man of the Year award. He also co-owns an American sports bar chain and has got into _________________. Jay-Z married R&B star Beyonce in 2008.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD
Delete the wrong word in each of the pairs in italics.
Jay-Z is a rap artist and former / firmer CEO of the record label Def Jam Recordings. He co-owns / owner the American basketball team the New Jersey Nets. He has successfully expanded his career was / as a rapper into the wider business world as a recording executive. Jay-Z released his tenth album in 2007, making him one of rap’s most profile / prolific artists.
Jay-Z was born as Shawn Carter in Brooklyn in 1969. He grew / grown up in a rough neighbourhood. His father abandoned him when he was 11 and he shot / shoots his brother in the shoulder when he was 12. He went to high school with fellow / felllows rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. Jay-Z was interested in drum rhymes / rhythms and writing lyrics from a young age.
Carter’s nicknamed / nickname was "Jazzy", which eventually developed into his stage / stages name, "Jay-Z". He appeared on several hip-hop artists’ records in the late 1980s. Other rappers recognized his ability / able to rap and he recorded his first single in 1995. He was unable to security / secure a contract and founded Roc-A-Fella Records. He released his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in 1996, to critical acclaim.
Jay-Z turned into / onto one of rap’s biggest stars over the next decade. He invested / investment a lot of time into developing his business interests. He developed a hip-hop clothing / clothes line called Rocawear and received ‘GQ’ magazine’s International Man of the Year award. He also co-owns an American sports bar lock / chain and has got into property development. Jay-Z married R&B star Beyonce in 2008.
SPELLING
The underlined, jumbled words are from the text. Spell them correctly.
Paragraph 1
1.
ormfer CEO of the record label Def Jam
2.
He has successfully aeexdndp his career
3.
a recording euetxveci
4.
one of rap’s most ioifrplc artists
Paragraph 2
5.
He grew up in a hguor neighbourhood
6.
he shot his brother in the ursdoelh
7.
drum hytsrhm
8.
writing lciyrs
Paragraph 3
9.
his seatg name, "Jay-Z"
10.
his tayliib to rap
11.
secure a orcttnca
12.
aiictrlc acclaim
Paragraph 4
13.
over the next eecdad
14.
He teisnedv a lot of time
15.
a hip-hop nthgcloi line
16.
proepyrt development
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( )
the New Jersey Nets. He has successfully expanded his career as a rapper into the wider business world as a recording
( )
rap and he recorded his first single in 1995. He was unable to secure a
( )
in drum rhythms and writing lyrics from a young age.
( )
called Rocawear and received ‘GQ’ magazine’s International Man of the Year award. He also co-owns
( )
executive. Jay-Z released his tenth album in 2007, making him one of rap’s most prolific artists.
( )
an American sports bar chain and has got into property development. Jay-Z married R&B star Beyonce in 2008.
( 1 )
Jay-Z is a rap artist and former CEO of the record label Def Jam Recordings. He co-owns the American basketball team
( )
name, "Jay-Z". He appeared on several hip-hop artists’ records in the late 1980s. Other rappers recognized his ability to
( )
Jay-Z turned into one of rap’s biggest stars over the next decade. He invested a lot of
( )
contract and founded Roc-A-Fella Records. He released his debut album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in 1996, to critical acclaim.
( )
time into developing his business interests. He developed a hip-hop clothing line
( )
abandoned him when he was 11 and he shot his brother in the shoulder when
( )
Jay-Z was born as Shawn Carter in Brooklyn in 1969. He grew up in a rough neighbourhood. His father
( )
Carter’s nickname was "Jazzy", which eventually developed into his stage
( )
he was 12. He went to high school with fellow rappers The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. Jay-Z was interested
SCRAMBLED SENTENCES
With your partner, put the words back into the correct order.
1.
record former label CEO Def of Jam the Recordings
2.
He career has as successfully a expanded rapper his
3.
was he when him abandoned father His 11
4.
shot his brother in the shoulder when he was 12 he
5.
was interested in drum rhythms and writing lyrics Jay-Z
6.
his to Other recognized ability rap rappers
7.
unable secure contract was to a He
8.
of developing He lot into business a time his invested
9.
clothing Rocawear a hip-hop called developed line He
10.
owns sports He - American chain co an bar also
JAY-Z DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information about Jay-Z. Talk about what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. JAY-Z POSTER: Make a poster showing the different stages of the life of Jay-Z. Show your poster to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all find out similar things?
4. MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Write a magazine article about Jay-Z. Include an imaginary interview with him. Write about what he does every day and what he thinks about.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
5. LETTER: Write a letter to Jay-Z. Ask him three questions about his life. Give him three suggestions on what he should do in his future. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your “Jay-Z expert” partner(s) will try and answer your questions.
ANSWERS
SYNONYM MATCH:
Paragraphs 1 and 2
1.
former
a.
ex-
2
expanded
b.
widened
3.
prolific
c.
productive
4.
rough
d.
tough
5.
abandoned
e.
left
6.
lyrics
f.
words to songs
Paragraphs 3 and 4
7.
changed
g.
transformed
8.
secure
h.
get
9.
acclaim
i.
praise
10.
invested
j.
spent
11
award
k
prize
12
property
l
real estate
PHRASE MATCH:
1.
former CEO
a.
of the record label Def Jam
2
one of rap’s most
b.
prolific artists
3.
He grew up in a
c.
rough neighbourhood
4.
His father abandoned him
d.
when he was 11
5.
Jay-Z was interested in drum
e.
rhythms and writing lyrics
6.
developed into his stage
f.
name, "Jay-Z"
7.
He was unable to secure
g.
a contract
8.
He invested
h.
a lot of time
9.
He developed a hip-hop clothing
i.
line called Rocawear
10.
got into property
j.
development
ALL OTHER EXERCISES:
Look at the text in "THE READING / TAPESCRIPT" section at the top of this page.
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