How popular is Jay Z now in 2014 compared to 96-04?

[delta]

Im a 94 cat, but i read Jay ainy really blow up among the popular crowd until 98 wit Hard knick life and Vol.2 album. obviously the success he had from there to 2004 speak for itself.

After retirement, he dropped his worst album... but came back wit American Gangster, hopped on Umbrella, upgrade u, swagga Like Us. and BP3 had crazy hot singles like Empire State of Mind and Run This Town.... But that Watch The Throne wit Yeezy really got him more hot I think.

Now Jays singles are hotter then ever. he aint even have a #1 song until 2009 wit Alicia Keys

 

[BastardChild]

reasonable doubt didnt go platinum until 2002 what does that tell you

 

[MINT]

he wasn't popular in the 90s

 

[OnlyInCalifornia]

Hes 20x more popular now than then. He is regarded as one of the greatest to do it at the present moment. Back then he wasn't even in the top 10 rappers from new york.

 

[Wild self]

He is still known, but he one of them uncles that still try to be cool.

 

[Standing on business]

98 (hard knock life) blew him up and made him mainstream
03 (fake retirement was his peak)

he has still maintained that popularity and is still able to fill up arenas at 44 years old which is very impressive

his first #1 single was in 2010 new york so if you really think about he never really fell off (popularity wise)

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

.......................

 

[TheLoneRanger]

Where would he be today without Dame doing all the work over at Roc a Fella. Elliott Wilson promoting him in magazines and online as if he was some god. Beyonce also really helped him his companies and his money grow and the singers on his tracks which make them hits and we can't forget all those artists over the years who were having their moment to shine and buzzing and then along came Jay just at the right time.

 

[28 Gramz]

Gettin married to Bey made him a bigger star than he ever was

 

[Artificial Intelligence]

.......................

 

[Mr.Black]

so you come from the future?

its still 2013 here nikka

 

[Jone2three45]

If it was not for Will Smith, Annie and Rush Hour he wouldn't be where he is today.

Nobody cared who he was in the 90's tbh.

 

[NvrCMyNut]

You can't compare a specific year to a 8 year period which has like 3 era's between it

present day compared to 98, 01, 03, he's far less popular in the hood with young people but far more popular with cacs & mainstream

 

[SpacelySprockets]

More popular thanks to the Beyonce stimulus package, Alicia Keys carrying him to his first and only #1, and being a dikkriding fakkit that loves the attention

 

[VanVanCity]

I like him a lot less