Jay-Z empire is getting bigger : News

Monday, Dec 17 - By Gail Mitchell, L.A.

Ringing in the holidays on a sleigh full of Grammy nominations (26 for Def Jam overall and five of his own, including best rap album for "Kingdom Come" and song/record of the year for his featured role on Rihanna's "Umbrella"), Def Jam president Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has more than music on his mind.

He's set to open his third 40/40 Club in Las Vegas (Dec. 30) and recently invested in a real estate development venture called J Hotels. Billboard.com caught up with an ebullient -- and frank -- Jay-Z, who addressed those deafening rumors about his executive future at Def Jam and what else 2008 holds for him. Read Full Story