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However, the allure of street life tugged at him, and he found himself selling drugs to survive, often balancing this double life of hustler and aspiring rapper. This path culminated in a dramatic incident where he shot his brother over a drug-related dispute—a haunting moment that still resonates through his music today.
Founding Roc-A-Fella Records
The tide began to turn when fellow hustler friends, Dame Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke, partnered with Carter to create Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995. This independent label became the launchpad for Carter's debut album, Reasonable Doubt, released in 1996. The album, now considered a classic, was Jay-Z's attempt to solidify his place in rap history but also a reflection of his life’s duality between hustler and rapper.