Jay-Z/Instagram screenshot Jay-Z’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt, turns 30 today. The album is considered a hip-hop classic! After being unable to secure a record deal for the project, he founded Roc-A-Fella Records with Damon Dash and Kareem Burke, where he released the record independently. Roc-A-Fella later signed a variety of talent to its roster. Throughout his career, he has released 17 studio albums: 13 solo and 4 collaborations. Jay-Z has sold over 140 million albums