Jay-Z got his much-deserved flowers for his legendary career as a rapper and entrepreneur.

To celebrate hip-hop's 50th anniversary, Billboard and Vibe embarked on a countdown to determine the greatest MCs of all time over the past five decades.

The publication crowned the rapper number one for his immense contribution over the years to the craft.

Jay-Z boasts 14 Billboard 200 No. 1 albums (the most among solo acts), over 140 million records sold, and 24 Grammys.

He also co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records, served as president of Def Jam Records, and mentored Rihanna and Kanye West to billionaire status.

The star constantly delivers memorable verses even today that leave fans in awe, like his four-minute verse on DJ Khaled's "God Did."

On an episode of Kevin Hart's "Hart to Heart" series, he addressed rumors about his retirement from the industry.

He admitted that he tried it but was not great at it and recalled when he threw a farewell party at Madison Square Garden in 2003.

He explained that he was burnt out then but returned in 2006 with a new album.