Zack O'Malley Greenburg
Encyclopedia
Zack O'Malley Greenburg is an American writer, journalist and former child-actor. He is a staff writer at Forbes Magazine, where he covers business, music and sports, and authors a popular blog called The Beat Report. Most recently, he wrote a biography of Jay-Z
, entitled Empire State of Mind
: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office.
as a varsity baseball beat reporter, sports columnist and scene (arts and living) writer. A feature he authored on a varsity outfielder who had returned to the field after nearly dying in a car crash won him a prestigious award his senior year.
He has written more than 200 articles for Forbes, Forbes Asia and Forbes.com. His reporting has mostly focused on business, travel, music, and finance. He has interviewed many important celebrities, including: 50 Cent
, Akon
, Russell Simmons
, Steve Wozniak
, Afrika Bambaataa
, Natasha Bedingfield
, Swizz Beatz
, Paul Volcker
, Lil Jon
, DMX
, Dr. Ruth and Mr. T
.
He has also written for The Washington Post
Dan's Papers, The Huffington Post
, Yale Daily News, AOL Daily Finance, and other news outlets. He has also served as an expert source for CNBC, BBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, NPR and other print, web, radio and video outlets.
, may be best known for the series The Zack Files
(named after his son), and his mother, Suzanne O'Malley, is a former writer for Law and Order
, and author of a book on Andrea Yates
. A former child actor, he played the title role in the film Lorenzo's Oil
, alongside Nick Nolte
and Susan Sarandon
. He moved from New York to Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
in 2003, and graduated from Hastings High School
in 2007. Greenburg graduated from Yale College
with a degree in American Studies and a concentration Urban Studies, and started writing for Forbes Magazine in 2005.
: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office was released on March 17, 2011. The book, published by Penguin Portfolio, tells the story of Jay-Z’s business successes, through extensive interviews with classmates, former business partners, and industry insiders. Notable sources include hip-hop luminaries such as DJ Clark Kent, Questlove of The Roots
, Damon Dash
, Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Brathwaite, MC Serch
; NBA stars Jamal Crawford
and Sebastian Telfair
; and recording industry executives including Craig Kallman
, CEO of Atlantic Records. Greenburg reveals new information on Jay-Z’s various business dealings, including:
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, entitled Empire State of Mind
Empire State of Mind (book)
Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office is a non-fiction book written by Zack O'Malley Greenburg, published in March 2011. The book is an unauthorized biography of American rapper and businessman, Jay-Z, detailing his road to success in business and music...
: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office.
Professional life
Greenburg's first writing job was reviewing video games at Boys' Life Magazine at the age of 14. While at Yale, he wrote extensively for the Yale Daily NewsYale Daily News
The Yale Daily News is an independent student newspaper published by Yale University students in New Haven, Connecticut since January 28, 1878...
as a varsity baseball beat reporter, sports columnist and scene (arts and living) writer. A feature he authored on a varsity outfielder who had returned to the field after nearly dying in a car crash won him a prestigious award his senior year.
He has written more than 200 articles for Forbes, Forbes Asia and Forbes.com. His reporting has mostly focused on business, travel, music, and finance. He has interviewed many important celebrities, including: 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, Akon
Akon
Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...
, Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
, Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak
Stephen Gary "Woz" Wozniak is an American computer engineer and programmer who founded Apple Computer, Co. with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne...
, Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa
Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ from the South Bronx, New York who was instrumental in the early development of hip hop throughout the 1980s. Afrika Bambaataa is one of the three originators of break-beat deejaying, and is respectfully known as the "Grandfather" and the Amen Ra of Universal...
, Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Bedingfield
Natasha Anne Bedingfield is a British pop singer and songwriter. Bedingfield debuted in the 1990s as a member of the Christian dance/electronic group The DNA Algorithm with her siblings Daniel Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle...
, Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
, Paul Volcker
Paul Volcker
Paul Adolph Volcker, Jr. is an American economist. He was the Chairman of the Federal Reserve under United States Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan from August 1979 to August 1987. He is widely credited with ending the high levels of inflation seen in the United States in the 1970s and...
, Lil Jon
Lil Jon
Jonathan Mortimer Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004...
, DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
, Dr. Ruth and Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
.
He has also written for The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
Dan's Papers, The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
, Yale Daily News, AOL Daily Finance, and other news outlets. He has also served as an expert source for CNBC, BBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, NPR and other print, web, radio and video outlets.
Personal life
Both of Greenburg's parents are authors: his father, Dan GreenburgDan Greenburg
Dan Greenburg is an American author, screenwriter, humorist, journalist, and playwright.He was born in Chicago, Illinois, got his B.F.A. from the University of Illinois and his M.F.A. from U.C.L.A. His 72 books have been published in 20 languages in 24 countries...
, may be best known for the series The Zack Files
The Zack Files
The Zack Files is a science fiction television program that revolves around a young boy, played by Robert Clark, who is a magnet for paranormal activity and attends Horace White High School for Boys along with his three friends Cam, Gwen, and Spencer. Zack manages to get himself into trouble with...
(named after his son), and his mother, Suzanne O'Malley, is a former writer for Law and Order
Law and Order
Law and Order may refer to:In politics:*Law and order , a term common in political debate and discussion, generally indicating support of a strict criminal justice system*Law and Order Offensive Party, a minor German political party...
, and author of a book on Andrea Yates
Andrea Yates
Andrea Yates is a former Houston, Texas resident who killed her five children on June 20, 2001 by drowning them in the bathtub in her house. She had been suffering for some time with very severe postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis...
. A former child actor, he played the title role in the film Lorenzo's Oil
Lorenzo's Oil
Lorenzo's Oil is a 1992 drama film directed by George Miller. It is based on a true story of Augusto and Michaela Odone, two parents in a relentless search for a cure for their son Lorenzo's adrenoleukodystrophy...
, alongside Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
and Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon is an American actress. She has worked in films and television since 1969, and won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking. She had also been nominated for the award for four films before that and has received other recognition for her...
. He moved from New York to Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
Hastings-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in the southwest part of the town of Greenburgh. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 7,849. It lies on U.S. Route 9, "Broadway" in Hastings...
in 2003, and graduated from Hastings High School
Hastings High School
Hastings High School is the lone public high school of the Hastings-on-Hudson school district in Westchester County, New York. The principal is Louis A. Adipietro.- History :...
in 2007. Greenburg graduated from Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
with a degree in American Studies and a concentration Urban Studies, and started writing for Forbes Magazine in 2005.
Empire State of Mind
Empire State of MindEmpire State of Mind (book)
Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office is a non-fiction book written by Zack O'Malley Greenburg, published in March 2011. The book is an unauthorized biography of American rapper and businessman, Jay-Z, detailing his road to success in business and music...
: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office was released on March 17, 2011. The book, published by Penguin Portfolio, tells the story of Jay-Z’s business successes, through extensive interviews with classmates, former business partners, and industry insiders. Notable sources include hip-hop luminaries such as DJ Clark Kent, Questlove of The Roots
The Roots
The Roots is an American hip hop/neo soul band formed in 1987 by Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are famed for beginning with a jazzy, eclectic approach to hip hop which still includes live instrumentals...
, Damon Dash
Damon Dash
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, Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Brathwaite, MC Serch
MC Serch
MC Serch is a Jewish-American hip hop MC and former member of 3rd Bass.-Biography:Serch grew up in Far Rockaway, Queens, attending Far Rockaway High School, and graduated from Music & Art High School...
; NBA stars Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford
Jamal Crawford is an American professional basketball player who most recently played with the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. He is a 6'5" and 200 lb shooting guard–point guard...
and Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair
Sebastian Telfair is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Telfair was the 13th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers out of Abraham Lincoln High School...
; and recording industry executives including Craig Kallman
Craig Kallman
Craig Kallman is Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records.Craig Kallman signed the legendary lyricist Percee P and released his sought after 12" "Puttin' Heads To Bed" on his imprint Big Beat in the early 1990s. He joined the company in 1991, when Atlantic acquired Kallman's independent Big Beat...
, CEO of Atlantic Records. Greenburg reveals new information on Jay-Z’s various business dealings, including:
- The feature movie about Jay-Z and his first basketball team that was filmed by Fab 5 Freddy in 2003 but never released.
- The Jay-Z branded Jeep that was scrapped just before going into production.
- The real story behind his association with Armand de Brignac champagne.