Jay-Z with actor and comedian Alison Becker, photographed while at a beach bar in Negril, Jamaica on March 13, 1998.
At the time the rapper and the New Jersey native were attending MTV’s annual Spring Break concert series, which was held at the township’s Samsara Cliffs Resort. Hosted by Rebecca Romijn and Carmen Electra, acts performing over the week included Jay, Boyz II Men, Usher, Limp Bizkit, the Backstreet Boys, Pitchshifter, Wyclef Jean, Byron Lee, Jimmy Ray, and DJ Skribble. A 16-year-old Beyoncé was also present, performing “No, No, No” on the beach with the original Destiny’s Child quintet and Wyclef.
According to Becker, at the bar everyone was trying to get into the VIP area to meet the hugely popular Wyclef Jean. A member of Jigga’s crew approached her in the excited crowd and said, “You don’t want to meet Wyclef. You wanna meet THIS guy [points to Jay]. He’s gonna be HUGE in a few weeks.” At the time outside of New York Jay’s name wasn’t well known, so she said “no one seemed to believe him.” However she approached Jay and they “talked for a few minutes. He seemed nice. Then we took a picture.” You may recognize Alison from her many television roles; perhaps most famously her recurring role on NBC’s Parks and Recreation as local newspaper reporter Shauna Malwae-Tweep. She has also starred on Curb Your Enthusiasm (an ANJ favorite), New Girl, Lucifer, LA to Vegas, the Kroll Show and Californication; as well as being a regular player at the Upright Citizens Brigade improv theatre.
He looked pretty good
