Jay-Z's older brother, Eric Carter, didn't have the easiest start in life, which may help to explain why he has decided to eschew the spotlight. As The Guardian notes, Eric developed an addiction to crack cocaine in the midst of the '80s crack epidemic, and his substance misuse had a devastating effect on his little brother. When Jay-Z was just 12, he shot Eric with a gun he procured from a neighboring house; the shocking act of violence was precipitated by Eric stealing his kid brother's jewelry to buy crack. Jay-Z references the shooting in his track "You Must Love Me."
In the years following the traumatic incident, the brothers have remained close, with Eric having recovered from both the shooting and his issues with substance misuse. Despite having an iconic brother, Eric is extremely private and thus little is known about his life. He has not given any media interviews or publicized his relationship with his famous sibling.
However, Eric's son, basketball player Nahziah Carter, opened up about his media-averse father in an interview with Bleacher Report. When asked about the shooting incident, Nahziah said that his dad prefers not to dwell on it. "My father tells me some great stories from when they were growing up, and so does my grandma," he said, "but they don't really talk about that... Honestly, we usually laugh about it. I don't know why, but we find it kind of funny. I mean, Jay Z shot our dad. That's pretty crazy."
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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