“Cough up a lung, where I’m from, Marcy son, Ain’t nothing nice Mentally been many places but I’m Brooklyn’s own” is what Roc Nations CEO would say if you asked him where he’s from. Shawn “Jay Z” Carter is a thriving business man who just so happens to be one of the best rappers of our generation. Jay Z holds the record for the most number one albums by a solo artist on the billboard 200 with 12, he has sold 50 million albums worldwide, seventeen Grammy Awards and Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time featured 2 of his albums Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint.
Not only is Jay Z an active role in the music industry as an artist, his behind the scenes work influenced the rap game as well. From being the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings, Co-founder of Roc-A-Fella records and in April 2008, Live Nation partnered with Jay-Z to create Roc Nation. Mr. Carter has never been shy about his business ventures outside of the music industry ,he’s the co-owner of 40/40 club and is now part-owner of the Brooklyn Nets.
Brooklyn is a part of his heart and soul and basketball wasn’t unfamiliar to him growing up either. As a child his father use to set up a little hoop and him and his siblings would pretend that they were playing at the world famous Madison Square Garden. In one of his songs “Where I’m from” he states “I’m from where they ball and breed rhyme stars.” Pretty much translating into Brooklyn is the home of talent.
Jay Z plays a role on the Barclays Center board of directors as the director of the arena, helped create 11 exclusive suites at the Barclays center named the vault and the center will also feature his clothing line Roca Wear to continue to help grow the company. One of the first things he implemented was help shaping the move of the team to Brooklyn, and convincing the NBA and the Brooklyn Nets that the logo should be straight forward black and white logos with “B” on the basketball as the team logo because he felt it represents Brooklyn’s diverse population.
Based off of his rankings in the music industry Jay Z is showing the world he knows what he’s doing and investing into a market that generates about 200 billion a year sounds like a pretty legit move.Its funny how music taps in just to say “Hello, is it me you’re looking for”
BROOKLYN NETS ANTHEM
