Jay-Z tops the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list again

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Before Jay-Z, most rappers were content with just being rappers, they were signed to major label deals and had endorsements. It came easily for some, but for Jay-Z, it was a struggle. No record labels would sign him and he failed to land endorsement deals.

Sensing the way things would be, Jay-Z and his team established their own record label and clothing line. The record label was the ever-popular Roc-A-Fella Records and the clothing line, which goes without mentioning, is Rocawear.

Due to the popularity of his music, Jay-Z sold millions of records and the Roc-A-Fella artists also did well. This popularity trickled over into Rocawear. Now, Jay-Z is the head of Roc Nation and owns a minority share of Rocawear.

Recently, Jay-Z teamed up with Pharrell to become one of the models for his Billionaire Boyz clothing line, their partnership was announced last week. The business deals, paired with the artists being managed by his company, Roc Nation, and the residuals from Rocawear have kept Jay-Z on top. Recently, he topped the Forbes list of Hip Hop Cash Kings, earning $37 million over the past year.

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The Media is targeting Jay-Z over His Success

By The Voice
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Ten years ago, Jay-Z did the unthinkable when he crossed the $100 million mark, as a rapper. At the time, Sean Combs appeared to be a bigger businessman. However, it was Jay-Z who was making the most money. With a critically-acclaimed platinum album and a popular clothing line, many assumed Jay-Z had peaked.

Those who assumed this were wrong. Less than two years after his accomplishments in 2001, Jay-Z was appointed the CEO of Def Jam. While taking over Def Jam, Jay-Z remained in charge of his own Roc-A-Fella Records, also taking over other companies under the Def Jam umbrella.

Surprisingly, Jay-Z stepped away from all of this in 2007, when he quit his Def Jam job. For a few months, he continued to oversee his imprint, Roc-A-Fella Records. But, Jay-Z soon bought out his recording contract with Def Jam and his own Roc-A-Fella Records. Months later, Jay-Z landed a partnership with Live Nation, which he called Roc Nation.

The deal with Live Nation helped Jay-Z cross the $400 million mark in net worth. Aside from his Roc Nation super label, Jay-Z is also the part owner of the New Jersey Nets. While he sold his Rocawear clothing line over five years ago, he still makes a percentage off profits and has a job with the clothing line. While he does not release music as frequently as he used to, Jay-Z is still dominating the radio. Artists such as Melanie Fiona, Trey Songz, and Ne-Yo are signed to management deals with Roc Nation.

Jay-Z's success can easily be overlooked in a business world dominated by the likes of Donald Trump and other corporate giants. But, Jay-Z has made the transition from being a hip hop businessman to simply being a businessman. Some of the latest investments from Jay-Z have been into hotels, casinos, and other lucrative ventures. Now that Jay-Z is approaching the half-billion dollar mark, the media has had a lot to say about how Jay-Z got to where he is at.

His 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt, tells the story. By 1988, Jay-Z had become a millionaire as a relatively big time cocaine dealer in New York City. Hoping to avoid death by the way of his life or spending the rest of his life in prison, Jay-Z focused on the rap game. In 1996, he and Damon Dash launched the famed Roc-A-Fella Records and the rest is history. Jay-Z is now considered one of the smartest entrepreneurs of the 21st century with all of his accomplishments.

Recently, the Empire State of Mind book was released and it tells of Jay-Z's rise and the under-the-table endorsement deals he has with several companies. Now that Jay-Z has crossed the line that is so hard to cross, the media is targeting the hip hop mogul. Recently, Jay-Z did some recruiting for the Nets and he visited the Kentucky Wildcats. Now, Jay-Z is under investigation from the NBA for tampering. Everything he has worked so hard to build is under investiagtion by the media.

But, during his rise to the top, the media supported Jay-Z. Now, with Hov on top of the game in many levels, everything he does causes speculation.

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J. Cole lands Trey Songz collaboration

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

In 2008, when he was hand-picked by Jay-Z as the first artist on Roc Nation, J. Cole was excited. After Jay-Z finished his business with Def Jam, J. Cole was sure he would be recording his album. However, things did not work out that way.

Instead, J. Cole found himself helping Jay-Z with his comeback, The Blueprint 3. The album went on to become the highest-rated album of 2009. His verse on the song, "A Star is Born," would stick out. After the release of "Light's Please," fans thought J. Cole's album was on the way.

However, it was announced that J. Cole's album would be released in the summer of 2010. In the spring, J. Cole provided an anthem, "Who Dat." A video was filmed for the song, but still no release date was set for the album, which he titled Cole World. Before long, the fall was approaching and Jay-Z was making plans for Willow Smith and her debut album.

J. Cole was signed in 2008 and told he was the flagship artist of the new label. Despite what he was told, he has been on the backburner most of the way. Currently, his debut album, Cole World, is slated for release sometime in 2011. In preparation for this album, J. Cole has decided to record a single that will be undeniable. He is teaming up with R&B fan favorite, Trey Songz, who is also the face of Rocawear's ad campaign for 2010/2011, a hopeful win-win.

While he is eager for people to hear his second collaboration with Trey Songz, J. Cole said he does not want to give a release date. J. Cole does not want to end up letting the fans down again.

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Jay-Z strikes a deal with the New York Yankees

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

The president of hip hop is known for making deals well outside of the hip hop world and the entertainment community. In 1999, Jay-Z was the biggest rapper on the planet and he capitalized off his popularity with Rocawear. After creating the clothing line, Jay-Z made numerous other deals with other people for various products.


In 2005, Jay-Z, at the time retired from hip hop music, purchased part of the New Jersey Nets’ franchise and became the face of the team. While only being a minority owner of the team, Jay-Z decided to move the franchise back to New York City in his native borough of Brooklyn. The move will be completed sometime next year, but Jay-Z is “on to the next one.”

Outside of hip hop, Jay-Z is probably best-known for the New Jersey Nets and his clothing business ventures. Having grown up a New York Yankees’ fan, Jay-Z has always wanted to do something for his team. Recently, a new business deal has given him this opportunity and he plans to strike on it.

Jay-Z and the New York Yankees have teamed up for a Limited Edition New York Yankees’ clothing line. The merchandise will go on sale on August 30 and will end on September 14. In his chart-topping New York anthem, “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z boasted of how he can make the New York Yankees’ cap more famous than a New York Yankee can.

Now, the franchise is giving him the chance to prove it.

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T.I. talks Eminem, Fashion, and Alfamega

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

Three years ago, T.I. shocked the hip hop world, when he was able to pull Eminem out of hiding for a collaboration. Working on T.I.'s 2007 album, T.I. vs. T.I.P., the duo united for "Touchdown." Most people responded well to the song. Lack of promotion led to it not becoming a radio hit, but it is a fan favorite.

Many listeners believed the song was a one-time-only collaboration between Eminem and T.I. But, following the recording, a bond was made between the two rappers. While the two have yet to collaborate again, T.I. said it is possible the two unite for King Uncaged. On his return album, T.I. plans to pull out all the stops.

Outside of the hip hop game, T.I. has branched out into clothing, making himself into a mogul. For the past three years, T.I. has been promoting his clothing line, AKOO. The line has steadily grown each year and will soon rival other established hip hop brands. When asked of his biggest inspiration in the fashion game, T.I. pointed to Diddy and Jay-Z, founders of Sean John and Rocawear, two of the biggest mainstays.

When T.I. first created AKOO, he hoped to have similar success to Rocawear. Pharrell, who worked with him on his debut album, hailed T.I. as the Jay-Z of the South. Once T.I. launched Grand Hustle Records and began putting albums out on a frequent basis, he started living up to the title. Now, branching out into clothing and film, the former rubberband man is hoping to be the successor. Had he not been in prison for most of last year, T.I. would have been hard at work on another album and cross promoting it with other projects.

The time T.I. spent in prison has been under much scrutiny, especially after he was released from prison early for good behavior. Former Grand Hustle artist, Alfamega suggested T.I. may have given information to the police to ensure his release. This is something T.I. has denied and other rappers, such as Ja Rule, have spoken up for T.I. Rule has known T.I. for a little while and he said he is not the type of man to give someone up for his own personal gain. T.I. said he would ignore all digs from Alfamega as they have not talked since 2008.

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