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.