Brodie Wagenen Named Chief Operating Officer of Roc Nation Sports

 

Former Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen is joining Jay-Z's  Sports as the company's chief operating officer, Van Wagenen announced.

Van Wagenen worked with Roc Nation when he was the co-head of Creative Arts Agency's baseball division. Van Wagenen took the Mets job in October 2018 and left the agency.

"We believed in the vision Jay and [Juan Perez] had back in 2013," Van Wagenen told ESPN's Jeff Passan. "We've stayed in constant contact with them. It was a natural homecoming."

Did Jay-Z Cut a Deal with Trump for Desiree Perez's pardon?

 

Funk Flex and Jay-Z's feud extends years, but the DJ added a new chapter by consigning a report accusing the Hip Hop mogul of cutting a deal with former President Donald Trump in exchange for Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez's pardon.

Funk Flex announced on Instagram that he has "a story to tell" in relation to the report. He posted a photo of a tabloid story covering Perez being accused of wearing wiretaps for the feds after her arrest. 

South Africa’s Sharks Team Up With Roc Nation

 

The Sharks’ ground-breaking deal with American consortium MVM Holdings has been consolidated by a partnership announcement with Roc Nation, one of the world’s leading marketing companies that promotes the likes of massive singing sensations in Rihanna and Shakira.

The company was founded in 2008 by rapper legend Jay-Z and has offices in New York City, London, Nashville and Los Angeles, and it clearly has the expertise and marketing muscle to grow the Sharks into a global brand.

In the deal formalized a fortnight ago between MVM and the Sharks, New York lawyer Marco Masotti showed he has the financial clout to take the Sharks to a new level and in Roc Nation he has the tool to exhibit the Sharks on the international stage.

Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez Pardoned By Trump

As one of his final acts as president of the United States, Donald Trump issued more than 140 pardons and commutations on Tuesday night (Jan. 19). Among those granted clemency were Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, early Death Row Records backer Michael "Harry-O" Harris and rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, according to the White House.

Perez was granted a full pardon for being involved in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics, the White House said, a conviction that is more than 25 years old. "Since her conviction, Ms. Perez has taken full accountability for her actions and has turned her life around," the White House said in a statement. "She has been gainfully employed and has been an advocate for criminal justice reform in her community."

"I'm grateful to have received a pardon and to have formally closed that chapter of my life in the eyes of the law," Perez said in a statement provided to Billboard. "I have taken full accountability for my mistakes from 25 years ago, but I also take tremendous pride in my personal growth, perseverance and accomplishments since then. This pardon reinforces my lifelong commitment to advocate for criminal justice reform and social justice initiatives."

Jay-Z or 50 Cent?

 

Another round of Celebrity Match Up's is back. This time they hit these scene with New York rappers Jay-Z of Roc Nation and 50 Cent of G-Unit.

Both rappers has made there mark in the industry. 50 Cent recently released his book, Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter, in which the rapper speaks on the alleged rift between JAY-Z and Kanye West and why he believes Hov has become "disappointed" with his friend Ye. 50 Cent says his relationship with Jay-Z is purely ''business'' and insists the pair will never be friends.

50 and Jay-Z were involved in a rap ‘beef’ with each other in early 2009, but while neither has said anything publicly to settle their differences, they met backstage when Jay-Z played a huge concert with 50’s mentor, Eminem, at Detroit’s Comerica Park last year, although 50 refuses to say what happened between them.

J. Prince Talks Roc Nation and Megan Thee Stallion

Megan Thee Stallion found herself in controversy with her record label 1501 Records after inking a management deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation last year.

1501 Records simultaneously inked a deal with Houston legend, J. Prince. “Carl is from my hood better known as 5th Ward and I’m proud to be his new partner moving forward,” Prince wrote at the time.

Months later, Meg accused 1501 of not allowing her to drop new music because she requested a negotiation of her contract. She also fired off a $1 million lawsuit and a temporary restraining order, which allowed her to drop all the music we heard since.

Roc Nation Enters Book Publishing Company

A decade after publishing his memoir “Decoded,” Jay-Z is forming a more lasting partnership with the book industry. Upcoming book releases are set to include a “fantastical illustrated fiction” from Lil Uzi Vert and memoirs from Yo Gotti and Fat Joe.

Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by the rapper, is starting an imprint with Random House called Roc Lit 101. In a joint announcement Tuesday, Random House and Roc Nation promised “books at the dynamic intersection of entertainment and genre-defying literature.” Among the initial releases for next summer: “Till the End,” a memoir by the retired pitching star CC Sabathia; and music journalist Danyel Smith’s “Shine Bright,” a story of Black women in music that combines memoir, criticism and biography.

Leeds United Partners With Roc Nation

 

After 16 years outside England's top flight, the Elland Road club have agreed a deal with the leading music and sports agency, joining global music superstars Rihanna, Alicia Keys and DJ Khaled.

Roc Nation also has Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on its roster.

The partnership was unveiled on Saturday in the form of a mural depicting homegrown Leeds and England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, alongside club legends Lucas Radebe and Albert Johanneson, in Leeds city centre.

Jay-Z Chose The Weeknd For 2021 Super Bowl Halftime

 

Jay-Z has dropped news about next year’s Super Bowl halftime performance letting fans know that Roc Nation has teamed up with Pepsi and the NFL to bring Canadian singer The Weeknd to center stage of the most electrifying sporting experience in the country.

Set for Sunday, February 7, 2021, at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Fl, the Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show, the Weeknd will sing and perform his top songs — and possibly bring on other big-name artists that will most likely be announced over the next few months.

“We all grow up watching the world’s biggest acts playing the Super Bowl and one can only dream of being in that position. I’m humbled, honored and ecstatic to be the center of that infamous stage this year,” The Weeknd said.

Christina Aguilera signs to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation

 

Founded by the rapper in 2008, the company currently boasts the likes of Megan Thee Stallion, Mariah Carey, Nick Jonas and Haim on its roster. As Variety reports, Aguilera has now been added to the label’s management division – though an official announcement is yet to be made.

Sources close to Roc Nation claim that the deal went through weeks ago, and the pop star is now listed on the company’s website. There’s currently no word on potential new material from the singer. It comes after Aguilera announced she’d parted ways with her manager of 20 years, Irving Azoff, last week. It’s unknown whether her team-up with Roc Nation Management came prior to or after their decision to split.

Roc Nation to Demand Justice for Alvin Cole

Jay-Z and Team Roc, the social justice arm of his Roc Nation entertainment company, are organizing a rally in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on Thursday (Oct. 15) to demand justice for 17-year-old Alvin Cole.

Cole was killed on Feb. 2 by Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah, less than three minutes after police began to chase him through the parking lot of Mayfair mall.

The rally is set to take place at 2:30 p.m. CT on Oct. 15 in Hart Park at 7300 Chestnut Street. Face masks are required to attend.

Cole’s family, State Rep. David Bowen, and members of Until Freedom will all participate in the rally, and call for Mensah to be terminated for his actions, and Wauwatosa Police Chief Barry Weber be fired. The rally will additionally demand for the Wauwatosa Police Department to require body cameras.

Two Plead Guilty To Scam In Roc Nation, Wu-Tang Clan Case

Two men have pleaded guilty to a scheme in which they pretended to be affiliated with the legendary hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan and Jay-Z’s entertainment company Roc Nation in order to scam hotels and luxury limousine companies out of thousands of dollars worth of goods and services, the Department of Justice said this week.

According to the DoJ, Aaron Barnes-Burpo and Walker Washington both pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud, a charge that could land both up to two decades in prison.

According to an Associated Press report from when the trial first began in February, Barnes-Burpo and Washington took advantage of hotels to the tune of more than $100,000, including some of the most luxurious hotels in the southern U.S.

Jay-Z To Open Roc Nation University Next Year

Named after his entertainments company, Jay-Z's Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment will be a faculty of Brooklyn's Long Island University in New York, offering undergraduate degrees in music, music technology, entrepreneurship and production, and sports management.

Planning to open its doors next year, prospective students can apply in autumn this year, with courses due to start in September 2021. A quarter of the incoming students will also receive the Roc Nation Hope Scholarship, with the mission statement on LIU's website sharing that "The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at LIU Brooklyn will serve as a globally renowned destination for world-class education, exceptional career development, cultural initiatives and philanthropic endeavors."

3 Investing Lessons From Jay-Z

In 2019, Shawn Corey Carter became hip-hop's first billionaire. Better known as Jay-Z, Mr. Carter didn't just make his money by rapping, although he's one of the industry's best-selling artists. Instead, he built a sprawling empire, including a music label, a sports management company, a streaming service, and a high-end sports bar.

With the Brooklyn-born rapper continuing to grow his net worth, there are certainly many investing lessons to learn, both from his business ventures as well as from his lyrics. Here are three of them.

Would Jay-Z Be Better At Business or Law?

Rapper Jay-Z has been doing business ventures with different companies since the 1990's. Lately his newest venture outside of the music world has been taking on prison condition in the south, and fighting for justice where the cause is called.

I guess you can say its a little early to tell since having this new face in law is early in his late career. But with all the moves he has made and is making, how would you rate this question?

Jay-Z, Yo Gotti, And Team ROC File Lawsuit Over Conditions In Parchman Penitentiary

Jay-Z, Yo Gotti, and Team ROC have helmed legal action on behalf of 227 Mississippi inmates at Parchman Prison, Pitchfork can confirm via legal documents. The class action lawsuit has been brought against the new Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Nathan Burl Cain and prison healthcare provider Centurion. The complaint urges Cain and Centurion to address allegedly subpar living conditions at Parchman.

In addition to the lawsuit, Yo Gotti and Team ROC’s attorneys had several Parchman inmates submit sworn COVID-19 questionnaire forms detailing the lack of COVID-19 testing protocol at the prison. The returned questionnaires describe a lack of social distancing, PPE, and more at the penitentiary.

Who Are The 11 Players Who Joined Roc Nation?

Marcus Rashford, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne are all on Jay-Z’s Roc Nation team of athletes. Who else besides Rashford, Lukaku and De Bruyne are a part of Jay-Z’s team at Roc Nation?

Headed by world-famous rapper Jay-Z, Roc Nation Sports has been a power player since its founding in 2013. Some of Roc Nation's most valuable clients are NFL running backs Todd Gurley and Saquon Barkley, as well as New York Mets second baseman Robinson Cano and New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia.

What Jay-Z And Roc Nation Is Doing For George Floyd's Memory

The hip-hop mogul and his entertainment company Roc Nation took out full-page ads in newspapers across America in memory of Floyd, a man from Minneapolis who died while in police custody after a police officer kneeled on Floyd's neck for eight minutes, moments that were captured on cellphone video.

In the footage, Floyd, 46, shouts “I cannot breathe” and “don’t kill me” before losing consciousness. He was later pronounced dead. Since-fired officer Derek Chauvin was later charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in Floyd's death.

What Would A Battle Between DMX And Jay-Z Be Like?

Before DMX and Jay Z became international rap titans, they competed in a classic hip-hop war. Even with all that feuding in the past, Hov and X have collaborated on a bunch of songs, including "It's Murda" and "Blackout." They even almost formed a group with Ja Rule.

In 1999, Jay Z and DMX embarked (and majorly cashed in) on the Hard Knock Life Tour. Although Jay Z’s album gave the tour its name, the lineup was a joint headliner of the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder and DMX.

Captured in the documentary film Backstage, Jay Z and DMX had vastly different demeanors on wax, on stage, and as celebrities. While both were pillars of Rap-made-right and suddenly sex symbols, they only overlapped in skill and love of the art.

How Beyoncé And Jay-Z Fell In Love

Once upon a time, Jay Z and Beyoncé fell in love. But—when, exactly? At this point, it seems as though music’s preeminent power couple has been together forever, but there were actually several years where they kept the world at large guessing, denying their undying love while likely continuing to date under the rader (or—as under the radar as two famous people can be).

Though there are varying reports as to when exactly they first came face to face, but in 2007 Jay told Charlie Rose he met Bey “10 years ago,” or in 1997; Queen B told Seventeen a year later that “I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we first started dating.” So young! Beyoncé was born September 4, 1981, so that’d mean they met in late 1999 or early 2000. Since women have a better memory than men, we’d bet on Bey. (Jay was born December 4, 1969, which means he was about 30.)