CULTURE

JAY-Z | Behind The Blueprint Of Cultural Capital by Hussein Abdullahi

JAY-Z’s Historical Run Continues As He Upped His Net Worth by 40%

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JAY-Z

JAY-Z’s Net Worth Jumps 40% with the sales of Tidal and Armand de Brignac.

Ever since graduating from the Hip-Hop ranks and entering the world of full-fledged Entrepreneurship, JAY-Z has proven that the modern-day African-American Dream is the creation of Black Excellence. JAY-Z’s mass influence on popular culture goes beyond being crown the greatest Hip-Hop Lyricist ever to do it. JAY-Z’s unconventional path to ascension came from the brass streets of Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects. From hanging on street corners to signing deals to sell his boutique music streaming service TIDAL and half of his Champagne brand Armand de Brignac, JAY-Z continues to redefine the quintessential African-American dream.


MADE IN MARCY

According to Forbes, back in 2010 JAY-Z met with Billionaire Investor Warren Buffet in Omaha. The two spoke on the importance of investing in upcoming start-ups and venture capitalist firms. Fast Forward to 2021, JAY-Z has benefited from massive financial gains and ROI. In late February, JAY-Z signed a deal to sell half of his Armand de Brignac champagne to the famed LVMH for a value close to $640 Million. He still retains 50% of the share and is the majority owner of the champagne brand (value: $320 million).

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In 2006, JAY-Z had a Financial interest in Armand de Brignac champagne, this came at a time when Frederic Rouzaud, Marketing Director of Cristal Champagne made some comments to the Economist when asked about how rappers endorse his product.

As the universe will have it an opportunity came right shortly thereafter and it was just perfect for us to build our own thing
— JAY-Z

The hip-hop world has viewed the comments as racist and felt major sleight. Ultimately, JAY-Z took a declarative stance and started to boycott Cristal Champagne. Thereafter, JAY-Z invested in Armand de Brignac. The relationship between JAY-Z and the french champagne brand has grown immensely as Ace of Spade become popularized throughout the entertainment industry.

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JAY-Z is hip-hop’s first billionaire

I’m 50% of D’USSÉ and it’s debt free (Yeah), 100% of Ace of Spades, worth half a B (Uh) Roc Nation, half of that, that’s my piece.
— JAY-Z (What's Free -Lyrics)

JAY-Z Inks A Deal To A Sell Majority Stake In Tidal

In his second lucrative deal in 2021, JAY-Z sings a deal to sell a majority stake in his music streaming service Tidal to Square Inc.’s CEO Jack Dorsey for reportedly $297 million. According to Forbes, the transaction valued the company at around $450 million. Square Inc. is a mobile payment company based in San Francisco, CA. According to Bloomberg, JAY-Z expresses his deepest regards as he continues the efforts to expand the company’s suite of financial tools to emerging artists and musicians. In Addition to this transaction, JAY-Z has joined Square’s board of Directors as Square will become Tidal’s significant majority owner. JAY-Z is no stranger to momentum, just a week ago he inked a deal with LVMH. Two deals boost his net worth up 40% from $1 billion to 1.4 billion; This is Black Excellence!

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TIDAL X SQUARE

TIDAL, the champagne, D’USSÉ, I’d like to see a nice peace-fund ideas from people who look like we.
— JAY-Z (LEGACY/4:44)

Strictly Business

According to Forbes, here’s a breakdown of how the Hip-Hop billionaire created generational wealth, below is the diversified investment portfolio. At this rate, JAY-Z is on par with accumulating $1 Billion this year.

  1. Cash and Investments = $425 Million

  2. Armand de Brignac= $320 Million

  3. Roc Nation= $140 Million

  4. D’Usse = $95 Million

  5. Music Catalog = $95 Million

  6. Art Collection = $70 Million


Produced by: TGQ Inc.

Written by: Hussein Abdullahi

Published by: TGQ Inc.


Claude Johnson's Black Fives Foundation Lands Partnership with PUMA by Hussein Abdullahi

The Black Fives Foundation Signs Multi-Year Partnership With Puma

In 1926, a Harvard historian by the name of Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History marked the second week of February as “Negro History Week”. Unfortunately, after the passing of Woodson in 1950, Negro History Week had penetrated all aspects of American culture. By 1976, The celebration of Negro History Week expanded to a month. Over the past 50 years, February has become synonymous with the significant contributions made by great African-American leaders including W.E.B. Du Bois, Ralph Ellison, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X., and many others.


Spotlight: Black Fives Foundation

Throughout this month, our team at TGQ Inc. is honoring African-American organizations making significant contributions to their respective communities through black history, education reform, sport programs, and research. To celebrate Black History Month, our team selected the Black Fives Foundation out of Greenwich, CT and Washington, DC. Founded by Claude Johnson. The Black Fives Foundation is a public charity that aims to research, preserve, showcase, teach, and honor, the pre-NBA history of Afro-Americans in the sport.

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I wanted to make this a celebratory moment for my ancestor through using this pen ... this is my way of keeping us connected.
— Claude Johnson


Mr. Johnson started this non-profit organization with the idea to educate the masses on the cultural significance of Afro-American athletes and their history in the sport of basketball. Johnson is the author of his book titled “Black Fives: The Alpha Physical Culture Club’s Pioneering African American Basketball Team, 1904-1923”. As we continue the celebration of Black History Month, our team will tap into the unique story of Claude Johnson and the Black Fives Foundation.


PUMA PARTNERS WITH BLACK FIVES

As we commemorate the significant contributions made during the Black Era, the cultural impact of sports, music, and entertainment has penetrated popular culture for decades to come. The Black Fives Foundation has recently partnered up with PUMA for a multi-year partnership in support of Black History Education Reform. This cements a unique time in history, unlike most global sports companies, PUMA continues to stand beside global leaders, community organizations, athletes and ambassadors in support of universal equality, justice, and social norms.

Art Graphic by @tgq.inc

Art Graphic by @tgq.inc

Since its existence, The Black Five Foundation has been adamant about educating the masses on the pre-NBA history of African-Americans and their distinct culture. Mr. Johnson is very hopeful for the future of their partnership with PUMA and looks forward to expanding black history education while amplifying voices that speak to the masses.

We are proud and honored to partner with PUMA toward making a meaningful, long-term difference in
expanding black history education to amplify and include awareness of the important pre-NBA history of
African Americans in basketball.
— Claude Johnson

Sources confirm that this partnership aims to raise awareness on the historical components of key figures, teams and contributors of the sport. Puma will take part in several initiatives that are geared to make a positive impact in respective urban communities, also special apparel and footwear collections will be released to the Foundation’s Trademark Slogan “Make History Now”. The new Black Fives x PUMA collection will be dropping on February 12th exclusively at PUMA.com and selected retailers across North America. This collection will include the highly anticipated Limited Edition Chenile Clyde Mids.

Photography courtesy of Frédéric Georges, Art Direction by @tgq.inc

Photography courtesy of Frédéric Georges, Art Direction by @tgq.inc


MAKE HISTORY NOW

In collaboration with the Black Fives Foundation, PUMA will support the foundation’s education reform plans creatively through on-site activation that includes digital museums to observe its archive of historical artifacts and exclusive content from the Black Fives Era. PUMA will provide a special presentation titled the Virtual Vault, which is an online portal for their audiences to visit, educate, and be inspired to make a difference. With over 1,000 historical artifacts, The Black Fives Foundation aims to be the leader in black history education. 

This partnership is a celebratory moment to honour the ancestors of Mr.Johnson, to sign the licensing agreement Johnson used his late grandmother's pen. Check out behind the scenes signing day for Black Fives Foundation and PUMA below. For more information please visit the Black Five Foundation website, where they will be accepting generous contributions that support various charitable initiatives.

Produced by: TGQ INC.

Photography by: Frédéric Georges

Writer: Hussein Abdullahi

Story Published by: TGQ INC.

Featuring: Black FIves Foundation, PUMA, Claude Johnson