Rapper and media mogul Jay-Z is now a licensed NBA & MLB agent. Get the deets on his newest accomplishment inside and find out which cable subscribers will get the first look at Diddy's "Revolt TV".....
Months after announcing the creation of Roc Nation Sports, rapper Jay-Z is now an officially licensed NBA & MLB agent. It was his first hurdle to entering sports agency space. But there's one hitch. Before the rapper can officially represent new clients, he'll have to sell off his 1% stake in the Brooklyn Nets! And folks like ESPN aren't too sure he's done that just yet.
Once that happens, the rumor mill suggests that Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant will be his first client. Mr. Carter partnered with CAA to sign on his current roster of Robinson Cano and others.
On the NFL side of things, ESPN also reports that officials are still determining if Jay violated the industry's "runner rule" when Roc Nation signee Geno Smith tweeted a pic of himself hanging with the mogul. As of now, Jay is not certified with the NFL and should not be making contacts with the athletes. Tisk tisk.
We sure hope Jay's legal team sorts out the NFL deal pretty soon. The rumor mill is also suggesting that New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz is on his way to the Roc if not ALREADY signed, but that could be problematic too since Victor partied and posed for pics with Jay on Monday for the 10th anniversary of his 40/40 sports bar. Hmm....maybe Jay-Z's team needs to run "interference" and keep him away from potential clients.
We'll keep you posted about Jay's NFL certification.
And in other new business ventures....
Earlier today, Sean 'Diddy' Combs proudly announced that his Revolt TV has partnered with Time Warner Cable. Through the recently inked deal (Diddy posted video of himself going to sign the papers), the new cable music channel with reach TWC's network of 12 million subscribers. Diddy celebrated his new deal during an interview with the NY Post saying,
“It is rare in this time to be able to get carriage and to get a company as prestigious as Time Warner to believe in you and to commit to you.” And on Twitter, he wrote, "It was all a dream I use to read word up Magazine" Now this is happening".
So when can music fans get a first look at Diddy's channel? For now, the launch has been pushed back from July to October. Though Diddy and Steve Stoute's Translation, Inc.pitched the fall launch during a presentation in Cannes, sources told the Post that the mogul is still trying to drum up investors and additional funding.
But based on his prior success with Bad Boy and Ciroc, we have no doubt that Diddy will be able to make this happen. And after he does solidify his funding, we look forward to seeing him do another victory dance outside of his private jet.
Boss moves indeed.
Photos via FameFlynet/Ben Gabbe/Getty Images North America/Steve Stoute