Meek Mill Says Jay-Z's Entrepreneurial Blueprint Changed His Life
Meek Mill has been bossing up and making some savvy money moves, raising his profile beyond the rap game. The Championships MC made news this week after announcing he was expanding his portfolio into corporate ownership. In a new partnership with sports retailer Lids, Meek will not only will be a co-owner, but he will also have a hand in the company’s creative strategy.
In August, Meek will release a limited-edition line of hats alongside his Amazon docuseries, #FreeMeek.
Speaking with Business Insider on Wednesday (June 26), the Philadelphia native discussed the new addition to his resume and shared how working alongside Jay-Z has changed his perspective on business and investing. In the exclusive interview, the rapper spoke candidly about the business acumen he’s gleaned from hip-hop’s first billionaire.
“He's just a different type of guy. He's about his business,” Meek began before following up with some examples of how Hov moves behind the scenes. “He's never late, he's on point. He's checking on his business every chance he gets.”
Meek has had plenty of time to learn from Jay with how closely the two have been working together as of late – from music (linking up on “What’s Free?”) to their criminal justice reform non-profit, REFORM Alliance, that they co-founded with Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin, whom Meek is also close with. His connection with Rubin, who also has ownership in Lids, is what led to Meek getting this new opportunity.
“Basically, I've seen Jay-Z, and then I've watched other artists who came up around his time. He actually built something,” Meek explained.
Meek ended his sentiments with a note of admiration for Jay-Z’s entrepreneurial mindset, ascribing his shift in perspective to the blueprint Hov has laid out.
“He built businesses, and he built things that made him become the man who he is, that we could call a billionaire guy,” the rapper concluded. “I watched that, and I studied that. That's why I'm working the way I'm working now to build a foundation for myself too.”
Read the interview in full here.
