New York wants to make April 21 “Jay-Z Day” to honor his many accomplishments, such as being a “innovative entrepreneur.”
In his native New York, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter may soon have a state holiday named in his honor.
The entertainer-turned-businessman’s birthday, December 4, may soon become “Jay-Z Day” in the city that never sleeps, according legislation that was introduced in early December 2023.
The proposed bill would recognize the Brooklyn native’s “legendary status as a masterful MC and lyricist and as an innovative entrepreneur,” according to the court petition.
The “Big Pimpin” emcee has become as not just one of the finest rappers to ever take the mic, but also a town hero thanks to his economic acumen, as previously reported by AFROTECH.
Although hip-hop was the starting point of Jay-Z’s business career, he has subsequently expanded into other industries, including tech, cuisine, and more.
His blockbuster song “Ain’t No…” with Foxy Brown, as previously reported by AFROTECH, rapidly imparted music industry knowledge to Jay-Z, and he hasn’t stopped since.
Jay-Z, the first millionaire in the hip-hop industry, made the long-term decision to play the game when he started the entertainment business Roc Nation in the early 2000s.
He’s had quite the network since then, having invested early in Uber before it grew to be the biggest ride-sharing business in the country.
In an interview with American businessman and fellow billionaire Warren Buffet for CNBC’s “Make It,” Jay-Z stated that his approach to his music career is modeled after the Oracle of Omaha’s policy of only investing in companies that he knows rather than what is popular.
Jay-Z observed at the time, “Music is like stocks, there’s the hоt thing of the moment.” People frequently rely their emotional decisions on that. They don’t cling to their familiarity.
“That was the greatest trιck in music that people ever pulled off,” he went on, “to convince artists that they can’t make a living as artists.” Since its inception, hip-hop has always been aspirational. That idea that an artist cannot consider money at the same time was consistently disproved.
Jay-Z’s business achievements are equally impressive as his achievements as an emcee. He founded 40/40 Club, one of the most illustrious nightclubs in New York, and went on to launch Roc Nation, Roc-A-Wear apparel, and Aspiro, a technology company that later evolved into the streaming service TIDAL.
Furthermore, the “Hard Knock Life” rapper has been actively supporting companies like Black-owned plant-based enterprise Misha’s and the food tech marketplace Hungry, therefore tapping into a sector that sustains the culture.
The city where it all began is now proposing a Jay-Z holiday in an attempt to honor the business and entertainment magnate.
