business deal

JAY-Z Buys Stake In Luxury Watch Marketplace Wristcheck

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JAY-Z is the rap businessman. Other artists have been successful, but nobody else has made the business side of things such an explicit part of their persona. He backs up in real life, too. The Brooklyn icon has invested in the luxury watch marketplace Wristcheck. He bought a $5 million in the company, which was founded by Austen Chu in 2020. The rapper joins a prestigious list of Wrist Check investors, including Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, K3 Venture and Gobi Partners GBA.

Austen Chu announced the deal on July 3. He issued a statement praising JAY-Z and his exposure he’s given to luxury watches in his lyrics. He also cited the rapper as an inspiration on his business mindset. “As an entrepreneur, JAY-Z has always been an inspiration to me,” he wrote. “I remember growing up to his music. His lyrics not only introduced me to watch brands like Audemars Piguet, but also fueled my love for watches even further… He bridged the gap between watches and pop culture.”

Read More: Beyonce Shares Lavish New Vacation Pics With Jay-Z

Wristcheck CEO Praised JAY-Z’s Enormous Influence

The praise didn’t stop there. Chu also cited JAY-Z’s enormous influence as something that will boost the Wristcheck profile moving forward. “[He’s] the most influential celebrity watch collector of the 21st century and a certified G.O.A.T.,” Chu explained. “His support carries immense weight both personally and professionally. It’s a testament to the trust and community we’ve built. And marks a major milestone in cementing Wristcheck as the go-to platform for watch enthusiasts worldwide.”

Chu is not wrong in overstating JAY-Z’s association with watches. The rapper has spent decades putting fans onto brands and names they wouldn’t have heard otherwise. The association even applies to other rappers. N.O.R.E. claimed that he always consults Jay before he buys a new watch. “I won’t buy a watch unless I speak to certain people,” he told the Wrist Check podcast. “JAY-Z’s top of the list. He does not answer me all the time. But I think that’s respect. I think that if he doesn’t like the watch, he won’t say, ‘N.O.R.E., don’t do that.’”

Read More: Eminem Did Not Diss Jay-Z On New Song “Tobey” According To Royce Da 5’9″

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Miami Heat Nix Conor McGregor Partnership After Mascot Stunt

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Game 4 of the NBA Finals has gone down in infamy for Conor McGregor. He was accused of raping a woman just after the game concluded. However, he also sent the Heat’s mascot to the hospital. Partway through the third quarter, the UFC veteran came onto the court alongside Burnie, the Heat’s anthropomorphized fireball mascot. Burnie donned novelty boxing gloves before almost immediately being rocked by a 1-2 punch combo from McGregor. As the mascot writhed on the floor, McGregor sprayed him with a pain relief aerosol. The stunt had been set up to promote the spray, which McGregor co-owns.

However, it was later reported that the man inside the mascot costume had been sent to the ER and received pain medication following the incident. Later, McGregor said that he had visited the man. “The mascot is good. It was a skit, and all is well,” the MMA veteran said. “I spent a lot of time with him afterward, we talked it out, everything is great. It was all part of the show!” Despite McGregor’s assurances, it was likely not the promotion that Tidl Sport Recovery Spray was looking for. That appears to be the case given the latest news out of Miami.

Heat Reportedly Backing Out Of Deal With McGregor

MIAMI, FLORIDA – JUNE 09: Conor McGregor is seen on the court during a timeout in Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on June 09, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

“This was very bad for an otherwise crystal clean organization,” said an insider. “I can’t imagine the Heat brass want the Tidl Sports patch on their jerseys — it’s a reminder of the 24 hours of hell the organization went through.” Reportedly, the deal would have seen Heat players wearing branded patches on their uniforms in the 2023-24 season. However, it appears that the Heat want to distance themselves from the fighter. Literally KOing a team’s mascot will do that.

Furthermore, the other allegations from that night have given the Heat pause for concern. While there has been little progression in the case in recent weeks, McGregor is still accused of violently assaulting a woman at the Heat’s arena. Even if the accusations are proven to be false, it’s yet another thing that taints McGregor’s presence at the Kaseya Center. For the time being, it appears that Miami’s cashing out of the partnership with the pain spray.

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