Jay Z makes another business move

Hip hop icon Jay Z continues to expand his business portfolio as the rapper, Roc Nation founder and Tidal owner has aligned with Puma to become the apparel brand’s president of basketball operations, reports Rolling Stone. In his new role, the rapper is expected to assist with the brand’s creative direction and product, as well as recruit both basketball players and fellow artists to Puma, according to ESPN. Puma and Jay-Z first collaborated a year ago when the label provided shoes, shirts and other merchandise for the rapper’s 4:44 Tour. “We’ve been working with Roc Nation for quite some time. They’ve been great partners to us for several years. We’ve done many different deals with many different ambassadors,” said Adam Petrick, Puma’s global director of brand and marketing, He added that the president of basketball operations gig “was something [Jay Z] wanted to be a part of.” The recruitment of Jay Z, fresh off of “Everything Is Love” with Beyoncé, follows news that Puma inked three of the biggest NBA draft-eligible players – expected No. 1 pick DeAndre Ayton, Marvin Bagley III and Zhaire Smith – to endorsement deals, marking the shoe brand’s most high-profile NBA rookie deals since Puma signed Vince Carter in 1998. Puma also agreed to a lifetime deal with New York Knicks great Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the shoe’s first ever endorser in 1973. Over the past five years, Jay Z’s Roc Nation has expanded into sports management, with Kevin Durant and Jeremy Lin among his clients. Roc Nation singer Rihanna is also a Puma ambassador.