Earlier this week, Snoop Dogg expanded his enterprise and leisure empire even additional, this time venturing throughout the ocean and buying Welsh soccer (soccer) workforce Swansea Metropolis. Whereas Snoop joins different American superstars who’ve invested in abroad soccer reminiscent of Tom Brady and Ryan Reynolds, he additionally joins a few of his hip-hop friends who’re both full or partial homeowners of sports activities entities. The next artists have bridged hip‑hop and athletics via possession, ambassador roles, or league creation—leveraging their platforms to form sports activities tradition, advertising, and group engagement.
Jay‑Z (Nets): Grew to become a minority proprietor of the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets in 2004 (roughly 1–1.5% stake), enjoying a key function within the workforce’s relocation and rebranding. He relinquished the stake in 2013 to adjust to NBA agent rules whereas launching Roc Nation Sports activities.
Nelly (Charlotte Bobcats and St. Louis Nellies): Nelly has maybe diversified his possession in sports activities greater than anybody. He first turned a minority co-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (later Hornets) in 2004 as a part of an investor group led by Robert Johnson. (His involvement made him one of many first artists with possession in an NBA franchise.) This 12 months, he introduced his possession of the St. Louis Nellies, a horse racing workforce, which made its debut at Fairmount Park in Collinsville, Illinois for an occasion that was a part of the Nationwide Thoroughbred League.
Usher (Cleveland Cavaliers): Joined an investor group led by Dan Gilbert, chairman and founding father of Quicken Loans, to take partial possession of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005, investing roughly $9 million. He was famous for serving to to boost the leisure aspect of occasions on the membership and was integral in campaigning for LeBron James’ return to the workforce.
Tems (San Diego Soccer Membership): Grew to become the primary African lady to be concerned in Main League Soccer (MLS) possession when she joined the San Diego Soccer Membership’s possession group as a membership associate via her firm, The Main Vibe. In a press launch saying the information, the “Me & U” singer expressed her pleasure, stating, “soccer has an unimaginable capacity to unite individuals, and I look ahead to serving to construct one thing significant in San Diego—a metropolis recognized for its range and forward-thinking spirit.”
2 Chainz (School Park Skyhawks): In 2019, he acquired a minority stake within the School Park Skyhawks, the NBA G-League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks. He’s the primary rapper to personal a G-League workforce.
Justin Timberlake (Memphis Grizzlies): Grew to become a minority proprietor of the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies in 2012, becoming a member of the possession group when Robert Pera acquired the workforce. By means of his funding firm, Tennman Sports activities, LLC, Timberlake secured a 2.84% stake within the franchise. A proud Memphis native, Timberlake is continuously noticed at Grizzlies video games, whether or not courtside or in luxurious suites- or performing the nationwide anthem. He has constantly proven sturdy assist for each the workforce and the town, even showing in a promotional video interesting to level guard Mike Conley to re-sign with the workforce.
Marc Anthony (and previously Jennifer Lopez (Miami Dolphins): When the couple have been married, they purchased a minority share of the Miami Dolphins (because the couple had a second residence in Miami). Upon their divorce, Anthony purchased out Lopez’s shares an he continues to be concerned with the workforce. (Different notable celebrities which have or had partial possession stake within the Dolphins embody Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Venus and Serena Williams, and Fergie.)
Drake (casual ambassador of the Toronto Raptors ): Although not an proprietor, he serves because the international ambassador for the Toronto Raptors and holds a stake in York United FC within the Canadian Premier League. His branding affect has helped elevate workforce visibility, particularly throughout the workforce’s 2019 championship season.
Ice Dice (BIG3): Co-founded the BIG3 skilled 3-on-3 basketball league in 2017, enjoying a hands-on possession and promotional function in constructing the league’s id and construction
