Hmmmm, maybe those rumors were right?

I read a while back that Jay-Z owned part of the Ace of Spades label that he touted in 2 "Kingdom Come" songs.

But I didn't believe it, considering the fact that he didn't have even part ownership of hundreds of brand names he's name checked in his songs.

But then I read this People.com blurb:

IT'S BUBBLICIOUS
Pharrell Williams, Sean "Diddy" Combs and Jay-Z gather for a champagne toast (of Z's very own brand, Ace of Spades) to celebrate Pharrell's 34th birthday at New York's Lower East Side eatery The Stanton Social on Thursday. Also on the celebratory agenda: paying homage to singer-songwriter Robin Thicke, who just received his first platinum album.

So...he does own it? If so, that'd be a smart business move, to go from a heavily publicized champange that he didn't see a profit on (Cristal), to one that he did. The owners of the Ace of Spade wine said that you could lauch a champange not popular in the US with the help of a rapper, like Jay, and I guess they were right.

Jay's part-ownership portfolio keeps kind of dwindling (he sold his portions of Rocawear and Rocafella for nice amounts though), so I guess this is a good thing to add, if this even is the case

Oh really?

From the rumorville:

http://chesing.blogspot.com/2007/04/jayonce-records.html

"Rumors" have been circulating about Jay-Z and Beyonce getting married butthe duo may have another partnership in the works. According tomediatakeout.com, Jay-Z will soon announce that he’s leaving hisposition at Def Jam to create a new label with Beyonce.According to mediatakeout.com, a key person involved with the new labelhas said that it will launch early next year.“It’s a done deal. Jay-Z already has Beyonce and Matthew Knowles onboard,” said the source. “She’ll be finishing up her contract Sony], and I expect that she’ll sign on to the new label shortlyafterwards.”

I wonder if a) this is true and b) if it is, how much executive control Beyonce will have. Beyonce's work ethic should be studied in class, and she has a nice voice, but I don't know how great her critical thinking skills and business sense is.

I have this theory that Matthew Knowles is the brain behind her success (and I'm sure Jay gives her pointers) so I don't think she'd be particularly effective in an executive role.

But, if there are investors willing to fund her label, I'm sure they think having a multi-platinum artist at the head increases the odds of success than just a regular Harvard Business School grad would. And they would be wrong. Maybe.

This Newsweek Will Smith article is

very informative and interesting (link below). And apparently according to the accompanying cartoon drawn (painted? colored?) of Will, he works for Jay-Z now?

Just jokes.

Anyway, the article about how Will has taken the thunder away from Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks (among other actors) in terms of box office mojo and is now the most consistent and reliable box office star out of every actor in the world (okay, I'll throw in all the galaxies and planets and stuff, too).

Wow, what a banner year for African American actors.

You know, to start, Samuel L Jackson (by the way, does anyone know what the L stands for?) has had the title of 'actor who has the combined highest box office sales' for a while now, I think all his movies (one of the more recent Star Wars movies and Jurassic Park included) have grossed over $1 billion dollars in total.

Then Jennifer Hudson, Forrest Whittaker and Eddie Murphy get Oscar nods (and Beyonce got an imaginary one, that has to count for something), with the 1st two winning.

And now, Will is the certified Box Office King.

It's a beautiful thing, and ultimately I hope it brings about even more change of who is behind and in front of the cameras.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17888452/site/newsweek/