Online Betting the Next Frontier for Billionaire Music Mogul Jay Z

 

Source @michaelrubin / Instagram

A week after Jay Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation joined other new investors to secure $325 million in order for the the e-commerce powerhouse Fanatics to expand its offerings into gaming, ticketing and media, after dominating the sports apparel market — the billionaire music mogul has teamed up with Fanatics founder Michael Rubin to form Fanatics Sportsbook.

“Jay-Z and 76ers’ owner Michael Rubin are applying for a gaming license to form Fanatics Sportsbook, in what would be the newest and latest sportsbook in New York, per source,” ESPN writer Adam Schefter wrote in a tweet on Monday (August 16). “The process is expected to take a few months, but a big business could be growing.”

Jay-Z and 76ers’ owner Michael Rubin are applying for a gaming license to form Fanatics Sportsbook, in what would be the newest and latest sportsbook in New York, per source. The process is expected to take a few months, but a big business could be growing.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2021

TMZ and several other publications confirmed Schefter's reporting, with the online entertainment magazine stating that according to its sources Jay-Z might be the group's (which also includes sports betting tech company Kambi) secret weapon:

Not only is he the most prominent public figure applying for a license, but he's the only Black applicant. While the other corporations might have Black employees or execs, they aren't the actual licensees... whereas Jay would be.

Even so the competition will be stiff for a betting license with the likes of DraftKings, BetMGM,  FanDuel, Caesars Sportsbook and WynnBET, in the mix for what will reportedly be just two licenses granted by the New York State Gaming Commission. The commission had until January 6, 2022, to select the successful bidders.

Success is never guaranteed but the dynamic duo have a winning history working together in business as well as for social causes. In addition to Jay Z's investment into Rubin's Fanatic, which helped push the company's valuation to $18 billion, they are both founding members of the Reform Alliance,  a criminal justice organization whose mission involves "fighting for the justice and dignity of people who are needlessly trapped in the criminal justice system."

Today, we celebrated the signing of our historic probation reform bill in Virginia. Thank you @GovernorVA @DonScott757 @JusticeFwdVa @ACUFforJustice @FaithandFreedom for helping us Give Life Back! @michaelrubin @MeekMill @RobertRooks5 pic.twitter.com/WvVc8ghNAA

— REFORM Alliance (@REFORM) June 10, 2021

Houston Track Star Cameron Burrell Death Ruled Suicide

Cameron Burrell was one of the fastest men in the world, but he couldn’t outrace his personal demons.

Friday the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science confirmed in its report that the former University of Houston sprinter’s death at the age of 26 has been ruled a suicide. It was a sad final chapter to an extraordinary life that was filled with promise, potential and prestige from beginning to end.

Photo Courtesy University of Houston 

“On Monday evening, our family’s hearts were broken with the passing of our son, Cameron, who took his own life,” said Cameron’s father Leroy Burrell in a statement following the revelation. “While much of the world knows Cameron from his accomplishments in competition, he was so much more as a son, a father, a brother and as a man. We love him, and we will miss him forever.”

Cameron followed his father, a gold medalist in the Barcelona Olympics in the 4x100 along with his wife Michelle who was part of the winning women’s 4x100 team, to the University of Houston where the elder Burrell had run in college and has coached for 23 years. 

Under his guidance and that of his godfather, nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, Cameron broke his dad’s school record, set five years before his birth, in the 100 meters by .01 seconds with a time of 9.93 in 2017. He was a three-time All-American at 60 and 100 meters and was twice named All-American as a member of the 4x100 relay team. 

Burrell was also a member of the United States 4x100-meter relay team, helping it earn gold at the World Junior Championships in 2012 and capture silver at the 2019 World Relays. At the 2018 Athletics World Cup he anchored the U.S. relay team to gold. With such a prestigious resume it was hard for his family, friends and supporters to come to terms with his cause of death.

“We may never know why Cameron made such a decision,” Leroy continued, urging people who may be struggling in their lives to reach out for help. “You are not alone, and you are surrounded by more people who love and care for you than you may think in a dark moment.”

Cameron’s aunt Dawn Burrell, who represented the United States in the long jump at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, seconded the emotion adding a passionate plea on Instagram calling in part for people to, “Please check on your strong family members that you view as kings. They might be struggling internally more than you realize.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dawn Burrell (@chefdawnburrell)

In addition to his parents, Burrell is survived by his brothers, Joshua and Jaden Burrell. For those having struggles with their mental health, The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is available 24 hours at 1-800-273-8255 or you can online chat through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The American Suicide Prevention Hotline is also available at 888-333-2377.

  

DaBaby Bounced From Spotify Streaming Throne by Lil Nax X

Maybe it’s the Satan Shoes.

To be fair, however, if it only took a little blood and undying devotion to Christianity’s supreme
embodiment of evil to be a successful musician — there would probably be a lot more of them.

Photo Credit Instagram (@LilNasX)

Still, whatever it is the 22-year-old rapper is sippin’ on that’s got him thinking he is Superman, he should refill his bottle; because between his talent, an uncanny ability to navigate the ever-changing tides of Internet stardom without ever going under and that x-factor (Is it the shoes?) — in the parlance of DJ Khaled, “All he does is win!”

His latest victory came Tuesday, when the rapper surpassed DaBaby as the most streamed rapper on Spotify, thanks to his newest viral release “Industry Baby” notching over 100 million streams on the platform.

🚨 | Lil Nas X reached 52 MILLION monthly listeners and surpassed DaBaby to become Spotify's most listened to male rapper. pic.twitter.com/obsbHBd22E

— Lil Nas X Stats 👶🏾 (@lilnasxstats) August 10, 2021

“Wow this is insane,” Nas X tweeted of the achievement. This is the most I’ve ever had in my career. Thank u to everybody listening.” 

While the win was the latest in a long line for Nas X, who has persevered and dominated in an industry many thought would limit him because of his revelation and ultimate embrace of his sexuality as a gay man — including of course his country rap powerhouse single “Old Town Road” which in 2019 became the longest-running (19 weeks) number-one song since the Billboard Hot 100 chart debuted in 1958, the news was another blow to DaBaby’s recently spiraling career following homophobic comments he made July 25 at his Rolling Loud concert appearance:

If you didn't show up today with HIV/AIDS, or any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that'll make you die in two to three weeks, then put your cell phone light in the air,” he said during his performance. “Fellas, if you ain’t suck a n-gga dick in the parking lot, put your cell phone lights in the air. Keep it f*cking real.

The rapper also brought out Megan Thee Stallion’s alleged shooter Tory Lanez to perform some of her songs during the set, which may have violated Megan’s restraining order against her assailant. 

In addition to drawing a scathing rebuke from Elton John, Dua Lipa, whom he collaborated on with on their smash hit “Levitation,” disavowed him, and festivals including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Day N Vegas, iHeartRadio Music Festival and more dropped him from their lineup.

DaBaby later apologized for the incident through an Instagram post writing:

Social media moves so fast that people want to demolish you before you even have the opportunity to grow, educate, and learn from your mistakes. As a man who has had to make his own way from very difficult circumstances, having people I know publicly working against me—knowing that what I needed was education on these topics and guidance—has been challenging. I appreciate the many people who came to me with kindness, who reached out to me privately to offer wisdom, education, and resources. That’s what I needed and it was received.

I want to apologize to the LGBTQ+ community for the hurtful and triggering comments I made. Again, I apologize for my misinformed comments about HIV/AIDS and I know education on this is important. Love to all. God Bless.

- DaBaby

It’s hard to judge how sincere the post was since it was later removed by DaBaby.

While DaBaby’s future may be in doubt, Nas X is just getting an inkling of an idea of where his career might take him beyond music, and one of those places is your television.

“I definitely want to get into acting, but I feel I have to give it my all, and I want to focus on music for right now. I want my first movie to be amazing,” Nas X told Variety, after revealing to the magazine that he was going to do the hit HBO drama “Euphoria” before deciding he didn’t want to take time away from finishing his album, adding in a tweet on Wednesday, “BTW this was not me saying I’m too good for Euphoria, that’s literally one of my favorite shows right now."

btw this was not me saying im too good for euphoria, that’s literally one of my favorite shows right now. https://t.co/JSVyQRgQzQ

— nope 👶🏾 (@LilNasX) August 11, 2021