Forbes: Nas to become owner of Mass Appeal Magazine and launch Mass Appeal Media
All I Need Is One Mag: Nas Invests In Mass Appeal Media - Forbes
Nas first appeared on the cover of Mass Appeal magazine in 2002. A decade later, hes coming backas an owner.
The Queens-born rapper tells FORBES that he has invested a six-figure sum in the publication, which re-emerged as a quarterly print product earlier this year after a five-year hiatus.
I always liked what they represented, says Nas. They invested into the culture
I saw their vision for what they planned and I thought I could add value across the board.
He will serve as Associate Publisher for Mass Appeal, which was originally founded in 1996 as a graffiti magazine and has since involved into a broader outfit spanning print, web, video and a monthly event series.
Nas explained that hed been dismayed at the lack of options for readers interested in all aspects of hip-hop culture, particularly on the newsstands. He considered starting his own publication, as Jay-Z did, but figured hed have better luck using an existing brand as a launching pad.
Mass Appeal has a legacy and respect, he says. It already has a foundation
I just feel like I can add on because I can lend my kind of cultural expertise and my professional acumen, and develop the business.
The move is indicative of a shift in the rappers priorities. Unlike some of his musical contemporaries, Nas wasnt among the first wave of mainstream hip-hop entrepreneurs that sprang up in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
As a result, he wasnt involved in megadeals like Jay-Zs $204 million sale of clothing line Rocawear or 50 Cents $100 million windfall from VitaminWater, which placed the latter two among hip-hops five wealthiest artists.
Lately, however, Nas has been spending more time thinking about businessits about the right time in his career, he figures.
I knew that this was down the road, he says. I didnt care to interrupt me being a creative musical artist
I said Ill be more of a businessman down the road. Im down the road now.
He credits Magic Johnson as one of his inspirations to diversify his holdings. And like the former Lakers star, who now holds a small stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers alongside Guggenheim Partners, Nas is teaming up with more established investors.
On the Mass Appeal deal, hes joined by White Owl Capital Partners, an early stage investment firm with interests in tech, media and energy in North America, Europe and China.
So what happens if Mass Appeal decides to write about Nas again? Journalistic integrity comes first.
If that happens, I dont want to see it until its out, he says. I wont get involved with that at all
I wont touch anything, theyre free to say whatever they want. They can say Im a psychopath, they can say Im a sweetheart
as long as its from their honest opinion, thats all that matters to me.
Owner of Gureilla Union (Rock the Bells and Paid Dues Tour), does the producer thing (Tyson doc) and now doing the media thing with Mass Appeal
