Wed 3 Aug 2011
Jay-Z is Pharrell’s Partner, Not His Boss: Decoding the Billionaire Boys Club x Rocawear Deal (Exclusive)
Posted by Miss Info under About Miss Info , Crony-ism , Exclusives , Fashion , Good For Hip Hop[28] Comments
GQ Magazine’s website posted the headline today, “Exclusive: Jay-Z Buys Billionaire Boys Club“…sending music and streetwear fans into a tizzy:
“GQ has learned that as of today, Jay-Z’s fashion house, Rocawear, owns the licensing to manufacture and distribute Billionaire Boys Club. Sources say that Jay-Z and Pharrell, the current face and force behind BBC, will work as a tandem—utilizing Jay-Z’s business prowess and Pharrell’s creativity…”
But the problem with “exclusives” is that sometimes the earliest birds run off with half a worm. And in this instance, that headline misnames the worm completely, even though the story isn’t all wrong. (by the way, I’m not immune to “exclusive” errors. When Swizz told me about his wedding, I was first to report it, but said it was in Sardinia, where he was partying. The actual ceremony was in Corsica.) Within an hour, Jay-Z tweeted a message to refute the GQ headline:
“Partnering with @4real4rell on BBC” follow him.. (Not “buying” as GQ erroneously reported.)
Unusually reactive for Mr. Carter, right? But that speaks to his friendship with Pharrell and the fact that he does not want this deal to look like a ‘takeover’ (*groan*)…
Since the Star Trak/Billionaire Boys Club team are like family…I reached out to clear up some of the misconceptions…
After the jump
Rocawear (one part of the Iconix Group, which also owns Starter, Candies, London Fog, Fieldcrest sheets, etc.) is “licensing” Billionaire Boys Club, meaning they will make and distribute BBC’s products, with Pharrell retaining creative control. In the past, BBC did all the manufacturing and distribution by itself, with some initial help from Pharrell’s friend and mentor Nigo/A Bathing Ape.
Jay-Z and Pharrell are prepping a formal announcement that we’ll post as soon as it’s ready, but in the meantime, all the fashion business folks I’ve talk to agree that a larger licensing deal sets BBC up to fulfill its potential as a stand-alone brand, where in the past it’s been more of a limited edition pet project. There may be significant expansion within the line, and in terms of retail availability. But with Pharrell, the designers, and their home team at work…the Billionaire Boys Club design aesthetic that so many others have copied will stay intact. There will just be a lot more of it ; )
Sidebar: I’m not sure if P is campaigning for some Forbes record, but in the past few months, he started curating at Karmaloop, marketing brands with Rob Stone from Cornerstone, opening up youth centers in Virginia Beach, launching Qream liqueurs with Diageo, changed the name of his label to “i am Other” and now this?! He’s on fire. I actually hope that this Rocawear partnership frees up Pharrell, Loic, Phillip, the BBC Blog, and the rest of his crew to do even more special projects on the art and design end (like chairs with sex legs ; ).
Related:
Tyler The Creator Shoots Down Rumors of Signing With Pharrell’s ‘I Am Other’ Record Label
‘Ecology of Love’: A Short Film Starring Pharrell Williams & Dania Ramirez (Video)
Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys, Pharrell, Verbal, Busta Rhymes and More Celebrate Reebok’s ‘Reethym of Lite’ Launch
Pharrell Launches Qream Liqueur In L.A. With Robin Thicke
Pharrell Gives W Magazine A Tour Of His Miami Home (Video)
Rihanna, Keri Hilson, and Pharrell Support the Fight Against Leukemia at the DKMS Gala
Pharrell’s Interested In Outer Space And Bionic Yarn
August 3rd, 2011 at 6:24 pm
looking like a corporation
August 3rd, 2011 at 6:33 pm
smart business move on Jay-z part. Pharell is on fire in the fashion world his branches extended past that of urban clothing. His portfolio is prestigious. Ive always like the bbc line I just didn’t like when it went too urban, monogram ice cones etc.
On a more dull note is this merge a sign of the times? two struggling clothing companies coming together? Who knows. I like the idea though. I just think pharell is highly under rated. He was the first hip hop act with a foot in the high end market literally, shoe deals through bape and LV. He opened up partnerships and sponsorships for urban wear through high end clothing. It should create more opportunity for bbc and Jay.
August 3rd, 2011 at 6:47 pm
mikey is starting to sound a lot like miss info.
by-line mix up?
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:01 pm
Slight error, fixed.
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:29 pm
“meaning they will make and distribute BBC’s products”
the quality of the clothes will go down. p’ll keep the good shit for videos, while the other stuff gonna end up at marshalls/tjmaxx/macy’s
August 3rd, 2011 at 7:55 pm
man i hope pharell really does maintain creative control…hov dress like my pops
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Unusually reactive for Mr. Carter, right? But that speaks to his friendship with Pharrell and the fact that he does not want this deal to look like a ‘takeover’ (*groan*)………why the groan
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:42 pm
lol thats hysterical. he was fly at one point though. When he was in his versace and moschino phase. I think that was influenced through Biggie though. For the record name brands don’t correlate with stylish im using these designers as an example of timeless fashion.
I agree though I wouldn’t wear anything he would. Hopefully pharell can school him on style. Kanye did the smart thing he went back to school so he can understand fashion in its whole essence Jay needs that. And to be honest I knew rocawear was doing terrible I had no idea bbc was though.
August 4th, 2011 at 1:38 am
‘Haters gon’ be really mad off my next deal’
August 4th, 2011 at 2:11 am
I’m assuming the usage of ‘takeover’ was a little obvious, hence the groan lol
August 4th, 2011 at 2:14 am
I’m a little iffy about the affiliation to Rocawear and the increased accessibility. Isn’t exclusivity apart of the ‘allure’ (*info groan*) of BBC ?
August 4th, 2011 at 4:28 am
I totally agree. BBC like Bathing Ape maintains a high price not because of it’s originality or quality but because it’s so hard to get. If you put it in every store you’ll lose the cool factor.
August 4th, 2011 at 8:45 am
IMO these brands won’t be legendary, there’s no one I see that can carry the torch and carry these fashions into “legacy” status once the figure heads are too old or dead. Hip hop culture is forgetful with each new generation. It’s easy to get lost in translation.
August 4th, 2011 at 10:06 am
Iconix Group,will make and distribute BBC’s products, with Pharrell retaining creative control. So rocawear and bbc will have the same distributer. Therefore, Jay-z won’t be a partner nor owner of pharrells bbc clother
August 4th, 2011 at 10:07 am
It might just be me, but I dont see anyone, I mean anyone, wearing Rocawear.
I live in NY and i dont see nobody rocking that shit. Every once in a while you might see a construction worker wearing a torn up pair from 5-6 years ago. But i dont see anybody wearing the stuff thats in macys now. Jay dont even wear it.
I think Pharell probably missed the boat for BBC. They should of made it more available 5-6 years ago when it was hot and fresh. But he probably is just gonna get a big initial up front check, then get creative control down the road.
August 4th, 2011 at 10:20 am
Wow something is wrong with Hip Hop People. What are you guys speaking. Just because Rocawear doesn’t cost $200.00 dollar a pair. Doesn’t mean rocawear is not a very profitable company. Do you realize markets like walmart and marshall’s etc.,etc…sell these clothes to low income or large families and make billions. While most of the so called True Religioners buy knockoffs anyway.. Idiots Jay-Z don’t own rocawear anymore Iconix does… So truthfully Iconix owns them all. Jay and Pharell just will just pitch their ideas. Whether you guys buy it or not…Their companies will survive…
August 4th, 2011 at 10:28 am
not true. Iconix licenses Rocawear….Rocawear is licensing BBC. Iconix is the grandparent company.
August 4th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Lmao at the second paragraph. I’m from Bed-Stuy… and I haven’t seen or know anyone that wears Rocawear
August 4th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
LOL at rocawear doing terrible.. they do 500 million a year in sales…
August 4th, 2011 at 2:35 pm
For the record I will never wear rocawear. Especially since dame left. soon as dame dash left the clothing line, went down hill. I don’t know anyone wearing rocawear for that matter. I don’t care what their cooked books say lol
I would wear BBC though. Its just more stylish in my opinion even by urban standards, plus it incorporates a skater appeal which i like.I like the business move though pharell will lead it down the right direction. Hell take rocawear from jimmy jazz, dr jays etc. to a more respectable market.
August 4th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Thats what I just told young in a previous reply. Im like where are the 500 million in sales . I want to see this annual report I travel regularly and never see rocawear and I always come home to NY the fashion capitol and I NEVER SEE THE ROCAWEAR LOGO ON ANYONE lol
August 4th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
You are correct but this isn’t middle america. This fast ass NYC!!!! Go to the suburban places like Arizona, Wisconsin,Pennsylvania(NOT Philly), Anywhere that Negros and Hispanics really aren’t the majority. Believe me you Karl Kani, Mecca, Encye (which Puffy owns)South pole, Etc… East and West Coast may rock all that expensive shit…But there many Americans that are smarter with their dollars,Then we NYCitians. We are show offs….We buy shit wear one night and return it…I’m a fashion hound also but I buy what I like. If…shit FuBu came back with something fresh and different I’ll buy it. Just like the Polo there also Polo ASSN…Tell me this @ Chris and Shakespeare You haven’t Seen POLO ASSN on people from NYC!!!!Please Lie and say no. People are rock Ralph Lauren POLO with UNITED States knockoff with big horse the #3 and all. So Please stop it….
August 4th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
its just a distribution deal for bbc. So basically Iconix-rocawear-bbc . Just a licensed distribution network deal.
I thought somehow pharell was gaining creative control of rocawear or the companies were merging into a new branch but miss info did a pretty good job at summarizing it I was confused at first too.
August 4th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
I appreciate that this site and Miss Info take there time to release proper information to us. Good looks
And Pharell making big moves check this guy out, hopefully the BBC brand (that I’ve always feen to cop) doesn’t get tainted and continues to grow.
This truly inspiring
August 4th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Jay retained a few shares of Rocawear when he sold it to iconix… Although he sold the brand, “Rocawear co-founder Jay-Z will be in charge of all product development, marketing and licensing for Rocawear. Jay-Z’s senior management team in licensing, marketing and product development will also join Iconix. He will retain his stake in the operating company that manufactures all of the Rocawear men’s apparel and his two partners in that business, Alex Bize and Norton Cher, will continue to run that company and enter into a long-term license agreement with Iconix for the core young men’s apparel category.”… the terms of the deal had “contingent payments of an additional $35 million of Iconix stock based upon the brand surpassing certain pre-determined performance thresholds over the next three to five years.”
This means that he stands to earn a further US$35 million if Rocawear performs well over the next 3 to 5 years. In addition, from the US$204 million cash transaction, Forbes estimates that Jay-Z would receive about a quarter of the figure (about US$50 million) after “taxes and payable commitments”.
If he did only receive a net US$50 million from the sale, it would appear that a significant portion (ie. US$35 million) of the deal is still tied to the future performance of Rocawear.
August 4th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
as long as bbc stays the same n doesnt end up in macys next to lrg ecko n rocawear im good
August 4th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
every time i see someone walking on street like theyre the man rocking uspa i laugh my ass off….c’mon just go to tj maxx n get a real polo for 30 fukking wallas
August 4th, 2011 at 7:39 pm
So what that makes Rocawear “The black ralph lauren” . GTFO LOL your reading into branding too much. If your quality is good people will buy it, don’t fall into the branding trap,People like ralph lauren cause of quality (me personally I perfer the classic ralph lauren as opposed to Ralph purple label or polo sport, its just my style and qaulity. Expensive isnt always good. Most desingers are the thriftiest people one earth. people don’t wear rocawear not cause its price high or low its just umm TASTELESS and TACKY urban apparel LOL bottom line.