Birdman Looking To Follow Jay Z’s ‘Roc Nation Sports’ Footsteps

Head of Cash Money Records, Birdman, has reportedly been looking into expanding his business empire by following Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports footsteps and start his own sports agency.

 

Cash Money Records may be getting into the sports game. The famed record label—home to Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj, to name a few—has filed a legal request to trademark the name Visionaire Sports Group, according to government records obtained by XXL. The label has expanded since its inception in 1991 to include a management company, Young Money (helmed by Weezy), a publishing arm, Cash Money Content, and its Trukfit clothing line. With Master P’s No Limit in 1998 and Roc Nation—under the direction of Jay Z—having established sports management and agency companies, YMCMB head honchos Birdman and Slim are setting themselves up to follow in their footsteps.
 
The trademark request filed October 25 covers the following: “Sports agency services, namely, management, representation and promotion of professional athletes; promoting sports competitions and/or events of others; promoting the goods and services of others by arranging for sponsors to affiliate their goods and services with athletes; talent agencies; arranging personal appearances by persons working in the field of sport; business management of sports people; talent recruiting services in the field of sports; talent management services for professional athletes; career management services for persons employed in the sports industries.” The trademark is listed as owned by Cash Money Records, Inc., under the care of law firm Pryor Cashman LLP.
 
However, just because Cash Money now owns the Visionaire Sports Group name does not necessarily mean that the label will get into the sports world, but merely holds the trademark in reserve for a period until the company decides to act upon it. According to a source, the documents indicate that Cash Money has the intent to use the name, but probably has not yet done so; before the trademark comes into effect Cash Money will have to provide proof that they are using it in the way intended, a step that, after extensions and deadlines are spent, means Cash Money could delay their foray into the sports world by around three years if they so wished. After that period, if the label has not kickstarted Visionaire, the application will expire.
 
Birdman has tried his hand at expanding into other fields in the past; in 2010, Cash Money formed an oil company called Bronald Oil, prompting Birdman to get an oil rig tattooed on his face. The company never materialized, however. Bloomberg questioned the company’s authenticity after Birdman spoke about being in the oil business to Ozone magazine, and it quietly disappeared.

No Limit Sports had a slew of big name stars in its heyday, most notably star running back Ricky Williams as well as NBA players Ron Mercer and Derek Anderson, while Jay Z made huge waves by signing Kevin Durant to Roc Nation Sports and helping to secure Robinson Cano’s $200 million deal with the Seattle Mariners this winter. Roc Nation has partnered with veteran agency CAA for a joint venture; it’s unclear whether Cash Money will look into any similar partnerships in the future. Drake has already gotten himself involved in the sports world, after he was named global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors earlier this year.

Reps for Cash Money declined to comment at this time.

 

 

xxl