Successful Businesses Owned By Rappers

Rappers are among some of the most profitable performers in the entertainment industry today. There are a number of rappers that have climbed to the top of the entertainment business, including several that have not only found success in creating and performing music, but in establishing and running their own businesses as well. There are a number of today’s most successful businesses that are actually owned and operated by rappers. Take a look at some of the most successful businesses that have rap stars at their head, you may be surprised to find which companies are actually run by rappers.

Lil Wayne – Trukfit

Trukfit is an apparel brand that comes from the creative mind of rapper Lil’ Wayne. Specializing in quality men’s apparel. The name stands for “The Reason U Kill For It.” The clothing brand, which offers tees, denim, hoodies and joggers, started in January 2012 and it features pieces inspired by the rapper’s own wardrobe.

The brand has really come a long way since its first inception. The line was originally picked up by Macy’s in 2012 when it first launched, but since then, the rapper has ended his partnership with the clothing store. Lil Wayne has since started selling the brand in stores such as PacSun, Urban Outfitters and Wish Boutique. In late 2015, Wayne brought on Kevin Leong as the company’s new creative director as part of the effort to re-brand the line.

Beats by Dre – Dr. Dre

Beats Electronics, known for the Beats by Dre headphones is perhaps one of the biggest companies run by any entertainer today. Beats Electronics is actually a division of Apple that creates a variety of audio products. Dr. Dre founded the company in 2006. Dr. Dre apparently felt as though music fans were “destroying” the music he had worked on with poor quality headphones that impacted the quality of songs. He looked to other major artists such as Pharrell Williams, Will.I.Am, M.I.A. and Gwen Stefani for their input on what headphones needed to have in order to properly convey the quality music they were playing.

By 2012, it was revealed that 64% of the US headphones in the market over $100 were from Beats Electronics. By then, the company was worth well over $1 billion. In 2014, Apple Inc. acquired the brand for $3 billion, the largest acquisition in Apple’s history. That year, the company also expanded into the online music streaming market with the launch of Beats Music.

Rick Ross – Wingstop Franchises

Most people in the United States know about the Wingstop franchise, there are locations all over the country. However, what many people don’t realize is that many of these chicken wing restaurants are owned by rapper Rick Ross. The rapper owns several successful franchises of the company in locations across the country, including locations in Memphis, Miami and he even has plans for 28 new establishments in Michigan. With so many locations around the country and new shops opening up, Rick Ross has created his own successful monopoly thanks to his investments in the franchise.