John Meneilly: Hip-Hop's Consigliere [NFTW #42]

What’s good everyone? I hope we’re all doing well. I don’t know if I mentioned in a previous NFTW but I’ve become super interested in Mafioso films. I think the scripts for a lot of the movies (particularly Scorsese directed films) in that genre are impeccable. I’m going to get into Goodfellas again because it’s been a while since I last watched it. This week I’ll be sharing some thoughts on the similarities between the structure of Mafia families and the business partners Jay-Z has had.

Jay-Z has taken a number of inspirations from the Mafia. In the clip above Kanye comically refers to Jay’s fascination with Mafioso style films. When we take a look at Jay-Z’s music we can see clear

• The Mafia's code of silence, which Jay-Z has often referred to in his music.

• The Mafia's business acumen, which Jay-Z has used to build his own successful business empire.

• The Mafia's ability to overcome adversity, which Jay-Z has often referenced in his music.

• The Mafia's sense of style, which Jay-Z has often emulated in his own fashion choices and was even used as the basis for the cover photo of his debut album of Reasonable Doubt.

Staying with the theme of the Mafia. I’m interested in the structure of the Mafia and how it informs business relations. For the purpose of this newsletter—will take a look at the relationship with the Consigliere with the Mafia family.

The consigliere is a high-ranking position in the Mafia, typically the third-highest ranking member of a crime family. The consigliere is the advisor or counselor to the boss, and is responsible for providing advice and counsel on a wide range of matters, including business, legal, and political issues. The consigliere is also responsible for representing the boss in important meetings, both within the family and with other crime families.

The consigliere is typically a trusted friend and confidant of the boss, and is often someone who has been with the family for many years. The consigliere is a key member of the Mafia, and their role is essential to the success of the family. The consigliere is expected to be wise and discreet, and to be able to keep secrets. The consigliere is also expected to be able to think strategically and to be able to offer creative solutions to problems.

In the novel The Godfather, the consigliere is Tom Hagen, a lawyer who is brought into the family by Vito Corleone. Hagen is a loyal and trusted advisor to Vito, and he plays a key role in the family's business dealings. In a similar vein, a man by the name of John Meneilly was Jay-Z’s ‘consigliere’ for a large part of his career.

Meneilly had been with Jay since Rock-A-Fella, helping to build the now dominate empire from the ground up. He was played a major role in the launching of Rocawear, facilitating the Magna Carta Holy Grail Samsung deal, the creation of Roc Nation and its conversion into a talent management group. Let’s look at the nature of the Magna Carta Holy Grail Samsung deal to further understand the impact it had on the music industry at the time.

In 2013, Jay-Z signed a deal with Samsung to give away one million copies of his album Magna Carta Holy Grail for free to Samsung Galaxy S3, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note II owners. The deal was worth $20 million to Jay-Z and Roc Nation, his management company.

The deal was a way for Samsung to promote its smartphones and for Jay-Z to reach a new audience. It was also a way for Jay-Z to experiment with new ways of releasing music. The album was available for free through a special app that could only be downloaded on Samsung devices. The app also included exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Jay-Z.

The deal was a success for both Samsung and Jay-Z. Samsung saw a significant increase in sales of its smartphones in the weeks after the album was released. Jay-Z also saw a boost in album sales and streams. The deal was seen as a win-win for both parties and it helped to pave the way for future deals between artists and tech companies.

Here are some of the benefits of the deal for both parties:

• Benefits for Samsung:

  • Increased sales of smartphones

  • Increased brand awareness

  • Positive association with Jay-Z

  • Access to exclusive content

• Benefits for Jay-Z:

  • Increased album sales

  • Increased streams

  • Positive association with Samsung

  • Access to new audience

John Meneilly and Jay-Z parted ways in 2014. A few years later John Meneilly would begin his current partnership with the incredibly talented Joey Bada$$. Joey has recently made pursuits into film and TV—most notably participating in the Power universe created by Curtis “50 Cent'“ Jackson. It’s clear that he’s thinking strategically about the ways in which he can leverage his brand to ensure maximum impact. With Meneilly and Joey teaming up it will be interesting to see the plays they will develop together over the next few years.

Building a good team in business is important because it can help you achieve your goals more effectively. A good team is made up of people who are skilled, motivated, and who work well together. They are able to communicate effectively, share ideas, and solve problems. It also makes the journey more enjoyable. Life is a contact sport. By our very nature we are social beings so this week’s notes really made me think about intentionally building a team that will allow us to be as impactful and viable

Until next week. Peace.