Because he's attractive and successful?

Elegy: Because he's attractive and successful?

Nothing against Mr. Z, but really?  I don't see it.

I think his signing of Robinson Cano was brilliant.  He partnered with a heavy-hitting MLB agent who 99% of the population has never heard of, but represents Ryan Braun, Ryan Zimmerman, Matt Cain, and Ryan Howard.  They handle the baseball stuff, without any of the negative reputation Scott Boras (deservedly) brings.

What Jay-Z can do is keep his client in the limelight.  Robinson Cano is the best player on the Yankees by far, but he hasn't crossed over as a "star" outside of New York and baseball circles.  Ask random housewives in Iowa to name a Yankee, and they name Derek Jeter and A-Rod.  Within a year or two, expect Cano to be a 'guest' on all kinds of TV talk shows, promotions, award shows, etc.  Expect random rappers to name-check him.  Expect a line of clothing with his name on it.  Etc.

Cano will learn what Michael Jordan, Shaquille O-Neal, and (pre-scandal) Tiger Woods learned-- for all the money and fame you can find on the field, there's much more to be made off the field, and it doesn't shut off the day you can't play.

Cano's English isn't great.  He can handle an interview, but his accent is thick and he reaches for words.  But I'd bet Univision and Telemundo would love to air ads featuring Cano, and they're big markets and growing fast.  Plus, he's a smart guy by all accounts, and it's easier to teach the best 2B in baseball some English marketing skills than it is to teach some charismatic guy to hit 30 HR and play midlde infield.

The downside of this is that the Yankees might be below .500 this year, and he won't carry the same prestige as he would a decade or so ago.

sure haven't: Because he was lucky enough to make it. There are tons and tons and oceans filled with people way more talented than him. But only so many people can make it. Not to mention in the actual rap game, he was lampooned. Then he must've been good at schmoozing, because he was given the CEO title.

Poe's Law, but:  Huh?  Dude started his own label from nothing in 1995, and now he's worth half a billion.  Name another rapper with a nationally-known profile after 18 years-- it's a young man's game.  Aside from a couple guys with roles on random cop shows, who is still relevant from back then?

He's arguably the most successful rapper of all time, and he has the critical acclaim to back up the sales numbers.  You "luck" yourself into a novelty single becoming a hit.  You don't "luck" yourself into Jay-Z's empire.

chimp_ninja: You "luck" yourself into a novelty single becoming a hit.  You don't "luck" yourself into Jay-Z's empire Beyonce's vag-jay-jay.

REO-Weedwagon: At no point did you mention the quality of his music, which is some of the most atrocious overrated sh*t in modern entertainment. His sales numbers and net worth are inflated press release points used to impress gullible hero-worshipers like you. He's a fraud who's married to a fat, dumb stripper.

And yet, he's received critical acclaim throughout his career.  There are 4 people with more Grammy nominations (Quincy Jones, Georg Solti, Chick Corea, John Williams).  The Blueprint and/or Reasonable Doubt tends to make most "Best Rap Album Ever" lists.  Rolling Stone put him on their list of 100 greatest musicians.  He's been active for two decades in an occupation where most artists are successful for an album or two.  If you have a better criterion for what makes a successful artist other than "I just don't like those people him.", name it.

I'm also sorry Beyonce's knees are too un-sharp for you.  I'm sure she's crying into the "Sexiest Woman of the 21st Century" trophy she just won from GQ.

On-Off: there can only be so much superstars, and there are 100 000's people who are talented enough to make that job.
Therefor, luck must play the biggest role in who get's to be the superstar.

You sound poor and/or fat.

Because it takes money to make money, and suckers gave him a shiatload of it for his "music" which he wisely reinvested instead of blowing it on his "entourage", which usually consists of people who love to spend your money but never stick around when it's gone?

Whatever I think of his "talent", he has great business sense.