Meek Mill puts on a new hat: Co-owner of sports apparel retailer Lids
Cydney HendersonMeek Mill is a man of many hats.
The rapper and criminal justice advocate, 32, revealed to Business Insider Wednesday that he is now the proud co-owner of Lids, a sports apparel retailer that sells everything from hats to jerseys.
"I've been shopping at Lids my whole life, wearing hats, fitteds," Meek told the outlet. "In our culture, it's been a big thing. So, it was something I ain't have to think twice about and always believed in, that it'll work."
Meek will lead the company's creative strategy, with plans to drop a line of limited-edition hats in August, around the same time he's scheduled to kick off his Legendary Nights Tour with Future.
"Shoutout @lids, excited to be a part of the family no cap," Meek tweeted Wednesday alongside a blue hat emoji. Lids added, "Welcome to the team."
Related:Travis Scott's custom Reese’s Puffs cereal box collaboration sold out in 30 seconds
Meek said his business move was influenced by Jay-Z, who was named the first hip-hop billionaire by Forbes earlier this month thanks to his lucrative ventures.
"(Jay-Z) built businesses, and he built things that made him become the man who he is, that we could call a billionaire guy," Meek said. "I watched that, and I studied that. That's why I'm working the way I'm working now to build a foundation for myself, too."
More: Forbes names Jay-Z the first hip-hop billionaire
The Philadelphia native joins the Lids ownership group, which includes close friend Michael Rubin, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, as well as the executive chairman of sports retailer Fanatics.
Rubin is also a co-founder of Meek's REFORM Alliance foundation for criminal justice reform.
More: Meek Mill gets apology from Las Vegas hotel, drops plans to sue over discrimination
