Jay-Z joins marijuana company as brand strategist

Billionaire rapper Jay-Z is entering the fast-growing cannabis industry, taking a role with California company Caliva as a strategist.

Privately owned Caliva, formed in San Jose in 2015, said on Tuesday (Jul 9) that Jay-Z had entered a long-term partnership in which he will focus on outreach and the creative direction of the company.

The rapper, whose formal title with Caliva will be chief brand strategist, will also further his social justice efforts by increasing job training for former prisoners as well as fostering quality and fairness in the development of the legal marijuana industry, the company said in a statement.

“We want to create something amazing, have fun in the process, do good and bring people along the way,” the rapper said in a statement.