Grammy award winning rap artist Nelly signs deal with Reebok
20 Jul '05
3 min read
"Reebok's partnership with Nelly elevates the fusion of sports and music to a whole new level," says Dennis Baldwin, Reebok's chief marketing officer. "Not only is Nelly an incredible artist, but his passion for music is equally matched by his love of sports. Nelly has a unique style that transcends music and cultural genres with a broad consumer appeal that speaks to who Reebok truly is as a brand."
The partnership was secured with the assistance of Steve Stoute, founder of Translation entertainment marketing firm. Stoute, who serves as a consultant for Reebok, plays a key role in the brand's affiliation in the entertainment industry. "Nelly is a great addition to the Rbk family," said Stoute. "He is grounded in authenticity which makes him a perfect fit for the brand."
Born Cornell Haynes Jr., the St. Louis, Missouri native has long been recognized for his unique style and influence as an entertainer. Nelly has had success across the board from recording hit songs with musicians such as Pharrell Williams, P. Diddy, Tim McGraw and Justin Timberlake. With more than 30 million albums sold throughout his career, Nelly is universally acknowledged as one of the top selling rap artists of all-time.
Not simply satisfied with making music, Nelly, outfitted in Reebok apparel, scored plenty of touchdowns as a star in the film "The Longest Yard". Additionally, the one-time baseball prospect that was scouted by the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball, became only the second music artist to become part owner of an NBA franchise as he joined the expansion Charlotte Bobcats. In addition to participating in baseball and basketball, Nelly has performed at two Super Bowls during his music career (Super Bowls XXXV and XXXVIII).
Reebok International Ltd, headquartered in Canton, MA, is a leading worldwide designer, marketer and distributor of sports, fitness and casual footwear, apparel and equipment under the Reebok, Rockport, CCM, Jofa, Koho and Greg Norman brands. Sales for 2004 totaled approximately $3.8 billion. Reebok can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.reebok.com.
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