A Close Look At The Millions AKA Made In His Career For Cruz Vodka & BEAM Group
Whilst AKA was widely known as a successful rapper, SUPA MEGA was also highly business savvy even though there were frequent question about his business acumen. He has made some smart moves when it comes to partnerships and brand deals, and his partnership with CRUZ Vodka is one such example.
AKA partnered with CRUZ Vodka in 2016 to launch the CRUZ Watermelon flavor, which turned out to be a huge success. AKA even tweeted that the partnership opened up the entire industry and inspired a lot of alcohol deals for celebrities. This tweet alone speaks volumes about AKA’s ability to recognize a good business opportunity. As a further testimony Cruz Vodka wrote after his sudden passing “The Cruz family are heartbroken at the untimely and tragic passing of Kiernan Jarryd Forbes. He was an invaluable part of our family! Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to his family. Rest in Peace SUPAMEGA! “
But AKA’s partnership with CRUZ Vodka was not only a success for him but also for the producer and distributor, Distell. During an interview with SA Hip Hop Mag’s podcast, AKA revealed that the partnership made hundreds of millions for Distell. This shows AKA’s ability to not only make smart business decisions for himself but also for the companies he partners with.
Apart from his partnership with CRUZ Vodka, AKA has also made some smart moves when it comes to his own company, Beam Group. According to his then-partner Prince Costinyo, Beam Group made 15 million rands in its first financial quarter and R26 Million by the end of their last financial quarter. This shows AKA’s ability to not only excel in music but also in business.
AKA’s partnership with Reebok is another example of his business acumen. He dropped his SneAKA brand and partnered with Reebok, which not only helped him expand his brand but also helped him reach a wider audience. This shows AKA’s ability to make smart decisions when it comes to partnerships and collaborations.
But AKA did not stop there. In 2022, he announced that he intends to own his own brands outside partnerships with well-known brands. His press statement read, “Going forward the AKA brand name will be reserved for AKA owned products. This will happen in a phased manner from May-October 2022. We are excited to see what the Supermega will bring to the South African drinks market as he enters this exciting new period in his career.”
AKA had been working on his own liquor brand and shoe deal before his untimely death. His determination to own his own brands shows his entrepreneurial spirit and his desire to leave a lasting legacy.