Today, Roc Lit 101 — the publishing division of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation and an imprint of Random House — announced it has acquired Klutch Sports Group Founder and CEO Rich Paul’s debut coming-of-age story, “Lucky Me.”
In his first memoir, Paul — who’s known for representing NBA stars such as LeBron James, Anthony Davis, John Wall, Ben Simmons and Draymond Green — pens the story of him growing up and becoming a leading figure in the sports world. The upcoming book details his upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio, his relationships with his community and family, as well as life lessons he learned that helped shape him into who he is today.
“Lucky Me is more than my story,” Paul shared in a statement. “‘Lucky Me’ is the story of every young Black man who grew up like me. I want to use my story to uplift and inspire those who lived this and educate those who didn’t. I cannot tell you what it means to partner with my friend and mentor Jay-Z on this project. Lucky Me was the name of the book before I even spoke with Jay because his music was my life’s soundtrack.”
As an authoritative leader for sports agents, Paul turned his Klutch Sports Group into a powerhouse agency that reps some of the biggest names across the NBA and NFL. After expanding his client roster to football stars, Paul was then appointed to the UTA board of directors.
In regards to the book’s debut, Paul’s good friend and Roc Nation founder Jay-Z said:
“Rich has always been wise beyond his years, with a wealth of knowledge gained by his inimitable curiosity. To no one’s surprise, Rich has built a phenomenal business with Klutch Sports. This book is an American tale of ‘against all odds’— and I believe young people in similar environments will see themselves in Lucky Me. My long friendship with Rich aside, he has one of the greatest stories of growing up in America’s ghettos and overcoming adversity. On a personal note, the fact that I’m able to release this book with someone who inspires me and I’ve watched grow is most rewarding!”
Roc Lit 101 publisher Chris Jackson echoed this excitement and also shared why Paul is choosing to share his coming-of-age story versus focusing on his success as a sports agent with The Hollywood Reporter.
“Rich Paul is one of the most influential figures in professional sports today but, to his credit, that’s not the story he wants to tell,” he said. “Instead, it’s a story of the people who shaped his life on a humble corner of Cleveland, Ohio, and ultimately a story about how we take care of each other. This will be a pivotal project for the Roc Lit 101 program and we couldn’t be more excited to have Rich join our team.”
