S. Samuel
Less than 24 hours after a published report revealed Jay-Z never fully supported last year's Occupy Wall Street protests, music mogul Russell Simmons has stepped forward to speak out.
Penning an open post titled “Jay-Z Is Right 99 Times, But This Ain’t One,” Simmons attempts to school Young Hov on the protests.
“As a person who cares deeply about Occupy Wall Street, I have to honor their year-long effort and educate my long-time friend, Jay-Z. This weekend, he was interviewed by the New York Times where he discusses OWS, where he was quoted as saying “I’m not going to a park and picnic, I have no idea what to do, I don’t know what the fight is about. What do we want, do you know?” If he understood it and endorsed the movement, it would make a big difference to poor people. As the same man that said he would pay more taxes if it helped educate more children and create affordable healthcare, Jay-Z’s words matter. He was honest enough to say that he didn’t understand it. A lot of Americans don’t. He was also honest enough to recognize that there are some in the 1 percent who “deceiving” and “robbing,” so I know in his heart he gets it. I know he is a compassionate person who cares about the poor, so I’m certain if I had two more minutes with him, I could change his mind. [sic]” (Global Grind)
After drilling into the movement’s purpose with specific details, Simmons explains why Hov’s participation is vital in order to make change happen.
“So, Jay, here’s the deal. You’re rich and I’m rich. But, today it’s close to impossible to be you or me and get out of Marcy Projects or Hollis, Queens without changing our government to have our politicians work for the people who elect them and not the special interests and corporations that pay them. Because we know that these special interests are nothing special at all. In fact, they spend millions of dollars destroying the fabric of the black community and make billions of dollars in return. For example, the prison lobby paid politicians to create a so-called “War On Drugs” that resulted in a prison economy that disproportionately locks up black and brown people, including many of your friends and mine. They took drug-infected, diseased people, locked them up, educated them in criminal behavior and dumped them back into our community, thus producing a jail culture for our streets. There are more black people under correctional control (prison, jail, parole, probation) today, than were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War. This is just one issue that has been bought and sold. If we have to occupy Wall Street or occupy All Streets to change the course of direction of this nation, then we must. We must take our democracy off the market and let the world know that it is no longer for sale! Mic check! [sic]” (Global Grind)
Jigga’s comments toward Occupy Wall Street heated up the Internet Sunday (September 10).
Jay-Z says Occupy Wall Street had a fatal flaw: Its 99 messages. The legendary rapper, in a new interview, says he never threw his support behind the protest movement because he didn’t understand what it stood for. “What’s the thing on the wall, what are you fighting for?” Jay-Z told The New York Times in a wide-ranging interview. The Brooklyn-born hip-hop king said he made his feelings clear to Russell Simmons, who was a full-throated supporter of the Zuccotti Park demonstrators. “I’m not going to a park and picnic — I have no idea what to do,” Jay-Z said, recalling a conversation with Simmons about joining the movement. “I don’t know what the fight is about. What do we want? Do you know?” (New York Daily News)
Jay caught bad press when he attempted to push “Occupy All Streets” t-shirts last year.
American sculptor Daniel Edwards has just unveiled his latest work: a sculpting of Jay-Z depicted as a Scrooge McDuck type character. The unveiling comes just days after the popular New York rapper was panned by critics for trying to capitalize off the “Occupy Wall Street” grassroots movement by releasing a line of t-shirts that read: “Occupy All Streets.” The artwork shows Jay-Z wearing several chains with a large dollar sign on his chest. Above him are various fictional characters known for being cheapskates including Mr. Burns from The Simpsons, Disney’s Scrooge Mc Duck and Richie Rich. (RumorFix)
