FREESTYLE SHOWDOWN!
How Jay-Z Can Redeem Street Cred After Grab At “Occupy” Profits
WHAT DO SCROOGE McDUCK, RICHIE RICH, MR. BURNS AND RAP MOGUL JAY-Z HAVE IN COMMON? An aversion to sharing — if the the totem pole sculpture created by media whore and American sculptor extraordinaire Daniel Edwards is any indication.
Shaped like the number “1” to represent the 1% that the Occupy Wall Street protesters are demonstrating against, the statue is in honor of “Jigga’s “Occupy All Streets” T-shirts that were briefly being offered by his clothing label, Rocawear. When they released the Ts, the company announced had no plans to share the profits with the OWS movement, prompting outrage amongst supporters.
OWS is a scattered movement across the U.S. with no real leader, so how the Jigga Man would divvy up the ends for the supporters is beyond me. But according to Edwards, a cup of porridge, gruel or whatever he had in the fridge would’ve fared better than the goose egg that was offered up.
Edwards, whose other work includes sculptures of a nude Britney Spears giving birth on a bearskin rug and a bust of Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, has this to say:
I think Jay-Z has made himself a face of [the] Wall Street that Occupiers are protesting against. Maybe Jay-Z is striving to be in the one percent? Which is why I chose the composition of a totem pole because I thought it would resemble the number one. Rap stars who turn ‘Scrooge’ have to suffer some damage to their street credibility.
Does a statue of one’s likeness with bling bling and money-hungry cartoon characters atop decrease street cred? Probably not. But it puts that Hard Knock Life song with the Annie sample Jay-Z did in a whole new light. Now I’m starting to think his rich ass was taking a subliminal shot into the future of the OWS movement. And there’s only one way to settle this, hip-hop style! Jay-Z, OWS protesters, Madison Square Garden, freestyle contest!
I’m taking bets and selling T-shirts outside. Just to be fair, I’m keeping all the profits. Have a great one.
Shakenya Jackson believes in the power of swag. She also enjoys long walks in the park and dirty dishes.
7 Comments
It seems like Jay-Z is becoming apart of the system he’s always claimed to fight against.But that transition was clear to anyone who has heard “Watch the Throne”
Excellent point Monique. That album’s singles were draped in materialism at its finest 😉
Dude is a opportunist and thats all there is to it. he just doing what all those other rich heads are doing. that was a cheap shot to a struggle he is no longer apart of. it wasnt any real support for the OWS movement. but when u talk about street cred thats something i believe he tried to gain but never fully achieved, yea he had hood ppl following him and he talked a good game but to wrap it all up jigga man is a part of the 1% rich get richer and poor get poorer club- Great article we saw the the transition
Thanks Derick for the perspective. I see folks aren’t feeling him taking advantage of the grassroots movement.
That was little scummy on J’s part. Good article! I feel alot better about downloading his albums :p
That was little scummy on J’s part. Good article! I feel alot better about downloading his albums :p
Tramaine is a funny character lmao…