Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week, I do this in my sleep, I sold kilos of coke, I’m guessing I can sell CDs, I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man! Let me handle my business, damn.
-Jay-Z “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)”
Last week, on the same day as hip-hop fans mourned the death of legendary Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, another rapper’s reputation was being dragged through the mud by New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick.
In a bad attempt at satire, Mushnick wasn’t feeling Jay-Z’s involvement with the Brooklyn Nets basketball team, so he gave a racially toned assessment of Jigga man’s association with the team:
As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their marketing shots — what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new “urban” home — why not have him apply the full Jay-Z treatment?
Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N——s? The cheerleaders could be the Brooklyn B—-hes or Hoes. Team logo? A 9 mm with hollow-tip shell casings strewn beneath. Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the way!
Still pining for attention, Mushnick has been defending his column via email to a variety of media outlets, including the Village Voice and Forbes Magazine.
Immediately after making his comment, Mushnick didn’t back down. In an email sent to BobsBlitz.com, he wrote:
“I don’t call black men the N-word; I don’t regard young women as b—-es and whores; I don’t glorify the use of assault weapons and drugs. Jay-Z, on the other hand…..Is he the only NBA owner allowed to call black men N—ers? Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the way!”
So his argument is that Jay-Z’s music should reflect his marketing when it comes to the Brooklyn Nets? First, Jay-Z owns a small portion of the Brooklyn Nets, which hardly makes him any richer than he already is, second, he was born and raised in Brooklyn and his music and style reflects that, third and most importantly, Hov’s music has been used to sell Hollywood movies for years now.
From American Gangster, Safe House and now the new Hollywood blockbuster slated to be released later this year, Gangster Squad, Jay’s music has been all over the place.
So it’s OK for Hollywood to make money using Jay-Z, but when it comes to something he actually has a stake in, it becomes an issue?
The ornery discourse spewed by Mushnick sounds like a white man angry about a black man who has the audacity to rap about reality, while still getting a chance to stand in the circle of NBA owners and players.
Jay-Z’s a businessman and what he rapped about and continues to rap about has nothing to do with his business savvy. Believe me, Mitt Romney’s past business practices could be considered immoral and down right cruel compared to a few Jay-Z songs.
And of course, Jay-Z is profiting from music. You think he spent years perfecting his craft to give it away for free? Jay’s an artist and he’s doing what every musician does: getting paid for their music.
Mushnick thinks that all hip-hop music, even Jay-Z’s, glorifies violence and degrades women, which isn’t the case at all.
So shout out to Mushnick and the New York Post – they don’t intend to issue an apology. Go about your business Mushnick, and Jay will continue to do the same.
Shaka Griffith is the News/Politics Editor of GlobalGrind.com Follow him on twitter @Darealshaka
