Jay Z says 'My presence is charity', compares self to Obama in response to Harry Belafonte's critici

rell826

Banned
6,740
2,125
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
[h1]Jay-Z Declares ‘My Presence is Charity’[/h1]
Speakeasy HOME PAGE »

[h3]By Lyneka Little[/h3]
OB-YI806_jayzvi_E_20130729083013.jpg
Jay-Z’s Life + TimesJay-Z giving a video interview.

Jay-Z has responded to criticism from legendary actor and activist Harry Belafonte that the rapper has failed to use his celebrity in a social responsibly way. Last year, Belafonte reportedly said “I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities. But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyonce, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black.” During a recent interview with Rap Radar’s Elliott Wilson (carried on Jay-Z’s Life+Times YouTube channel),  Jay-Z said,“I’m offended by that because first of all, and this is going to sound arrogant, but my presence is charity. Just who I am. Just like Obama’s is. Obama provides hope. Whether he does anything, the hope that he provides for a nation, and outside of America is enough.” He continued, “Just being who he is. You’re the first black president. If he speaks on any issue or anything he should be left alone… Of course we want to challenge him to do better. I felt Belafonte he just went about it wrong. Like the way he did it in the media, and then he big upped Bruce Springsteen or somebody. And it was like, ‘whoa,’ you just sent the wrong message all the way around…Bruce Springsteen is a great guy. You’re this Civil Rights activist and you just big upped the white guy against me in the white media. And I’m not saying that in a racial way. I’m just saying what it is. The fact of what it was. And that was just the wrong way to go about it.”

A representative for Jay Z declined to comment.

This isn’t the first time Jay Z has addressed his conflict with Belafonte. The rapper made the activist a line in the song “Nickles and Dimes” from his most recent album “Magna Carta Holy Grail.”

Since the back and forth, Belafonte has requested a sit down, telling MSNBC, “I would hope with all my heart, that Jay-Z not take personally what was said because it was not said to him personally. …I would like to take this opportunity to say to Jay Z and Beyonce: I’m wide open, my heart is filled with nothing but hope and the promise that we can sit and have a one-on-one to understand each other rather than trying to answer this question and answer these nuisances in a public place. I think it is not the right place for us to be having our exchanges.”

In the video interview with Wilson, Jay-Z said he decided to get into the business of sport representation in part because of all the reports he saw about multimillionaire professional athletes going bankrupt. “Then just watching these guys go broke in four years, it was like you guys don’t even care about their well being,” he said. “This is egregious.”
Can someone explain to him what charity is? If it weren't for efforts like that of Belafonte's during the Civil Rights movement, who knows what would have happened? We'd probably still be drinking from colored only fountains. For those who don't know, he used his celebrity to help fund MLKs campaigns. Jay's fanbase is primarily made up of younger people so they won't care as to whether or not he actually gives back, but he is not above criticism. Whether you disagree with Belafonte or not, black celebrities do have a duty to give back whether it be standing up for a cause or financially. Its something that this generation of celebrity doesn't grasp or chooses to flat out ignore. The Paul Roberson's, Ossie Davis', Jim Brown's, Muhammad Ali's,  Ray Charles', Lena Horne's and Sammy Davis Jr's passed the torch to this generation to continue what they built and they dropped it. Is he obligated? No, but it's a shame that he and people with his status and influence don't do more for the community. Showing up at a Trayvon Martin rally because your PR person told you it would be a good publicity op isn't going to cut it. Shouldn't be surprised though. Throughout his catalog he's never had an undertone of social responsibility in his music, but would shill Tom Ford, Cristal or Dusse real quick. #NewRules #FactsOnly
 
Aye rell I saw this earlier in the week, and I was tempted to bring it up. 

I don't agree with this guy at all, but I agree with him that Belafonte could have handled it differently than by going to the media. 

People can say Jay doesn't owe anyone a dime which is cool, but he just sounds stupid to me on this one. 

I know people will disagree probably, but he really does sound foolish. 
 
Last edited:
:lol: Jay-Z shouldn't be allowed to speak. Great businessman? Sure. Street smarts? Sure. Outside of that, he offers nothing to society. If the world was ending and we could only send a thousand people into space to preserve the human race, Jay-Z would be at the bottom of the list. Comparing himself to Obama is a damn joke.

How easily he forgets that it's those poor kids in the inner city who saved up money to buy his CDs and go to his concerts that helped propel his career. The "white media"? The white media is what let him spread his success to mainstream society and is also what keeps him relevant to this day.
 
He' not obligated to be a "role model" but at da end

Of da day, that void of acknowledging social issues

Of his music always held it from being as powerful

As some of da stuff on others catalog.

Its w/e though.
 
Yeah Jay-Z sounded like an arrogant prick. How you gonna compare yourself to the president? You're a rapper. You don't provide hope for anyone. You entertain people with your expensive concerts. You make music with lyrics that boast about how much money you have. Doesn't sound like charity to me.
 
He' not obligated to be a "role model" but at da end

Of da day, that void of acknowledging social issues

Of his music always held it from being as powerful

As some of da stuff on others catalog.

Its w/e though.
He's not obligated but he clearly compares himself to Obama, thus, he know he is!

The problem is that he is no Obama ... He started by pushing weight, then rapped about degrading women and for year has been promoting what ultimately is causing our youth to rot.

His presence is charity? Give me a break ...

This dude still mad because they called him ugly!
 
Last edited:
Jay Z self esteem has to be that of level Trillion. That's all I gotta say.
 
offended by that because first of all, and this is going to sound arrogant, but my presence is charity. Just who I am. Just like Obama’s is. Obama provides hope. Whether he does anything, the hope that he provides for a nation, and outside of America is enough.”

Wow, forget how Jay Z sees himself, which is only a reflection of all celebrities. Look at what he's saying about the President.

He's literally saying Obama doesn't have to do jack as a President to be successful because he provides hope just being the first black president figurehead. It doesn't matter if he doesn't do anything positive for the country, or the world for that matter.

And how is this in the Wall Street Journal.... Hmmm. My guess is this is a fluff piece to make white conservatives angry about how liberals see Obama. They give him a pass regardless of his policies just because he's Obama.
 
Last edited:
My guess is this is a fluff piece to make white conservatives angry about how liberals views Obama. They give him a pass just because he's Obama.

Sounds about right.

And when observed from that angle, Camel Carter should be a lot more conscious of his wording, even if he does feel that way. Not because it matters what white people think, but because he may be adding to an environment in which he's actually closing doors of opportunity by pissing people off who can be assets, rather than inspiring those who need the assist with his "presence."

And here I was thinking he just dresses like a douche bag. Nope.
 
Last edited:
he was on bill maher last night. pretty good interview. touched on this subject

http://www.complex.com/music/2013/08/jay-z-bill-maher-interview

rockin that gold 8)

View media item 523936
On the drama with Harry Belafonte calling out The Carters & accusing them of not doing enough to help the community:

"I didn’t think it was the correct venue. If it was something that was a real problem, I’m not difficult to find. Especially someone of his stature. He can reach out to me and we can have a conversation and we can do some good together. That was sort of a bit grand-standing to me. And I didn’t like that. Especially dragging my wife into it. That was a bit of a low blow."

On who would induct him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (he’s only 7 years away from a nomination):

"Obama." If he’s busy: "He’ll be alright. He owes me a couple."

On arrogance vs. humility:
"It’s overreaction. If you have the audacity to be great or compare yourself to any of the greats that came before you…If you say just like Obama or Picasso I’m this…people will say it’s almost like blasphemous. But it’s like, what are we doing this for? When you sitting in that chair, you want to be great. You want to be known as the greatest of all time. It’s never going to happen if you don’t see yourself that way first. You have to envision it first."

On the solution to violence in this country, namely in Chicago:
"I don’t really want to scare America…but the real problem is there’s no middle class. So the gap between the have and have nots is getting wider and wider. It’s going to be a problem that no amount of police can solve, because once you have that oppression and that gap is widening, this is inevitable that something is going to happen."
 
Last edited:
Its amazing how willfully ignorant jay-Z is of politics..

Son basically said "it doesnt matter how trash

Obama is as a President, just cuz he's black he's

Giving hope just existing" :lol:
 
Damn Jay, sound real foolish in this one. I think some celebs don't take on more social responsibility because of fear for who writes their check.
 
This obnoxious narcissism in hip-hop got played out fast. "Magna Carta Holy Grail"? That **** title sounds so stupid :lol: it's like he was just told of what those things are and decided it would sound epic to put them together.

Plus he's old as ****, sit your *** down and stop dressing like these teeny boppers.
 
Last edited:
laugh.gif
Jay-Z shouldn't be allowed to speak. Great businessman? Sure. Street smarts? Sure. Outside of that, he offers nothing to society. If the world was ending and we could only send a thousand people into space to preserve the human race, Jay-Z would  wouldn't even be at the bottom of the  on the list at all. Comparing himself to Obama is a damn joke.

How easily he forgets that it's those poor kids in the inner city who saved up money to buy his CDs and go to his concerts that helped propel his career. The "white media"? The white media is what let him spread his success to mainstream society and is also what keeps him relevant to this day.
Fixed
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom