Jay-Z sells 'Occupy' T-shirts but will not share profits with the Movement

When we mention Hip-hop music is if difficult to get through any conversation without bring up the name of Sean “Jay-Z” Carter. He is a great lyricist, a business man and married arguably, to one of the most attractive women in America. Now he is getting involved with the Occupy movement that has sprouted in nearly every community across the nation. However, his actions maybe are more self serving than for the benefit of the masses.

It has been reported that Jay-Z will be releasing a new line of T-shirts in support of the occupy Wall Street movement (#OWS) via his Rocawear clothing label. Unfortunately he and his company will not be sharing any of the profits with the protesters according to his spokesman. According to a representative of his clothing company Rocawear, there is not an "official commitment to monetarily support the movement," which is taking a stand against corporate greed and corruption.
The rapper/mogul was even recently seen wearing one of the shirts, which tweaks the phrase "Occupy Wall Street" by crossing out the "W" and adding an "S" to make it read "Occupy All Streets."


I guess it should only be expected that another rapper is interested in avarice as equally as the big Wall Street banks. Neither gives back but only takes from those who cannot afford to live as they do to only become richer. In simple terms, this represents another concern with hip hop culture other than its strong focus of materialism, going for self and producing songs with lyrics that border of instructional psychpathy – I is more important that the we or community.

The spokesperson went on to add "The 'Occupy All Streets' T-shirt was created in support of the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement. Rocawear strongly encourages all forms of constructive expression, whether it be artistic, political or social. 'Occupy All Streets' is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement."

Hip Hop and Snake Oil

Once upon a time there was an expressive and grass roots form of music that emerged from the streets of urban areas across America. This music was called hip-hop and its culture was centered on the lyrical mastery of emcees. Now, hip-hop has become a body of phony individuals — mostly male — that prefer to indulge in make believe rhetoric that is fostered by ignorance and a poor understanding of history. One example is the incessant reference to the "Illuminati," a secret and historical organization that many artists have no understanding of or ever read about.

Historically, the word is of Greek origin and was a reference to all who submitted to Christian baptism. Those who were baptized were called "illuminati" or "enlightened ones.” The Alumbrados, a mystical 16th-century Spanish sect, were among the societies that subsequently adopted the name illuminati. Finally, it was employed to represent a secret society founded by Adam Weishaupt who desired to replace religion with rational thought.

In concert with groups like the Council of Rome, the Bilderburgers, and the Trilateral Commission, the illuminati’s single aim was to acquire wealth, power and influence, while developing a "New World” order free of religion. The easiest way to accomplish this goal was via the United States, its Constitution, world wars and world governmental organizations, in order to have total control of global monetary systems.

The query remains how does this concept relate to modern hip-hop music and the artists that proclaim their affiliation with this society? For starters, artists from Waka Flocka to Jay-Z do not understand what illuminati was about. Their knowledge appears to be in the form of metaphorical symbolism. Are these artists atheists socialists, or fascists as the organizations founder, Dr. Weishaupt? Are they working behind the scenes to take over the world secretly, or connected to the Knights Templar?

I suggest they are not. For these artists the term is just a tool to make money. Artists such as Jay-z, Lil Wayne and Nas are merely puppets used by the illuminati. Moreover, the rappers use the Illuminati as a form of snake oil, just to sell more records. The fact is that if you ask any one of them about the history behind the illuminati, they would not be able to tell you jack — maybe with the exception of Tupac Shakur.

bet they wanna be rappers

It is apparent for me that we have some serious problems in our community. I mean serious, for any time a young man walking home from school can be beaten to death, in day light, while folks watch and think nothing of it, and even video it without considering that said person may need help, or what they are watching is not right, is a true indication that something is amiss in our beliefs and world view.

I have noticed that there is a difference in general behavior when I look and my parents, myself and the present generation. As a father with a 17 year old son, I am proud to have been a part in raising a fine and responsible young man. An honor student, an athlete and a gentlemen is what best describes my son, yet although he has made it to the 12th grade, I still worry and pray that he continues on his path of success with the next pointy of entry being graduation.

Often we fail to see the difference between blame and problem solving in such matters. Fo9r we get defensive and tend to see ourselves in the problems that we are confronted with. Whether it is that we are single parents, or our environments, we forget that the issue is not blame or deflecting blame but solving the problem. It is not difficult for me to discern what the differences are. I can reduce them to one simple area – media influences. My folks didn’t have to deal with television at all and the music, well let us say it was not as graphic and vivid as it was in my day. In contrast, I grew up with 4 channels on television and they went off before midnight, and the music, albeit it was the beginning of hip hop – the lyrical content was mild compared to today.

It is no wonder that we have folks feeling and displaying penchants that evince appropriate behavior as beating someone to death or watching someone getting beat to death without the consideration of helping. I won’t blame this all on parents, for objectively; I know they can’t control the media influences that bombard their children each day of their formative years. And I know folk will say media, or movies or music cannot make a person do something – I agree, but they can impact the way folks think and define personal standards of behavior. For example, I would assert that most African American males currently would have desires to be professional athletes, producers, Dj’s and rappers because of what they see. Not the jobs per say, but rather the fame and avarice and wealth associated with the aforementioned. Especially the music. I bet if I went down the playlist of any top urban radio station – I will see the likes of idiots inclusive of Gucci Mane, Jeezy, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Plies. Songs that contain lyrics espousing staying strapped, shooting folk, fucking ever girl in the world, and having pockets full of money and following ones owns rules.

So understand where I am coming from, and feel my pain as a parent for although Derrion Albert was not my blood, he was my son and I have no problem pointing fingers at the folks above for five to one, the folks who did the beating probably know all the lyrics to your songs more than the formula for slope/intercept and even worse, want to be rappers. The new KKK strikes again so let us bow our head in silence for we still dont know that we are both the hunted and the prey.

I don’t dispose of income - folk don’t get down like that

Down in this camp, everyone appears to be in awe of the spectacle that Mary J. Bilge and Jay Z are going to be in concert, while I am sitting here before major oral surgery to find out the big deal. Especially with the existence of Limewire and cell phones with video cameras.

They also say it is virtually sold out with front row seats (from Ticket Master) going for $660 a pop. All other seats are going for $300.00. Off market front row seats are going for $900.00, with all others priced and $600.00. Are folks really that greedy? Is a concert really worth more than $50.00 for a front row seat? On the surface I will say no, I mean if it is disposable income, then maybe. However, the folks that will be mostly in attendance, according to the economic indicators I follow have the least amount of disposable income in the country – us.

Personally I do not believe the concept, nor do I ascribe to disposing of income. Garbage yes, income no – folk here don’t get down like that. Maybe it is greed too, because now the concert people have even opened up the rehearsal to he general public for the paltry fee of $250.00 a seat, a rehearsal

Then knowing us as we do, people got to have the fresh cut, their doo’s whipped and new shoes, outfit, purse and nails done if a woman (even some men). So we really looking at anywhere from $500 to a stack for a concert night. And don’t throw in doing dinner before and drinks after coupled with $3.35 per gallon gas, the ticket becomes even higher, cause many of us are not smart enough to take MARTA.



What I could do with a stack, well at least get me shares of some new stocks I have bee following, namely the vice fund, Incogia and Geopharm. But that’s just me and how I dispose of income. What this concert may cost a single individual may even be Board for a semester, if not at least a few bills or a couple of car notes.

some more muzk from the vault

Flickted homo sapien sapien

I learned of the origin of man through the works of Chekih Anta Diop (my Idol), the Senegalese scholar. To me his most seminal works were The African Origin of Civilization, Pre-Colonial Black Africa and Civilization or Barbarism. It was him that I learned of the lineage of homo habillis, Homo erectus and homo sapien sapien (all in Africa). This is just a preface, since for the last two days I have been hanging out on Bankhead with my folk D4L at their studio. I say this because I have written a few essays but have been thinking about stuff, that I thin I should understand being that I am homo sapien sapien. Many of which come from the consternation proffered by the cathode ray tube. Here goes.

1] Ugly Betty. How don’t seem ugly to me but is rather finer than a mug.

2] Grey’s Anatomy. It is nothing like the book.

3] Human vegetarians that have incisors and Canines which by design are made to shred meat.

4] Women suggesting that Jay-Z is fine – when did this happen.

5] A woman not giving head to her man, and a man that don’t consume kitty.

6] Over-looking the history of a nation such as Turkey for genocidal crimes because they let us use their military runways to take supplies to Iraq.

7] Dr. Marvin Weinbaum, scholar-in-residence at. Middle East Institute (How can a person of Jewish descent be an expert on Islam – this is not anti-Semitic.

8] Why mainstream America see the most defining event of our time being 9/11 and the war in Iraq as opposed to Racism.


Just a few things that I don’t understand and makes me feel un worthy of my status as homo sapien sapien.