Ahead of this year’s Super Bowl, Jay-Z has addressed his partnership with the NFL.
When it was announced that the rapper and mogul had entered a lucrative deal last year, people were divided over Hov’s decision to align himself with the organisation, particularly as Colin Kaepernick was (and remains) embroiled with his own battles against them.
According to The New York Times, Jay-Z (and by extension, Roc Nation) were installed as the NFL’s ‘live music entertainment strategist’. As part of the role, Jay-Z would be consulting with the NFL on all facets of entertainment around the league, including the Super Bowl halftime show. He would also be able of the NFL’s social justice campaign through his work with their Inspire Change organisation.
“As long as real people are being hurt and marginalized and losing family members, then yes, I can take a couple rounds of negative press,” he told The New York Times.
“No one is saying he hasn’t been done wrong. He was done wrong.” he mentioned, speaking on Colin Kaepernick and his protests against social injustices.
“I would understand if it was three months ago. But it was three years ago and someone needs to say, ‘What do we do now? Because people are still dying. We are two adult men who disagree on the tactic but are marching for the same cause.”
Jay-Z’s deal with the NFL includes an agreement that the league would spend upwards of $100 million on social justice outreach and supporting causes over the next 10 years.
