JAY Z and his dreds made their way to New York’s famed Webster Hall this weekend to reopen the beloved venue in style. Backed by a full band, the 4:44 artist wore a tux as he serenaded the crowd with some of his deeper cuts from his albums.
However, Rumi, Sir and Blue’s dad sparked a dialogue when he went off script and spoke about the importance of investing in black neighborhoods in a freestyle.
https://twitter.com/mvrgiela_/status/1121992040223596544
Jay said: “Gentrify your own hood before these people do it/ Claim eminent domain and have your people move in/ That’s a small glimpse into what Nipsey was doing/ For anybody still confused as to what he was doing.”
Paying homage to Nipsey Hussle who invested in the neighborhood he grew up in, JAY Z’s use of the words “gentrify” seemed to rub a lot of people the wrong way.
Jay-Z always utilized those “Rags to riches, yes we can” narratives to diminish the violence of gentrification and promote a charismatic, seductive and melanated version of capitalism; Social pacifiers and placebos courtesy of the lumpenbourgeoisie.
— Bocafloja (@Bocaquilombo) April 27, 2019
However, not everybody took issue with Mr. Carter’s freestyle and blasted those who lacked the nuance and dexterity to grasp the meaning behind the message.
https://twitter.com/exavierpope/status/1122269912678981632
https://twitter.com/exavierpope/status/1122271487854088192
regardless of jay-z’s use or misuse of the word gentrification, y’all know the exact message he was trying to get across and are on here being willfully obtuse.
— BRÉ. (@_brinac) April 27, 2019
JAY, of course, didn’t respond to any of the criticism and instead joined longtime friend and producer Pharrell in Virginia for his inaugural Something In The Water festival. Mr. Carter never felt like he needed to explain himself, and he damn sure isn’t going to start now.
