Jay Z on Social Responsibility: My Presence Is A Charity
Jay Z is not happy with criticism that he received for his lack of social responsibility and recently let it be known that his presence should be considered charitable.
Last year, entertainer and activist Harry Belafonte, 86, criticized rap mogul Jay Z, 43, not taking a stand when it came to social issue.
"It is sad. And I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities," Belafonte told The Hollywood Reporter last year. "But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyonce, for example."
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Jay Z, the rapper who was born Shawn Carter, said the comments were offensive.
"I'm offended by that because first of all, this is going to sound arrogant, but my presence is charity. Just who I am, [is charity], just like Obama is," Jay Z told Rap Radar's Elliot Wilson recently. "Obama provides hope. Whether he does anything, that hope that he provides for a nation and outside of America is enough. Just being who he is."
The rapper went on to explain the parallels between himself and president Barack Obama.
"You're the first black president," Jay Z told Wilson. "If he speaks on any issue or anything, he should be left alone. [...] Of course we want to challenge [Obama] to do better, but I felt like Belafonte just went about it wrong."
According to Jay Z, Belafonte should have never addressed the media about his issues with the rap mogul. However, Jay Z insisted that his presence should make enough of an impact on people who witnessed his rags to riches story.
"...My presence is charity," Jay Z told Wilson. "Just this guy who came from Marcy projects apartment 530C, to these places of me playing in Yankee stadium tonight."
