Jay-Z's 3 Sold Out Nights Came With Backlash..

Summary

Curtiss King Reacts – Episode Summary
Episode Title: Jay-Z's 3 Sold Out Nights Came With Backlash...
Date: July 20, 2026
Host: Curtiss King

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Episode Overview

This episode examines the historic achievement of Jay-Z selling out three consecutive stadium shows at Yankee Stadium, highlighting both the scale of his cultural impact and the ensuing controversy. Curtiss King walks listeners through the milestone events, key performances, the star-studded guest list, and especially the backlash tied to Jay-Z's Target partnership and his pointed stadium freestyle. The discussion dives into issues of authenticity, corporate partnerships, boycotts, and expectations on Black celebrities, sparking a broader dialogue on the intersection of art, commerce, and activism.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jay-Z’s Unprecedented Yankee Stadium Run

• Record-Breaking Shows: Jay-Z sold out three nights at Yankee Stadium, totaling over 150,000 tickets, with a single-night record of 45,832 fans—the largest ever for a solo artist at the venue.
  • “Jay z in his 50s, 45,832 fans. It’s the largest single night crowd ever for a solo artist at Yankee Stadium. That is insanity.” (Curtiss, 00:24)
• Economic Impact:
  • One regular Yankees game generates about $6.2M for New York; a playoff game is ~$25M. Jay-Z’s three-night run approximated playoff-sized economic effects, with average resale tickets around $755. (01:39)
  • “Jay-Z booked playoff economics in July. Three nights of it. Somebody going to have to tell the truth.” (Diyers, 02:55)

The Star-Studded Guest Line-Up

• Night 1: Beyonce, Blue Ivy, Nas, Mecca, Memphis Bleek, Jazzo, Alicia Keys
• Night 2: Eminem, Pharrell Williams, Slick Rick
• Night 3: Rihanna, Clipse, Jeezy, Jada Kiss, Usher, Fat Joe, Swizz Beatz, Teyana Taylor, Jermaine Dupri, The-Dream
  • “That is insanity. That is insanity. Insane.” (Diyers, 01:54)

Artistic Authenticity and Live Performance

• No Backing Tracks: Jay-Z and guests performed live, no karaoke or backing vocals, dazzling attendees with genuine stagecraft.
  • “Everybody rapping their own vocals, no backing track, perfect breath control, enunciation... they damn near sounded like the CD quality version.” (Jay-Z Analyst, 05:17)
• Internet vs. Real World Success:
  • “There are levels to this... entertainers live in two very distinct worlds, the real world... and the Internet world... Jay-Z steps out and does what he did this weekend, it shows that there is a stark difference.” (Jay-Z Analyst, 05:13–06:08)

Memorable Moments

• Blue Ivy joins Jay-Z on stage, playing keys during “Feelin’ It.”
  • “Just as a dad who’s had this, this below 1 percentile type of career… and you got your daughter up there playing the keys… at a stadium show…” (Diyers, 08:32)
• Nas and Jay-Z Share Stage:
  Reconciliation after legendary rap battles, surprising fans:
  • “Of course we bringing out Nas... amongst other stories, I think that caught the headlines...” (Diyers, 09:36)

Pharrell’s Remark and Internet Speculation

• Pharrell alludes to Jay-Z being “poked” and “getting ready to go to work,” which spiraled into rumors of war and album rollouts. Jay-Z’s reaction suggested some secrets were being let out early.
  • “He said going to work… Jay-Z looked like he was saying too much, like, hey, look, look, look… We ain’t talked about the album yet.” (Diyers, 11:25)

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Reacting to the Backlash: Target Partnership Controversy

The Core Issue

• Target Boycott Background:
  • Activists boycotted Target over rolling back Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and their local ties to ICE/federal enforcement.
• Jay-Z’s Exclusive Vinyl at Target led to accusations of hypocrisy and “selling out,” especially as the release coincided with ongoing protest efforts.
  • “It's the spoken word and it's the freestyle creating these controversies... But listen to what he says as he firebacks at his critics.” (Diyers, 15:23)

Stadium Freestyle – Class vs. the Critics

• Memorable Quote:
  • “They say I sold out. Yeah, I did sell out – three nights I sold Yankee Stadium the hell out. I'm a Target, they don't miss that. Target no exclusive. They only doing what Apple, Walmart did. You shopping at Amazon, or you boycott, you posting on Instagram. That's Meta. Boy. Stop it. Y’all know Google owns YouTube. You picking and choosing, politicking as usual…” (Jay-Z’s Freestyle, 16:23)
• Critique:
  • Jay-Z calls out the selective outrage inherent in online activism and consumer choices, implying critics are themselves complicit with problematic corporations.
• Colin Kaepernick Bar:
  • “They run out of characters. Had to bring back up Cap again. Buddy took a check, I ain’t even mad at him. But along with that check gotta sign a non-disparagement. I'm the one they can't control. Y’all better be glad it’s him.” (Jay-Z’s Freestyle, 16:33–17:06)

The Debate Over Black Celebrities, Capitalism & Representation

Diverging Views (multiple commentators and guests):

• Double Standard:
  • “There's a part of me that is appreciative of him using the art ... but also ... he’s poking at the hypocrisy.” (Curtiss, 17:06)
  • “Had that been that other, the Canadian light bright, we would have been on his ass.” (referring to Drake, 21:38)
• Community Expectations:
  • “The people were the ones that invested into, early on, into the brand, into the belief, into the music...there is on some level an expectation of how you use the influence that was built off of the people.” (Diyers, 26:18)
• Mark Lamont (Joe Budden Podcast):
  • “Every time there’s a boycott, you pop up working with those people… at the end of the day, it just starts to look... away.” (Mark Lamont, 32:04)
• Jemele Hill & Rachel Lindsay:
  • “We live in a capitalist society that constantly forces us to make these choices. Everybody’s compromised, everybody’s dirty. None of our integrity can line up consistently.” (Rachel Lindsay, 36:41)
• Nikki Free:
  • “Black capitalism is not the same thing as Black liberation... liberation is not measured by how many Black billionaires we produce... it's whether ordinary Black people have greater opportunity...” (Nikki Free, 54:37)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “[Jay-Z] sold out three nights… that is insanity.” (00:24 – Curtiss)
• “Jay-Z booked playoff economics in July. Three nights of it. Somebody going to have to tell the truth.” (02:55 – Curtiss)
• “There are levels to this … what Jay Z did this weekend at Yankee Stadium was one of the most powerful professional and personal flexes of all time.” (04:21 – Jay-Z Analyst)
• “They say I sold out... I sold Yankee Stadium the hell out…” (16:23 – Jay-Z's Freestyle)
• “Black capitalism is not the same thing as black liberation. And I think we have spent far too much time pretending they are.” (54:37 – Nikki Free Cook)

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Deeper Conversation: Activism, Hypocrisy, and the Role of Art

Double Binds and Complexity

• Internet Culture:
  • “It is so much more about the celebration of a hot take ... They for show would have laughed at Jesus. They for show would have snitched on MLK." (Diyers, 53:04)
• Hip-Hop and Responsibility:
  • Mainstream rap sees less expectation for activism; artists who signal higher consciousness are subjected to greater scrutiny.
  • “If you make a more artsy brand of rap music and get successful, fans will project their politics on you and get mad when you don’t live up to those expectations." (Dad Bod Rap Pod, 28:44)

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Takeaways & Reflections

Jay-Z as an Example and an Exception

• Jay-Z’s Magic: Able to convene a superstar cast, command massive crowds, and maintain relevance, his actions always spur high-stakes cultural debates.
• Community Reflection:
  • “If you wholeheartedly disagree with Jay Z, I’m here for it. If you partly disagree, I’m here for it. The fact of the matter is we’re having these conversations, and... it’s making people think again and think for themselves.” (Diyers, 57:06)
• Celebration vs. Critique:
  • There’s a marked difference in public response when Jay-Z—due to his status, artistic seriousness, and history—acts versus other celebrities.
• Art as a Catalyst for Dialogue:
  • “It’s better to have music inspiring these conversations... I'm grateful that we're having these conversations because it's making people think again and think for themselves." (Diyers, 59:07)

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Essential Timestamps

• 00:24: Curtain-raiser on Jay-Z’s record-breaking numbers
• 01:54: Overview of guest line-up
• 03:34: Stadium atmosphere & drone show
• 05:13–06:08: Jay-Z analyst on “real world” vs. “Internet world”
• 08:32: Blue Ivy on stage
• 09:36: Nas joins Jay-Z
• 11:25–11:49: Pharrell hints at Jay-Z’s next move
• 15:23: First discussion of the Target controversy
• 16:23–17:06: Jay-Z’s stadium freestyle
• 26:18: Community expectations
• 32:04: Mark Lamont critique
• 36:41: Rachel Lindsay on capitalist compromises
• 54:37: Nikki Free on Black capitalism vs. liberation
• 57:06: Curtiss wraps the episode’s big-picture significance

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Conclusion

This episode weaves together Jay-Z’s latest milestone, the controversy it sparked, and a tapestry of perspectives on Black excellence, activism, artistry, and capitalism. Curtiss King leverages Jay-Z’s stadium feat—and freestyle clapback—to illuminate the nuanced, often contentious, roles Black artists occupy as both symbols and participants in evolving cultural and political conversations. This is more than celebrity news: it’s an opportunity for the community to reflect, debate, and, as Curtiss says, “think again and think for themselves.”

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Transcript

[Curtis]

Curtis.

[Diyers]

Di wires. I'm sure you've already seen the news. You've probably seen all of this historic numbers that Jay Z has been doing with these three stadium shows that he did in New York at the stadium. It's been teased for a few months. I mean the promotion is going up and of course we knew we were going to end up covering this. But it has not been just a historic night. Three nights that that has not been met with some controversy. It actually sparked a debate. Another Jay Z freestyle sparks a debate. But I want to start here with really the impact and the numbers of what's happening because this is really interesting to me. So Jay Z makes history. It says here on the New Yorkers Instagram by having 45,832 fans. Yes, you read that correct. Jay z in his 50s, 45, 832 fans. It's the largest single night crowd ever for a solo artist at Yankee Stadium. That is insanity. It got some of the flicks here just to kind of give you an idea. I mean we, we already knew this show was gonna bring folks out. Jay Z is, is obviously aggressively separated from the, the herd of, of artists in his, in his generation. A legendary name. I mean the, the guy, I mean he's, he's his own category. When somebody says Jay Z success, that's a completely different category. Look at the names, just look at the names. One. Night one to three, you got night one, Beyonce, Blue Ivy, Nas, Mecca, Memphis Bleak, Jazzo. That was a nice surprise. Alicia Keys. Night two, you got Eminem, Pharrell Williams, Slick Rick.

[Jay Z Analyst]

What?

[Diyers]

Night three, Rihanna. How you get this on night three, Rihanna clips. Beyonce, Pharrell, Jeezy, Jada Kiss, Usher, Fat Joe Swiss beats Teyana Taylor. A lot of folks was having something to say about Tiana, Jermaine Dupree and the dream. That is insanity. That is insanity. Insane. To give it a little bit more context, this was posted before those record breaking numbers. It said that Jay Z is about to out earn the Yankees in their own stadium. It took them took him 16 years to set up, set up the trade. Peep this out though. This slide is really interesting. It says a regular Yankees game because it was at Yankee Stadium where these sold out shows happen. A regular Yankees game day is worth about 6.2 million to new York. A playoff game is worth about 25 million. That is the jackpot the whole city prays for every October and depends on a pennant race. So that means that the actual Yankees have got to be in contention. Got to be Some about to be competitive in order to be in a pennant race that nobody can schedule. Now price this weekend, three sold out stadium nights. Resale averaging the resale tickets averaging about $755 a ticket. A destination crowd flying in for an anniversary that happens once Jay Z booked playoff economics in July. Three nights of it. Somebody going to have to tell the truth.

[Commentator 1]

And I'm going to.

[Diyers]

Just to give you an idea, I have to. We have to break this down first before we get to the controversy. Just to get an idea of just how ridiculous the stadium show was, man. Peep out this. This aerial footage that was actually used in some crazy way. They did this drone footage of the stadium and then broadcasted on the screen while he was rapping. Crazy. Peep this out real quick. I sell ice in the winter.

[Curtis]

Me.

[Diyers]

Mute that before we get copyright string up. Look at this. This is insanity. I don't know how many stadium rap shows that you've been to, but damn it, I mean I went to the. The Kendrick and. And Scissors show at Sofi. It stadiums are very different than some of these venues that you may go to. Here's some more perspective on him, right? Because I. It cannot be stated enough. This is just something that does not happen for every rapper, especially rappers in Jay Z's generation, artists in general. Like when you're at this stage of your career, it's just. You don't see these things happening. But to give it a little perspective, I saw this clip I wanted to share with you. Peep this out.

[Jay Z Analyst]

There are levels to this and the people who have Internet fame, even a lot of it, are a far cry from the real one. What Jay Z did this weekend at Yankee Stadium was one of the most powerful professional and personal flexes of all time. And it highlights that we live in two very distinct worlds right now. The real world and the Internet world. Now to the first point. Jay Z sold like150,000 tickets this weekend.

[Diyers]

150 what?

[Jay Z Analyst]

He had 20 of the biggest acts in all the music show up on his behalf, including Nas, Eminem, Pharrell doing like a full Neptune set, Fat Joe and Jadakiss putting on for New York. He had Beyonce and Rihanna on the same show on the same night, which is pretty crazy given all the rumors that circulated after Solange in the elevator. And then while on stage with all those other icons, they put on a master class on how to actually perform live. Live band playing.

[Diyers]

I'm curious how many of you actually went to the show on a chat. Let it be known in the music.

[Jay Z Analyst]

Everybody rapping their own vocals, no backing track, perfect breath control, enunciation. You could understand everything perfectly. While he's mixing and matching verses with beats, there were times these guys damn near sounded like the CD quality version. And that's what brings me to point number two. There are two very distinct worlds that entertainers live in right now. The real world, which is tangible, it's authentic, it is observable, it's proven by reality. And then there is the Internet world, which is not authentic. It's curated, it's algorithm driven, it's all smoke and mirrors. It could never exist outside of the Internet the way that it does on, on social media. And while in our day to day we are all consumed by the Internet version of the world, when someone like Jay Z steps out and does what he did this weekend, it shows that there is a stark difference between the people who live in the real world and on the Internet.

[Diyers]

I think that's the point that I really wanted to highlight on this one. The very big difference between what you see on the Internet versus what you see when it comes to conversations about streams and about numbers. And it's not like Jay Z doesn't do the numbers whenever he releases new material. But so much of the conversations have been skewed, I feel like in the wrong direction. Where it's less about the art and more about the influence in the influencer, the Internet influence in the influencer generation. And these are, these type of shows are bringing out about a fanfare that's just not so common, especially for rappers. You know, I think one of those points that he made about the fact that there weren't backing vocals, I think that's a huge part of it. The fact that you're not seeing somebody up there doing karaoke. People are not going to show up in droves of 40, 50,000 people to watch somebody do karaoke or do a version of the song that they have a better version on Apple Music currently or you know, whatever they use title. So it's really interesting to see that, to kind of give you an idea ground zero of what some of this stuff is. This is crazy to me. This man was out here getting ready to go to the show. He already paid his tickets. He said that he turned down $10,000 for Yankee Stadium tickets. The buzz was insane out here.

[Commentator 1]

This a zoo. Look at this man.

[Commentator 2]

Look.

[Diyers]

Just tried to buy my ticket.

[Commentator 2]

10,000.

[Commentator 1]

Geez. Flow seat.

[Diyers]

Hell no. I told that I'm going to the show. I'm f to see Crazy up. I don't blame him. I don't blame him. If you paid the money that you paid, you made the preparations you made, of course you ain't about to sell that off. I, I, I, that's crazy. 10 GS. 10 GS. I mean, I mean, it depend on where. How Depend on how many arrangements you made. If I flew out there n. I can't sell that to you. I can't sell that to you. But if I lived out there, I might be like, I'm going to hang around the stadium or something.

[Commentator 1]

I don't know.

[Diyers]

Some of the clips that I thought were really crazy to watch and witness. I mean, it just kind of gives you an idea of how long some of us, I think, have, have, have been fans or supporters of AJ Z. This brings it into perspective. I feel like celebrity kids have a way of growing up a lot faster than, than your own kids. Somebody going to have to tell the truth.

[Commentator 1]

And I'm.

[Diyers]

Because what do you mean? Blue Ivy Carter plays the keys on I'm feeling it with her dad, Jay Z at Yankee Stadium. What do you mean? What? Peep this out. Are you kidding? Just I. Look, look, before y' all say I'm paid off by Roc Nation before you say that, because I'm pretty sure it's gonna happen. Oh, we celebrating somebody celebrate a billionaire. Oh, no. Just think about that perspective just as a dad who's had this, this below 1 percentile type of career that nobody else can say they've enjoyed even close to in rap. And you got your daughter up there playing the keys to one of your songs at a stadium show, regardless of your personal opinions about it.

[Commentator 2]

That's.

[Diyers]

That's crazy. That's, that's, that's insanity to me. But I wanted to capture that moment. Another moment here. That's really dope. Especially seeing the, the war that these two gentlemen had of. Of these lyrical sparring that they had years and years ago. One of the most legendary battles of all time. Nas showed up also to this Yankee show and performed a few songs along. That's crazy. That's crazy. So we bringing out Jet. We bringing out. Of course we bringing out Nas. I mean, it's got people also guesstimating if this is the kind of star studded event that you would have in New York, what is it going to be when he eventually comes over here to the West Coast? Crazy. Crazy to see amongst other headlining. Excuse me. Amongst other stories, I think that caught the headlines, this Pharrell moment. Because you know he brought out the clips and he brought off Pharrell. Of course, they got front and so many other songs like Change change, change clothes. Pharrell says something that sound like Jay Z was either getting prepared for war or getting prepared to drop an album. Either one got folks excited, people. He said it's one of the greatest

[Commentator 1]

to have ever done it.

[Diyers]

The fact that he could come out here and do this at Yankee stadium

[Commentator 1]

three nights in a row. Book Paris. Y' all understand New York.

[Diyers]

This is your own.

[Commentator 1]

You got to make some noise for your own. Y' all know him to be the giant and I. I know him to be. They poked the bear and then the bear cut his hair, and now he

[Curtis]

got on his helmet.

[Commentator 1]

He got on his helmet and he didn't really go to work.

[Diyers]

Somehow my Internet heard that line from Pharrell. He said, he, you poked a bear and he cut his hair and now he's getting ready to go to work. Somehow the Internet turned that into going to war. Leave it to the Internet, everybody. Leave it to the Internet. He said going to work. Which still is funny to see Jay Z's reaction because he looked like he was saying too much, like, hey, look, look, look, look. We ain't talked about the album yet.

[Commentator 1]

I hope you kill all the. Y' all know what I'm talking about. Make some noise with a legendary skateboard.

[Diyers]

Yeah, that dap up in that over talk and said everything you need to say. All right, okay, hold on, hold on now. Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. I didn't say nothing about the album yet. I mean, it's roll out. If it is indeed a rollout. Of course, it's a celebration of 30 years since reasonable Doubt was released is incredible. There's a nine part series that he's doing with. With Rick Rubin that's going to be on cable. Like, there's a lot of, well, not capable streaming. There's a lot of things that are circulating around this, including something we're getting ready to talk about his partnership, his exclusive partnership with carrying the vinyl for Reasonable Doubt at Target of all places. Now, you know, everybody wasn't happy about seeing all of this fanfare and success of these three shows. One person in particular. You knew you could have predicted this one. Dang dash. Oh, listen to what dame. I pray. I pray I never.

[Curtis]

I'd never.

[Diyers]

I pray I'd never get to a place where I hate somebody this much or where I. I display the emotions of hate so much. I pray I don't peep out some of this clip.

[Commentator 2]

It's crazy how you feel about him breaking out ns. That was a dope moment, right?

[Commentator 3]

I mean, it was a little cringe. I'm used to them beefing, you know, I don't like to see when wrestlers get be friends. I, I never wanted to see Nas rap over jb. I never wanted to see Jay, you know, doing background for Nas. It just felt awkward. It'd be like Paul seeing like, you know, Godzilla and King Kong on the stage, giving each other five and what,

[Jay Z Analyst]

what?

[Diyers]

Except they don't make music and collaboration is a part of music and wrestling.

[Commentator 2]

Not real.

[Diyers]

Oh, brother.

[Commentator 3]

Okay, I want to see rap beef. Pause. I want to. I mean, I just. It's not real, but it's crazy.

[Diyers]

The moment he get the pause and it sound like he having an argument with himself, like he'll commit to something and he'll argue the point. He'd be like, no, I didn't mean that. But I mean this and, and I mean it's, it's like he argued with his at some point. But continue.

[Commentator 3]

I'm just, you know, I just like the art of rap. You know what I mean? So, like, I think it's cool when people could battle, give each other pounds and keep battling. But all this Kumbaya. I'm not all about all that. I don't like, like that. You know what I mean? But again, it just seemed like everybody was required to wear something that had something to do with the Yankees.

[Diyers]

I mean, dame. It was at Yankee Stadium and, and, and Jay Z who said, like, I made the Yankee logo. I made, I made that something that I made it more popular than the Yankees. That might be proper attire. That's like going to an LA stadium show and not expecting to see some LA fitteds. I just, I, I just, it's just all better.

[Jay Z Analyst]

It's bitter.

[Diyers]

But continue.

[Commentator 3]

Pause.

[Commentator 4]

Pause.

[Commentator 3]

I just got, I got like, I don't want to see another Yankee hat for a while now. There's too many Yankees.

[Diyers]

There's too many Yankee hats at Yankee Stadium. I read that, right?

[Commentator 3]

Played it out one day when a hundred wear the same hat. I'm not wearing it.

[Diyers]

All right, I'm gonna leave it there. Other things are the, I guess the bigger story, the. One of the biggest stories that's causing all kind of debates and controversy was another freestyle that Jay Z did. Now before we get into the details of this, because, you know, I got some, some viewpoints on this. I want to share some perspectives on this. But Jay Z using his, his freestyling or his rapping ability as a way to spark conversations I think shows a difference. I think it shows a difference in the expectations that people have on him versus maybe some other light bright Canadians out here. But I think this is dope that it's the, the fact that it's the spoken word and it's the freestyle creating these controversial controversies. Now what he says I think is up for debate. But listen to what he says as he firebacks at his critics in another freestyle during the stadium shows that they

[Commentator 1]

only doing what Apple wall Monte, you shopping at Amazon. Oh, you boycott. You posting on Instagram. That's meta. Boy.

[Diyers]

Stop it.

[Commentator 1]

Y' all know Google owns YouTube. You picking and choosing the politicking as usual, They dig it deep for narratives. It's embarrassing. They run out of characters. Had to bring back up Cap again. Buddy took a check. I ain't even mad at him. But along with that check, gotta sign a non disparagement. I'm the one they can't control. Y' all better be glad as him.

[Diyers]

I'm a little torn on this one. I'm a little torn on this one. Okay. There's a part of me that is appreciative of him using the art as a way to express his viewpoints on all these opinions that are said about Jay Z in a given day. I can't even imagine what that's like to have that amount of conversation and dialogue about your every single move. He's been living in this obviously for 30 plus years, but just thinking of that, this is the medium that you're going to use. He could have easily went on a podcast and ran it. He could easily went and just ran it on stage. The fact that he keeps bringing it back to the art, I love that. On the other hand, there's the conversation

[Curtis]

about

[Diyers]

him going against the reason why us as black folks was was targeting. Excuse me, boycotting the Target and him basically poking out the what he sees the hypocrisy. And how could you be so critical of him having this exclusive deal for The Reasonable Doubt 30 Year Anniversary Vinyl and steel shop with companies like Apple and with Amazon who have their own set of issues for a refresher. For those who did not know there were active protests against a Target. Specifically, activists and unions organize a nationwide boycott of Target to protest the company's decision to roll back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and its failure to respond adequately to aggressive federal immigration, ICE and enforcement in its Minneapolis hometown. So real issues that. That deserved real answers. That's one aspect of it. So like I said, it's. It got me. And then also too. Although he is at the center of the conversation because another thing that people are critical of is Jay Z seems to show up in partner with these companies like a target, like a NFL. He tends to partner with them in the midst of there being a protest and then kind of either striking a deal or striking something that makes it seem like he's going against the very thing. Are, are are changing the dialogue around the conversation of why people decided to boycott in the first place. So he had these things to say.

[Commentator 1]

I'm doing this with the activists. They type and I laugh at them. There's really no comparison. Y' all check my stats again. I'm bringing folks home to their family. Laws get passed. Cuz him. You can like it or not. We don't do no ass kissing. You might not like the packaging, but my one they can't control.

[Diyers]

Hey, he, he, he said it. He said it. He said it. So a lot of conversations were had the week of or the week after he did that freestyle where he's calling out the hypocrisy and other folks are saying, well, I don't think it's that cut and dry. I don't think it's that black and white amongst the people that were speaking on his behalf. I don't know if this was. I, I don't know if these was his words at all. But myth bleep. We all know of the, the, the. The camaraderie, the brotherhood, that myth bleak. And Jay Z has sat here on a platform on Power 105.1. And it was posed the questions by one of the hosts, Mouse Jones, about the, the hypocrisy, I guess, or the decision making that goes into Jay Z making these partnerships while in the midst of they're being boycotting

[Curtis]

entertaining than the truth, bro, no matter what you say, man. Like the truth came out about them fouls and all that. They still run with it. Yo, homie in this and homie in that. It's like, what about the target lawyer shot down. Don't talk to me about give a about that activist.

[Diyers]

So the host asked him what about the target deal? His first initial reaction was don't ask me about that activism. Make sure you didn't miss that.

[Curtis]

Like, what about the target lawyer shot down. Don't talk to me about that activism.

[Diyers]

I don't give a f about the activism.

[Commentator 2]

Oh,

[Diyers]

what, what say you? All I'm gonna say is this. Had that been that other.

[Curtis]

The, the.

[Diyers]

The Canadian light bright, we would have been on his ass.

[Commentator 1]

Pause.

[Diyers]

Somebody gonna have to tell the truth and I'm gonna tell it. That's rapping like you're trying to free the slaves type of, type of, type of ethics, if you ask me. That's that, that's, that's the same thing that we criticize a lot of these streamers for saying some of the things in a more disrespectful way. But this is the same criticism we lodge on folks who feel like they're above any of these conversations, these politics. And it makes it sound, it makes them sound so disconnected from the same demographic that they go to with products looking to sell to or tell stories for. That's crazy. That's a crazy ass statement. But we're just at the first line

[Curtis]

like these are still in there. My right. So don't worry about. The Target deal is important because I hit up both of these dudes when that, when that episode came, I said, oh yeah, y got collective, but look. No, not at all. Everybody album is available, right? So why would. So why wouldn't whole. Why wouldn't ho say it?

[Diyers]

This is a true fact. We going to get to that conversation too. But Jay Z's not the only one. If you, if you have gone into Target, you will see that there are still artists like Cole, Kendrick and a few others. Like I even saw Prince's catalog is in there. Obviously he's not here in order to make those decisions, but he's not the only one there. But it is definitely going to be a conversation when part of the rollout is a celebration of his catalog in the 30 year anniversary of Reasonable Doubt and you give them an exclusive deal.

[Curtis]

Hey, I don't con. I don't have to. He don't have to. He don't owe y' all no explanation.

[Jay Z Analyst]

My.

[Curtis]

That's where. That's where we split blades. That's. That's going forever. Y' all sounded like the old lady in the window. Why y' all outside three in the morning, loud. We got to tell her we selling drugs.

[Jay Z Analyst]

What?

[Curtis]

That's why. No, I don't the. I don't get the cor. I don't get the correlation there. She want to know why we outside late doing what we do. You want to know why he did what he did. I owe none of y' all no explanation. Selling drug. The difference is I don't know if

[Diyers]

that's, You know, sometimes I wonder and maybe it's going to happen, but Sometimes I wonder why Jay Z hasn't done Myth Bleaks podcast and he's done like all these other platforms before he's done his podcast. It's moments like this that I realize it's probably not a wise decision because some like this has to come out and you may have to play cleanup in the midst of this. Like, this is what the, the, the, the, the timing and the logic. I feel like it even undercuts whatever defenses that some people would have, because I'll just say this. The way that I peep it is this. It's not so black and white of, oh my God, he's the. How dare him step over the line. And I think that Jay Z takes advantage of the leverage that someone like him and, and a very small group of people like him have, right? Who else has the capital? Who else has the leverage? Who else has the influence even at this stage of his career, to go sit at those tables and, and, and, and, and break bread, but also use that leverage in a way that someone who doesn't have the capital can.

[Jay Z Analyst]

Right?

[Diyers]

He sits there and he's in these meetings and I feel like this, that entire world, that entire business world operates by another set of rules where I'm sure on a regular basis, these multimillionaires and billionaires are doing business with people who hold on to their own racial biases. They have their own wicked ways of looking at the world. But in that world, it's a very different set of rules. You know how they say business is not business and not personal? So I imagine he gets to come into these rooms with another type of leverage that does not exist for the average man or woman who was in protest of these things. And these companies could possibly be at their most vulnerable and they're most desperate to do things that, that work to the favor of some of the talking points that people that are protesting want. I imagine that's one way to look at it. Can't say that it's always like that, but I just think that that's one way to look at it. I think I'm done with that clip because, boy, what else you mean?

[Curtis]

Unless you paying that old lady rent or whatever the case may be. Did he not paying your rent? Right? We, the, the community. The community at large. The community at large. Again, the community.

[Diyers]

To his point, although the people are not paying Jay Z's rent directly, they, the people were the ones that invested into, early on into the brand, into the belief, into the music. He obviously had to do the work. He Obviously had to strike the deals behind closed doors, but the people are the ones who.

[Commentator 1]

Who.

[Diyers]

Who chose. I think I heard Pharrell said at one time, he's like, I'm grateful that they chose me and my art, but that's. That was a choice that the people made. And upon them making that investment. I think that people have expectations about the way that you represent them. If they make these investments into you. If 45, 000 people are showing up now, all of them don't have the same wants and needs. But I think that there is on some level an expectation of how you use the influence that was built off of the people. So to that point, I think it's just too narrow of an argument in general. Maybe that's not the person to have it. Jay Z, I think, is probably the more sold the person to have it. Another theory here that I thought was really interesting is coming here from dad bod rap pod. He said, if you make vapid mainstream rap music, nobody expects anything from you in terms of activism or giving back. I mean, we really don't see these conversations circulating around artists that, you know, after they go number one or they. They break a streaming record. The immediate conversations, at least the ones that on my timeline are not around, well, what are you doing to give back or what are you doing, you know, to. To. To. To hold on to this position with the responsibility that we expect. He did say, however, if you make an artist brand of rap music and get successful. Excuse me. If you make an artsier brand of rap music and get successful fans and get successful. Excuse me. If you make an artsier brand of rap music and get successful, comma. Fans will project their politics on you and get mad when you don't live up to those expectations. I think it's a fair statement. I think. I think. I think that's a fair statement. I think. I think there is a different expectation when you choose to speak about certain topics. And I think that Jay Z has not been absent in these at all. I mean, he's. He said it in the freestyle. He's been on the front line of trying to get these laws changed or. Or, you know, helping other artists out and being pro artists, getting their pay, being pro artists, you know, having the ability to still operate business outside of these systems that have tried to take full advantage of everyone's art. He has been. He has done some things. But at the same time, I still understand that we are living in a society where, you know, Jay Z said, I can't help the Poor if I'm one of them. So I got rich and gave back to me. That's the win. Win. There is a bit of playing on both sides that is well worth the conversation, debate, and dialogue that is happening. So how about this Joe Button podcast? HO co host Mark Lamont said this about the Jay Z freestyle and also his partnership with Target. That was an interesting point. I wanted to highlight. Peep it out.

[Commentator 2]

The point is, for me, this is a bad look and a bad decision. I think that for hov. For hov? Yes. Yes, for Jay Z.

[Diyers]

Do you have your tickets to the concert yet?

[Commentator 2]

No.

[Diyers]

Okay, go ahead. You can take the lead on this.

[Commentator 2]

I think that, first of all, there's a national boycott against Target. I know that there was a moment where we called it over.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

I thought it was over.

[Commentator 2]

Yeah, it was for like two days. Jamal Bryant said the fast is over. But the problem was Jamal Bryant wasn't the person who organized the boycott. You can't go out.

[Diyers]

See, I do remember that. Oh, they fired him. He fired him up. Jamal Bryant, they fired him up online because he came out and he was like, everybody, everybody, the boycott is over. And I remember just seeing the reactions, especially on Twitter, they were like, who are you to tell me it's over? For me, I still have issues with the way that they operated things and the fact that we're here to even begin with. You know, I think what's really interesting, especially after I made that story recently about Young Rado, and one of the. One of the statements that I kept continuously making, is that as black folks, we are not monolithic. We don't all share the same exact beliefs. But I do feel like there are monolithic type expectations that we have upon our leaders or the people that we see as the. The. The most successful and. And the most profitable voices that are, quote, unquote, representing us. So I think that there. There is. There is sort of a. A weird conversation, an odd conversation that sometimes is. Is. Is full of hypocrisy of we are not the same. But then when someone acts outside of our expectations, we're surprised. So I think that Mark Lamont is getting ready to talk a little bit more to that, but get spicy and

[Commentator 2]

cancel a boycott that you didn't start. And what happens. Because what happens is that's when it starts to look like you have your own deals going on. That's when it starts to look like you're managing your own shit and not listening to the activists. Because it started in Minnesota after George Floyd. You don't have the power. It'd be like me coming on here saying, it's over, park saying it's over. It's not. There is an ongoing boycott of Target, number one. Number two, after the NFL boycott, you partner with NFL right after there's a Target boycott, you do a deal with Target. Whether everything is complicated, everything is nuanced, but at the end of the day, it just starts to look, as Joe would say, starts to look away when every time there's a boycott, you pop up working with those people.

[Diyers]

Once again, I point to another perspective on this in that there's obviously a money play to be made, and I think that's where most people are focused on, is that he makes these decisions based upon, you know, whatever capitalistic gain may come, may come from that. But I do think that there is something to. He has a different type of leverage than someone who's not in a power position to become a rival, a financial position, to become a real problem and a nuisance to these companies because of the domino effect of it. And I think that there is a unique opportunity based upon having that rare leverage to have a different conversation than most people would walking into that room where they're already looking down upon you and feeling like, what are you going to do about it if we don't change back to those DEI initiatives? I do feel like there. There's a reason these conversations keep coming back up, because it's a different type of conversation you're going to have with a Jay Z. Now, whether that's to the benefit of the people that are protesting, I think that those are fair things to question.

[Commentator 2]

This is not to say that Jay Z doesn't support. The community does. It's not to say that Jay Z doesn't support grassroots efforts. I've personally seen him invest in those things. All that can be true and simultaneously, this is a bad decision. This is a bad choice. Just optically it just looks. Just the optics of it are bad. You know what I mean? Whenever you and I get. People have different opinions on the Target boycott in particular. Fine, I don't. I think. I think there's a need for one. But whatever you think about the Target boycott, it's just a bad look and it doesn't have to happen.

[Diyers]

Yeah, I think you made some really valid points. Another clip here I saw from Jamel Hill was on the Van Lathan podcast with Rich Rachel Lindsay and said. She said that she discussed the criticism Jay Z's receiving for this deal with Target. And this is really all Once again, this is because of that freestyle. All of these conversations are happening because of that freestyle and his exclusive deal with Target.

[Rachel Lindsay]

Peep this out by what was the conversation where people were accusing him of using his influence to sort of get people in on the deal. And they wound up being something where Barclays obviously displaced a lot of people who are longtime residents. Property went up, white people moved in. Gentrification, same old story. So I think Jay Z is, like, wearing this label, whether fair or not, of Jay Z comes in when we need to wrangle the Negroes and get them on board with something and maybe go against their own integrity, because him, as a cultural tastemaker, as somebody who moves culture, who commands culture, in many ways, is the person that we need to convince the rest of them to get on code. And.

[Diyers]

Okay, she's not making that argument, but I think she's bringing up an argument of there are people that are painting a Jay Z as the person that can come and basically wrangle everybody and say, hey, hey, hey. If Jay Z says it's cool and you are influenced by me, everything's fine. They're not in need. They're not in need of your anger anymore. I got this. I'll take care of this. I. I do see people painting a Jay Z like that in this, in that moment, but I also think to myself, let me, let me, let me, let me, let me, Let me sit on that. Let me sit on that conversation.

[Commentator 4]

Hold on.

[Diyers]

Let me sit on that for a second. I want, I don't want to, I don't want to jump hastily, but I do see there is a difference in them operating with them. And I don't think a lot of folks have an answer for what

[Commentator 1]

that

[Diyers]

win actually looks like with him at the negotiation table.

[Commentator 2]

All.

[Diyers]

Okay, this is the point I'm making. Gotta be at the table in order to make a change in these conversations. If we're not at the table of a, of an NFL and they're able to operate within their own bubble, their own vacuum, and nobody's at the table to have these conversations in a way that can change it. Do we have some of the. The things that happen during the halftime show? Do we have a Kendrick that does the. Makes the, The, The. The statements that he made within his own art form for the halftime show? Do we even have him at the halftime show? Does a bad bunny get the opportunity to speak on immigration and, and all The, The. The nonsense that were coming from ice? Like, do we get the opportunities to even be at the Table. If somebody doesn't have that conversation and if it just stays as a divide, I don't know. I don't know. But the conversation has to be had somehow, some way. If these avenues are places we plan on investing our money and attention.

[Rachel Lindsay]

So in a way, I think some of the criticism, it's like everything else, you know, Vanna and Rachel, everything is not black and white. We live in a capitalist society that constantly forces us to make these choices. Everybody's compromised, everybody's dirty. None of our integrity can line up consistently. And so we're having this sort of social media conversations. We're having 10 conversations at once. One is about Jay Z and his role as a billionaire in capitalism. Another is about consistency, of which I'm like, that is impossible in today's America. You are more likely, you are more than likely going to boycott Target, but also order from Amazon, because that's the way this whole game is rigged. Like they make us dependent on them to the point where we honestly cannot live our lives in a way that remains consistent. Because we're going to use social media, we're going to do this. Like, if you want to boycott anything, well, how are you going to reach people? You got to use meta. How you gonna reach people? You gotta use X. So like, we can't live in a hip, a hypocrisy free environment because frankly, that's too damn hard. Like, I'm just gonna keep it, just gonna keep it real. It's really hard to do that.

[Commentator 4]

It's true. So I guess we can't, you know, with the information that you're providing, can't really say he intended to do this or not. But it's still there, right? His album, exclusively. Huge black celebrity, huge cultural influence. Does it still take away from what it is that this. I mean, I don't know if Jamal Bryant took away from it because he confused people. I don't know. I still don't shop there personally because to your point, you pick your battles. I might not shop here, but I might have to shop here, whatever it may be. But do you still think that this is, I don't want to say an indictment because we can't really put it on him. But you know, you talked about eventually they would find the right black celebrity and they're using, and whether it's Jay Z is behind it or not, they're using his name, his album to promote something at Target to kind of, I guess, put a damper on the boycott. Do you feel like it is having that kind of impact.

[Diyers]

I'll say this before she gets to her point. I think there is a difference that people can pick up on that we can pick up on that is very obvious. When somebody has been sold. Sold out. When somebody has sold out, It's a smile they have on their face. I know that sounds so, so stupid. It's a smile they have on their face of I got away with something in there. Y' all can't do nothing about it. They cut me in on the deal. That ain't gonna never cut none of y' all on the deal. It's a song and dance that happens with folks who, who willingly. And I feel like in these days they're blatantly unapologetic of it. I don't feel like they walk or they moonwalk around it. I think that the folks who go in there and they're used as pawns have a very different way of explaining these situations versus what I'm seeing. My observation of what I see with a Jay Z, it does not see. I never look at these conversations and say, damn, they made him look like a punk, or they made him look like. Look like a pawn. But I think there's a very distinct difference in the people who do operate that way.

[Rachel Lindsay]

I do think it is because. And people have brought up the fact that other artists, I think it's like Kendrick J. Cole, other artists have had similar type vinyl releases. But again, I'm not knee deep in Target's business like that. I don't recall any press release about any of those artists having. Maybe they did and I just missed it. But part of. There's a lot of people who are just now finding that out in part because of the boycott. A lot of us ain't even been up at Target to see it. And two, if this is something to your point, Rachel, that the company themselves decided to put out and say, hey, we all good now. We got Jay Z. That's their strategy. That might not even be the way that Jay Z wanted this known. Or again, we don't even know if he actually was the one who spearheaded this partnership or at least was personally involved in seeing this through. I don't have any idea of that, but it is reminiscent and shades of the NFL. You know, I really disagreed with the way that Jay Z operated in that moment. One, I thought he threw Colin Kaepernick clean under the bus with that whole we're beyond kneeling thing.

[Diyers]

I'm about to say she felt that way about him saying the things he said about Kaepernick during the press conferences for when he had a partnership with the NFL. I feel that way about the freestyle. I'm like, I didn't think about it from this perspective because I thought it was a slick line. But Jay Z didn't talk about Lance Rivera minding his business. And he brought up some situation that another whole nother generation had to sit there and think about. Like, what happened with who is that?

[Commentator 2]

Hey, what.

[Diyers]

Who was that? And that man wrote a, a Damn near a 10, 10 minute letter might have been by chat GPT to say, like Jay Z, I'm very proud to see the success that you've had, even though you legendless stab me or had somebody do that. Why are we bringing this up again? And then I think about Kaepernick. I'm like, the last thing I heard about what Kaepernick was doing was still in line with the, the, the activism that he spoke about when he was still in league. And he's been so far removed from the conversations of going back to the NFL that all he's been focused on, at least from my vantage point, is these programs around activism. So when these people get brought up to be a bar in your song, to make a statement in defense of yourself, it looks crazy. I think, objectively speaking, as a Jay Z fan, it looks crazy. It reminds me of that 50 cent mean why you say me? He didn't say that, but it's like, why you bring me up? And now I'm part of a conversation. Hopefully that conversation leads to people talking about what will is caught, what is Colin Kaepernick doing right now? And it becomes productive. But I can imagine some folks not wanting to be mentioned at a, at a, at a 45,000, 50,000 venue stadium and having that, not having that, having that, having that news come back out into the forefront and discuss the way that it is.

[Rachel Lindsay]

And what I also didn't like about it is understanding the, the NFL's intention. You know, this all came out during depositions and reporting that the NFL purposely sought Terry Pegula. The owner of the Buffalo Bill said it on record, we need a black figurehead. Those were his words. All right. They wanted somebody that would come in, stop the protesting, stop black fans from feeling uncomfortable about the NFL's brand. And they wanted to find someone, the example they use, who would have a similar positioning with how the NRA positioned Charlton Heston.

[Commentator 1]

Sheesh.

[Diyers]

Golly. Golly. Let's get some more perspectives on this. Let's get some more perspectives because here's the Thing that I try to look at, no matter what I disagree with, no matter what I agree with, what I try to think about is zooming out. Is it better that we're having these type of conversations rather than shallow conversations about whatever gossip finds its way to hip hop, media finds its way to hip hop conversations. I think that whether that was the intent or not by a Jay Z, I would assume at some level that it is. I think it's better to have these type of conversations happening and it's better to have music inspiring these conversations, freestyles expiring these conversations. No matter what side of the fence you may be on with that, I'm. I'm just grateful for that. Try to look at the zoomed out point of view. I'm grateful we're not talking about who's dating who and who got who got new surgically implanted abs and smoke coming out of sweater. I'm glad just Wayne Creative always has great takes. Listen to this one as he breaks down the freestyle in his own way. Peep this out.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

Jay Z did a freestyle during his concert at Yankee Stadium last night and it feels like we're now destined to have to do this every time he does a freestyle because people seem to not know how to interpret rap lyrics. So I'm going to do my best to walk through it.

[Diyers]

You don't say I know you know about them literacy rates.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

Jay is going to open talking about the discourse around him selling out because he had a Target exclusive anniversary edition of Reasonable Doubt, which for the record, I did not think was a good idea. Listen to what he has to say.

[Commentator 1]

They say I sold out. Yeah, I did sell out three nights I sold Yankees Stadium to hell out. I'm a Target. Ain't don't miss that. Target no exclusive. They only doing what Apple Walmart did. You shopping at Amazon or you boycott you posting on Instagram. That's meta. Boy. Stop it. Y' all know Google on YouTube you picking and choosing a politicking as usual.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

He then utilizes that thematic of selling out to connect us to the hypocrisy. He wants to point out that all of us are partnered with and participating with some corporation who eliminated dei, who kissed the ring when Trump became president, whose politician or CEO we might not agree with. In essence saying as he says at the very end, like it or love it, agree or disagree, it is hypocritical for us to sit here and go only you are wrong and we are not wrong either. Once again, I don't think he should have Done the Target thing, but this is what he's trying to communicate. He then goes further to say this.

[Diyers]

They dig a deeper narrative.

[Commentator 1]

This is embarrassing. They run out of characters. Had to bring back up Cap again. Buddy took a check. I ain't even mad at him. But along with that check, gotta sign a non disparagement. I'm the one they can't control. Y' all better be glad of him.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

Y' all are running out of characters, which is a double entendre for the characters that you could type into Twitter.

[Diyers]

And also, that's crazy. That's fire.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

We're running out of people to utilize to prove your point. So you have to go backwards a decade and point to Colin Kaepernick. And he's watching as folks are trying to place the blame on Jay Z for the experience that Colin Kaepernick had, as if it were not completely orchestrated by the person who was the president of the United States at the time, Donald J. Trump, who made a public thing about calling out Colin Kaepernick. Mike Pence went to an NFL game specifically just to have the moments of, of berating the players who took a knee. Like, once again, folks feel a lot of ways and have tried to say, oh, Roc Nation came in and y undercut Cap. All of that once you could feel how you want to feel. What he's pointing out is I'm not the one who did that to Kaepernick. The NFL did and implied there connected to the president that y' all are saying we shouldn't support Target over while at the same time I am allowed to speak freely. When Colin Kaepernick got his money, which he deserved, he also had to sign a non disparaging agreement. So saying like, I can't be controlled. And I do think it's important to point out at this point, like the comparisons that people are making between Cap and Jay Z I think are ridiculous. Colin Kaepernick, who I love and has done incredible work, he has devoted his life to being an activist. Jay Z has not. Like that's an important caveat. And like I've said several times in this video, this is not in defense of Jay Z. This is an explanation because I think people are either being intentionally dense or intellectually dishonest.

[Diyers]

Let me pause it there. This is a great point as well. I didn't think about that until right now. KP was right. Said Target is literally one of the last vinyl distribution places in the usa. Oh yeah, you're not getting those physical opportunities from A Best Buy anymore. Even though I'm sure that they would. They would, they would. They would break their non commitment to physical music as media and selling physicals. They would do that for Jay Z. But I think that. I think that there is a. I think Jay Z leans in to the fact that there's other conversations that are going to happen. If he dare crosses the line with a target and he dared chooses to go exclusive with them, I do feel like that is something that he absolutely leans into.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

You're processing these words. Go to the next part.

[Commentator 1]

I'm the one they can't control. You better be Gladys here. Half a billion back in the community. That's just good math for him. I don't listen to Twitter activists. They type and I laugh at them. There's really no comparison. Y' all check my stats again. I'm bringing folks home to their family laws get past is him.

[Curtis]

I'm.

[Diyers]

I'm gonna help you out on this one. I'm all for constructive conversations. This community, this is. This is a trash take. There is no washed Jay Z. There's a wash Jay Z. We wouldn't be having these conversations. It's of importance for us to debate the things that we don't agree with because of the position that the person holds. If Jay z was doing 10, 10 people shows and people said that his music has not lasted, it has not aged well. It has not. We would not be talking about him in the same way and about the responsibilities he holds in the position that he has. That's why people are critical. So this idea of, oh, he's washed because I disagree. Let's not have that kind of conversation here. Not in this community at least you

[Commentator 1]

could like it or not. We don't do no ass kissing. Extra killer. You might not like to package it, but my presence is a present and my gift is rapping.

[Diyers]

Oh, especially when he's still. He's still rapping. What you call it when your favorite rapper got all the streams but don't want to do the very thing. We just did a story last week about a. That don't want to rap, but he want to be on a double XL freshman list. Somebody going to have to tell the truth. And I'm going to tell it. Excuse me. We just did a story about somebody that said, I don't want to rap, but I want to rap. I want to be a rapper, but

[Curtis]

I want to rap.

[Diyers]

We need to have more examples in general of folks who care and give a damn about this craft. Whether or not we agree with whether or not I agree with the talking points, I'm grateful zoomed out. We're talking about this through the art form because this could have easily been a. In a podcast episode, we would have reacted to that too. But I'm always, especially as an artist who is for the. The free speech of artists and wants to see these moments happen like this and happen by people who care about the craft. Let's be realistic for a minute.

[Curtis]

For sure.

[Diyers]

Let's be realistic for a minute.

[Jess Wayne Creative]

He points out that despite the fact that y' all think I sold out, I've spent half a billion back into the community. I've helped folks get home. I've helped pass laws that help the black community. So you can like it or love it, even hate the packaging it comes in because I used to be a drug dealer. But just recognize that I am actually doing the work and y' all are just using your thumbs. That's what he's trying to communicate. He's saying all of this online activism I laugh at because I know what I'm on and I know what y' all are trying to do. And the hilarious thing is the response has been from the very folks he's calling out. So like I said, I don't think he should have done the target thing. I am not going to defend Jay Z and all the things that he says or does, but I do find it fascinating that in this conversation, folks are A, saying that he did and said things that he didn't say or do, and B, that the very folks that he is meaning to get a response out of are responding. And that's probably going to happen every single time he does one of these freestyles. And so we'll be back again, but until then, thanks.

[Diyers]

My tap talk shout out to Jess Wayne, Creative. I saw this right here. You posted this right here. Black folks would have would it TV off MLK in today's time. I don't know about that. I don't know if I agree with that, but I did see someone tweet that y' all would have snitched on Malcolm X. I think that. I think that, that, that this culture, not even just black folks, I'm talking about a culture of Internet culture. It is so much more about the. The. The celebration of a hot take. It is so much more about individualism and so much more about. I just want to be the one that goes viral that they for show. They for sure would have laughed at Jesus. They for show would have snitched on mlk. They. They would. They would have said. They. Somebody would have been sitting inside these meetings recording it on their phone today. Don't. Don't matter what the background is. That's just the nature of what we're living in right now. That's how it will be. You know, that's a great lead in to the next conversation, because I think that this is what I'm most appreciative of when these moments happen, when cultural moments happen. Do you notice how we have cultural conversations? We're not talking about billboard numbers. We're not talking about who. Who's dating who. We're not talking about what collaborations are s. We're talking about things that affect us at large as a culture. And I love when these conversations happen because they bring in so many points of views that otherwise we do we cross paths. Listen to I Am Nikki Free. She draws a very distinct.

[Commentator 2]

She.

[Diyers]

She creates a. A very clear distinction between what she says is black capitalism and black liberation. In her caption, she said Jay Z's freestyle was a master class in the difference between black capitalism and black liberation. It's a reminder that every time a black person gets rich, we're told it's a win for us all. And she says it's not. I'm gonna let her cook, though. Peep this out.

[Nikki Free Cook]

Black capitalism is not the same thing as black liberation. And I think we have spent far too much time pretending they are. Every time a black person becomes wealthy, we are told it's a win for us all, a seat at the table, proof that we have made progress. But those are not the same thing, because liberation is not measured by how many black millionaires or billionaires we produce. It's measured by whether ordinary black people have greater opportunity, greater security, greater freedom, and greater power over our own lives.

[Diyers]

Talk about it. I have nothing to expand upon it. I just want to make sure we highlight that.

[Nikki Free Cook]

Too often, we celebrate individual success while ignoring collective struggle. And lately, some of our wealthiest black voices have made something painfully clear. Once the bank account gets big enough, the conversation changes, the focus shifts, the urgency fades, and all of a sudden, the systems that once excluded them become systems worth defending. Not because they're black, but because those systems now work for them.

[Rachel Lindsay]

Oh,

[Diyers]

I've watched this clip. It hit. It hit a lot harder this fourth or fifth time around.

[Commentator 3]

Oh,

[Diyers]

everything's good because everything's good for me. It's not a broader conversation. It's not a conversation that. That. That is. That is accurately reflecting upon the. The population at large.

[Nikki Free Cook]

That's why we have to stop confusing representation with liberation. A black face at the top does not automatically change what happens at the bottom. Economic mobility for a few is not economic justice for the many. And if our measure of progress is simply creating more black elites while millions of black families continue struggling with housing, with health care, with education, and with wealth inequality, then we have mistaken access for freedom.

[Diyers]

This is Nikki Free Cook. Nikki Free Cook.

[Nikki Free Cook]

Black excellence deserves to be celebrated, but black liberation demands something bigger. It asks not simply, who got rich. It ask, who did you bring with you?

[Diyers]

Shout out to Nikki Free. I think a lot of points were made that are really, really needed for conversation. This is a crucial time period. It's a crucial time period where there is no sitting on the fence. There's a crucial time period where no matter somebody's influence, no matter how much you love their art, if you cannot connect the art to the human being, you're not having a realistic conversation. And it should be complex, right? Our celebration of our favorite artists should be complex, especially if we're using our brains and our critical thinking. It should be complex. Art is complex. But I think that we're also dealing with a time where people want it to not be that deep. And I don't look at this and say to myself what I think a lot of people are saying, oh, man, they can't let Jay Z celebrate. They can't let him have a celebration of his 30 years. Why can't we? He knows exactly what he's doing, and I think he's making an example of. There's a difference when Jay Z does something versus when another artist may say something or stand on whatever they stand on. The conversations are different. Cultural impact. It's the same thing I said after the Roots Freestyle is that you notice how these conversations change. The. The texture, the depth of these conversations change because of who it is that we're talking about and what is actually being talked about. I'm here for it. I'm here for it. If you wholeheartedly disagree with Jay Z, I'm here for it. If you partly disagree, I'm here for it. All the fact of the matter is we're having these conversations, and I'm grateful that we're having these conversations because it's making people think again and think for themselves. I'm all for that. Diyers. Those are some of my thoughts based upon the historic run and the complicated, and some people will say, flat out disrespectful partnership with Target. Those are my thoughts, though. Diyers you let me know what you think.

[Commentator 1]

Sa.