I can certainly be accused to have about zero tolerance for rappers and their huge ego, but this last one cannot be ignored! Jay Z has just responded to criticism from famous actor and activist Harry Belafonte, who reportedly declared:
‘I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities. But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay Z and Beyonce, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black.’
Obviously, he was not afraid to name names and Jay Z couldn’t stay quiet, so he answered the following during an interview with Rap Radar:
‘I’m offended by that because first of all, and this is going to sound arrogant, but my presence is charity. Just who I am. Just like Obama’s is. Obama provides hope. Whether he does anything, the hope that he provides for a nation, and outside of America is enough.’
My presence is charity? This is going to sound arrogant? Thank you for letting us know, but does he even realize everyone is going to hate him for saying something so pretentious and full of nonsense? So because he is black and has reached the top, his only presence or existence is synonymous with charity? I don’t get it, how is this charity? This is the most pompous thing I have ever heard, except anything that has come from Kanye West’s mouth.
He compares himself with Obama and the hope that he provides because of ‘Just being who he is’, ‘the first black president’, but this is bullshit, hope is just an idea that evaporates in thin air if nothing is done, hope is nothing without action, hope is people’s favorite drug, it makes you high before let you down, but it is not progress, nothing happens with just hope… hope is just hype.
And so people should just be content by his only presence and praise the fact he is Jay Z? I bet a lot of African Americans would pick Belafonte over him. He should deflate his big head, because he appears nothing but self important and totally out of touch with reality.