Jay-Z to sell OWS t-shirts — and keep profits for himself
posted at 10:00 am on November 12, 2011 by Jazz Shaw
The Occupy Wall Street movement has found a new supporter, and apparently a pretty high profile one. Jay Z – who I am assured by reliable sources is a musician – is getting on the bandwagon. Previously known as Shawn Corey Carter, the rap artists lays claim to being one of the most prolific and financially successful artists in the genre. And now he’s going to be putting out a line of T-shirts spreading the message of the movement. Given the rapper’s current wealth – listed at more than $450M in 2010 – he should be well suited to provide some financial muscle to the drum circles in the park. But how will he distribute the proceeds in an equitable fashion? Easy answer… he won’t.
Right now there is a slightly heated debate going on in the Abrams Media office as we’ve found a story that somehow intersects the purviews of three of our different sites; Jay-Z’s company, Rocawear, is now selling a t-shirt that says “Occupy Wall Street” with graffiti style lettering modifying the message to read “Occupy All Streets.” A mini scandal has brewed over the shirt as it’s become clear that Rocawear, currently, has no plans to give any of the procedes to the occupiers themselves.
Well, well… this certainly calls for a round of down twinkles in the next human microphone session. But if we look at this from a broader perspective, Jay-Z may, in fact, be doing more for the protesters than meets the eye. You see, they need real targets for their rage, and finding such a high profile figure directly ripping them off, rather than some nebulous corporate board at Bank of America, they get a chance to put a face to the enemy.
Further, since so many of the occupiers seem to be opposed to capitalism in the first place, this type of opportunistic marketing should educate the protesters in some of the realities of life. If you need to make money, there’s generally a way. And Jay-Z is clearly in touch with that.
Coming up next… a rash of books on the Occupy movement. (With none of the profits going to the protesters either.)
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
HAHA, they got owned.
Owned White Socialists.
artist on November 12, 2011 at 10:03 AM
R U Down With TB (you know me)
ted c on November 12, 2011 at 10:05 AM
Licin’ ain’t easy.
mottos
ted c on November 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
Too early for Jay-Z to come out with a Penn State t-shirt?
Fallon on November 12, 2011 at 10:06 AM
this shirt doubles as a$$ wipe…..
tags
ted c on November 12, 2011 at 10:07 AM
He’s proving their point.
Kissmygrits on November 12, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Why should he share the profits? I don’t get it. He is very rich because he values money. He is a great marketer.
And for y’all that want to talk about hypocrisy, I hear huge number of conservatives that talk about self reliance and charity over government hand outs and yet they are hardly self reliant when they use immoral but legal tax avoidance schemes, they fail to give to any charity for which they cannot get a tax write off and they use government contracts and largess to increase their wealth.
The guy is a capitalist. Good for him.
georgealbert on November 12, 2011 at 10:08 AM
Do as I say – but not as I do, of course.
perroviejo on November 12, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Lol, OWS should go for full-out, self-aware hipster irony and make this song their official theme song. We are the 99%!
Lawdawg86 on November 12, 2011 at 10:13 AM
Wouldn’t the OWS people be violating their principles to accept a share of the profits anyway?
zmdavid on November 12, 2011 at 10:13 AM
An evil 1%er sells product “in support” of OWS, keeps all of the profits. LOL
visions on November 12, 2011 at 10:16 AM
Idiots protesting ‘greed’ fund another idiot pursuing his ‘greedy’ ends.
/perfect…
ted c on November 12, 2011 at 10:17 AM
he probably got a waiver
ted c on November 12, 2011 at 10:17 AM
You’re gonna love the way you look.
ardenenoch on November 12, 2011 at 10:20 AM
Beyonce Needs The Bling!
Beyonce Needs The Bling!
profitsbeard on November 12, 2011 at 10:20 AM
You hear this is a large number of conservatives eh?
You hear that:
1. they talk about self-reliance
2. they prefer charity to govt handouts
3. they use legal but immoral tax shelters
4. they fail to give to charities inelegible for write offs
5. they use govt contracts and largess to make money
Wow, you hear all those details about a huge number of conservatives? What are you listening too that you hear all that?
Akzed on November 12, 2011 at 10:21 AM
I love capitalism.
angryed on November 12, 2011 at 10:22 AM
This sounds like an injustice for Zuccottiman!
bloggless on November 12, 2011 at 10:26 AM
Forget the protestors, Jay-Z should donate the profits to the homeless shelters whose resources the OWSers are using at the expense of those who need them, the actual poor and destitute.
Threshing Flora on November 12, 2011 at 10:27 AM
In the picture accompanying this post–and in every photo I’ve ever seen of Jay-Z, come to think of it–he looks as though he’s worried that a wildebeest is about to fart in his face.
radjah shelduck on November 12, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Yes, but he’s using high wage American union labor to manufacture the t-shirts. So that makes it okay. Don’t forget that wife of his, Beyonce, gave a million dollar private concert for Qaddafi and his family. Real salt of the earth people, those two.
azkag on November 12, 2011 at 10:28 AM
In the words of a successful entrepreneur who has made nearly half a billion in his rather short career, and is going to make even more with his line of OWS T-shirts,
“Sheeeeit, dem white kids sho be stupid.”
[I detest rap, can barely tolerate hip-hop, but face it, an entrepreneur is an entrepreneur...and we need more not fewer. Legal product, employs a healthy number of people, has a product that sells...it is, regardless of what I think about the genre, the American way.]
coldwarrior on November 12, 2011 at 10:31 AM
Jay-Z’s been having a pretty good time since Obama became president. If I recall correctly, he also got to sit in the Oval Office via invitation from our celebrity president. Now he stands to profit handsomely off the ignorance of the OWS protesters.
Jay-Z may be a loathsome person with a terrible, degrading message for all who listen to whatever they call what is on his tracks, but stupid he isn’t.
BKennedy on November 12, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Ha ha hahahahahah!
“If you’re havin’ girl problems i feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems but a
bitch“OWS” ain’t one”-Jay-Z-
Ha ha hahahahahah!
yenober on November 12, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Pure genius:
@iowahawkblog: Pay attention, #OWS: this is why Jay-Z has a private jet and bangs Beyonce while you’re in a lice infested tent http://t.co/vqx15fwi”
joejm65 on November 12, 2011 at 10:35 AM
visions on November 12, 2011 at 10:35 AM
He’s got 99 problems, and profit ain’t one.
lorien1973 on November 12, 2011 at 10:36 AM
lol
coldwarrior on November 12, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Who is he going to give it to. He should give it to a women’s shelter or a drug rehab center.
tomas on November 12, 2011 at 10:38 AM
OWS didn’t copyright their name? Too bad.
SlaveDog on November 12, 2011 at 10:39 AM
So what the heck is the message?
Cindy Munford on November 12, 2011 at 10:43 AM
The free marketer in me says yay for JZ, the scornful critic in me says what an effin hypocrite, and the voyeur in me says ROFL at the human debris of OWS.
Bishop on November 12, 2011 at 10:44 AM
I wouldn’t rag on the guy. He may turn around and contribute to OWS war chest which is close to $800,000 bucks already.
Blake on November 12, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Well, according to one of the protestors I saw on Fremont street “Down With Corprate Gread!” True story.
VegasRick on November 12, 2011 at 10:47 AM
He’s got 99 problems, and profit ain’t one.
lorien1973 on November 12, 2011 at 10:36 AM
You beat me to it. LOL!
txag92 on November 12, 2011 at 10:49 AM
He doesn’t have to “give” the profit to anyone.
He took an idea, turned it into a product, made a profit.
No underpants gnomes nor guilt should be involved.
It’d be nice if he made a few donations here and there, sure…but going after the guy for making a profit on a product that sells, is perfectly legal and harms no one?
The contagion of nanny-statism is spreading…
He can bury all of his cash in a footlocker or two in his backyard for all I care. So long as the appropriate taxes are paid, and the rules are followed, what he (or any other entrepreneur) does with their profit is none of my business, nor the government’s.
That the OWS folks never picked up on marketing and business and profit shows how bankrupt they have become thanks to nanny-statism…instead of taking care of themselves they are dependent on the largesse of others for their food, police protection, ER visits or whatever it is they need. They could be self-sustaining if they took a minute to actually think. But, lemmings are conditioned to do dumb things.
They are sooo unlike the hippies that it is laughable whenever they are positively compared to hippies.
Sure the drugs thing…but self-reliance, living off the grid, being able to play it the way you feel it and harm no one along the way….these OWS folks aren’t even worthy of standing in the shadow of the hippie movement.
coldwarrior on November 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Can I get a t-shirt that says, “100% PreOccupied”?
Fallon on November 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Here is the OWS list of demands that Jay-Z (huge Obama supporter, BTW) endorses:
visions on November 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM
“Sheeeeit, dem white kids sho be stupid.”
coldwarrior on November 12, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Jay-Z is a Democrat, too… Go figure…
Khun Joe on November 12, 2011 at 10:51 AM
I’m confused. With an estimated net worth of $450 million and absolutely no discernible talent. Shouldn’t the OWS crowd be protesting against this 1%er and not adding to his wealth? Isn’t he what they’re protesting against?
Tommy_G on November 12, 2011 at 10:52 AM
Jay-Z is a Republican? Who knew?
lynncgb on November 12, 2011 at 10:53 AM
He is a democrat, supports obambi and is black. He gets a waiver.
VegasRick on November 12, 2011 at 10:55 AM
Hooray, capitalism!
rbj on November 12, 2011 at 10:58 AM
visions on November 12, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Demand 1 followed by Demand 3 always makes me giggle. Why work?
And, that explains the first part of Demand 7.
I shouldn’t laugh at them. I really shouldn’t. :)
Fallon on November 12, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Amassing a $450 million fortune is a talent in itself.
darwin-t on November 12, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Wasn’t to the manor born, either.
coldwarrior on November 12, 2011 at 11:01 AM
No it isn’t. Many marginal people who work in the entertainment industry have amassed fortunes. The real talent is being able to hang on to it. Think of all those bankrupt former NBA players or hack actors. Nick Cage comes to mind.
Tommy_G on November 12, 2011 at 11:03 AM
Jay-Z grows his wealth and this T-shirt is a prime example. Like him or not he knows how to turn a buck.
darwin-t on November 12, 2011 at 11:08 AM
LOL
angryed on November 12, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Maybe, Jay-Z could make Beyonce a t-shirt that read:
99 percenters but this b!tch is a one.
(No insult intended towards Beyonce. She is a beautiful, driven and talented young woman. only I’m referring to Jay-Z’s song and their combined wealth.)
Fallon on November 12, 2011 at 11:13 AM
Obama’s goint to buy 500,000 of these T shirts at $100 a pop and call it stilulus. With taxpayer dollars, of course.
xrayiiis on November 12, 2011 at 11:14 AM
Sweet – capitalism rules!
MidWestFarmer on November 12, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Are you completely incapable of spotting irony?
stefanite on November 12, 2011 at 11:17 AM
LOL!!!!!!!!!
Cindy Munford on November 12, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Doesn’t he kind of do this with Beyonce’ as well?
SouthernGent on November 12, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Oh good grief, what a bunch of idiots.
Cindy Munford on November 12, 2011 at 11:20 AM
..and, as a segue, one wonders how many other cottage businesses will spring from this model and the OWS movement? The laugh would be that these seamy and fetid enclaves of post-sixties hippiedom survive past November 2012, the incoming (R) administration declare them enterprise zones, and all of them make their way over to the 1% side.
The War Planner on November 12, 2011 at 11:26 AM
..ask them and pull; up a six-pack, a tub of buttered popcorn, and an easy chair while they stumble through their convoluted answers.
The War Planner on November 12, 2011 at 11:28 AM
could this whole sham get any stupider? OK OK, Joy Behar could visit but other than that????
SDarchitect on November 12, 2011 at 11:30 AM
Call me uninformed, but I don’t even know who Jay-Z is, though I have heard the name. But if he is profiting off of these layabouts then it just proves once again that there is a fool born every minute and he knows how to take advantage of them.
txmomof6 on November 12, 2011 at 11:32 AM
The phrase on the T-shirts is “Occupy Wall Streets”
.
Since Jay-Z, through Rocawear, is manipulating the social expression of a “disaffected few” (to put it way kindly) he is a despised RENT SEEKER. Can you just imagine how bad these OWS folks are going to feel once they realize that their protests and discomfort in the cold and rain is providing profits for a capitalist rent seeker? Think about it! Think about their pain, suffering and victimzation! Think about it!
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Now stop laughing.
ExpressoBold on November 12, 2011 at 11:34 AM
georgealbert on November 12, 2011 at 10:08 AM
When I had money I gave, even if it was a few dollars at the check-out stand for M.S., or to the fire-department, March of Dimes, schools, churches. Although I’ve given hundreds of dollars to starving African children through the Red-Cross, you seem to think people like me only do it for the write-off. Hell no. And the only time I’ve done a tax deduction is when the Goodwill gives me a form to fill out for the clothes I’ve given them.
betsyz on November 12, 2011 at 11:35 AM
Yes still too funny.
CW on November 12, 2011 at 11:36 AM
Please give me some of that trickle down economics now.
bagoh20 on November 12, 2011 at 11:39 AM
I’m a longtime lurker, don’t think I’ve posted more than once or twice, but the weapons grade stupid on display in this comment can’t be ignored.
Because he visited the site and expressed “solidarity” with these losers. This could be used as a dictionary definition of hypocrisy. Willful (at least I hope so) stupidity on your part.
So trying to use legal means to avoid having the benefits of my labor and risk confiscated by a corrupt, wasteful government is “IMMORAL” ? I’m just going to leave this out in the open so that the stupid can simmer a bit. Smell the ignorance wafting on the breeze.
Study after study shows that conservatives give to charity in larger amounts and more often than libs. But forget the studies, look around you; see any lefty groups actually HELPING PEOPLE? Where is the lib equivelant of St. Judes or The Shriners?
Plenty of help for the legal defense fund to free the aboriginal transgendered copkiller whales, not so much for actual people. And NO..”Occupying”..anyplace doesn’t count.
Writeoffs? you stupid little pissant, you really think I get to write off donations to the senior class for their trip, canned goods for the local pantry, couple extra schekels in the collection jar on the counter for the folks whose kid is sick ? Really? (sigh)
northofthenotches on November 12, 2011 at 11:47 AM
“they fail to give to any charity for which they cannot get a tax write off “
Do you want the government tax money I earned and then gave away to charity to help people.
This is the foolishness of someone who either pays no taxes or gives no charity or both.
bagoh20 on November 12, 2011 at 11:53 AM
So this Zee character finds a niche, makes a profit, and we are scolding unknowns for their lackof benevolence.
betsyz on November 12, 2011 at 11:54 AM
There are times when I wish that these mouthpieces for the Left were required to make their taxes public. I think many of us would be surprised what counts as charitable donations on their level. I would love clarification since I have heard that without donating an actual cent they are able to write off thier time, clothing and make-up/hair into the actual amount. Maybe what they bring in justifies that, fine, but don’t whine about anything I might write off.
Cindy Munford on November 12, 2011 at 12:01 PM
Given the rapper’s current wealth – listed at more than $450M in 2010
The rise of JayZ and his filthy mouthed PIMP posse are just another sign of the collapse of the black community in America.
Generations of young people raised with no real Daddy at home and with a slavemaster Uncle Sam in faraway D.C. looking for a way out turn to this gold chained pied pipers of rap that whoreify women and glorify violence as a way to achieve power over their hopelessness.
So sad.
Look at the Minority communities across america…
…THIS is LBJ’s “GREAT SOCIETY”.
PappyD61 on November 12, 2011 at 12:25 PM
He’s doin football jerseys. Natch.
BigAlSouth on November 12, 2011 at 12:28 PM
And Beyonce is just the latest Pole Dancer to strut across the American musical landscape. No better than Jay-Z.
All the while they laugh at the people with disdain that buy their filthy music that has a beat.
The great irony of the Left……ridicule those that support you.
Truly if Sodom and Gommorah, back in the day, had cable and the same media we had today we’d be shocked at the similarities.
PappyD61 on November 12, 2011 at 12:30 PM
A fool and his mommy’s money is soon parted.
-
RalphyBoy on November 12, 2011 at 12:52 PM
Obviously you need to stand up on a chair so the message doesn’t keep flying over your head.
Noelie on November 12, 2011 at 1:24 PM
And imagine this – somewhere other people are employed, getting a paycheck, employed by Jay-Z to make shirts, package them, distribute them, sell them, account for the business, etc. And those folks then use that money to do a number of things with it – almost all of which have to do with keeping the economy going/growing.
I love the smell of capitalism in the morning.
Meanwhile over at OWS…
Midas on November 12, 2011 at 2:17 PM
What’s even more funny is we’re going to see a *LOT* of those t-shirts being bought and worn proudly by OWS’rs who will be utterly oblivious to the statement they’re making by doing so.
Midas on November 12, 2011 at 2:23 PM
Jay-Z and Rocawear have removed their Occupy Wall St. themed t-shirts from Rocawear.com — after the rap mogul came under heavy fire for profiting off the protests, without donating anything to the cause.
Jay-Z was photographed wearing the “Occupy All Streets” shirts earlier this week and began selling them on his website. Checking the site today … the shirts are now gone.
Before the t-shirts were pulled … TMZ spoke with Grim, one of the leaders of the Occupy movement, who told us, “Jay-Z, as talented as he is, has the political sensibility of a hood rat and is a scrotum. To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as #occupywallstreet.”
We’ve been calling Jay-Z’s camp for the past two days … no word back.
IDJITS.
PappyD61 on November 12, 2011 at 3:42 PM
For those of you who don’t know who Jay-Z is, go to youtube, search for his performances at the Presidential inauguration. If you get past the racist stuff, then we can talk about his not giving profits to Zucotti, which he supports, BTW.
di butler on November 12, 2011 at 4:23 PM
“Occupy for Dummies” sounds promising…
karl9000 on November 12, 2011 at 4:44 PM
This is hilarious in the same way that the iconic Che industry is hilarious. The dip-shits who buy the stuff are utterly clueless to the irony of the merchandise.
holygoat on November 12, 2011 at 4:49 PM
Useful idiots get used. Up twinkles!
bitsy on November 12, 2011 at 5:24 PM
: )
listens2glenn on November 12, 2011 at 5:25 PM
CW on November 12, 2011 at 9:10 PM
heheh!
ted c on November 13, 2011 at 9:14 AM
Hopefully Jzee gets the tupac ending
Sonosam on November 13, 2011 at 9:55 AM
Country and Western fan, I presume?
Dork B. on November 13, 2011 at 11:29 AM
No. Just a music fan.
coldwarrior on November 13, 2011 at 8:13 PM
A comment on this copied from another website:
For an additional $10, the shirt will be delivered contaminated with lice.
Sandbar on November 13, 2011 at 11:37 PM