JAY-Z Partners With NFL for Music and Social Justice Deal

JAY-Z and Roc Nation has inked a deal with the NFL, The New York Times reports. JAY and Roc Nation will now serve as the league’s “live music entertainment strategists,” which will see them consulting on entertainment, including the Super Bowl halftime performances. They will also contribute to the NFL’s Inspire Change activism campaign, which launched this January following its controversial handling of players who kneel during the national anthem—most notably, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The two parties are set to announce the deal in a press conference Wednesday.

“The N.F.L. has a great big platform, and it has to be all-inclusive,” JAY-Z told the Times. “They were willing to do some things, to make some changes, that we can do some good.”

JAY has historically been vocal about his support for Kaepernick. In fall 2017, he began dedicating “The Story of O.J.” to the former quarterback in live performances and wore a custom Kaepernick jersey during his “SNL” appearance. He later called Kaepernick “an iconic figure” in an interview.

The rapper also declined to perform at the 2018 Super Bowl halftime show to stand in solidarity with Kaepernick. He confirmed the action in “APESHIT,” his 2018 track with Beyoncé, when he raps: “I said no to the Super Bowl: you need me, I don't need you.”

Read, “The Story of JAY-Z’s Ascent to Billionaire Status, as Told by JAY-Z Lyrics” on Levels.

Originally Appeared on Pitchfork