THE WORD | JAY Z BSides 2 FreeStyle Criticism, Gentrification In Black Neighborhoods

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"Gentrify your own hood before these people do it. Claim eminent domain and have your people move in. That's a small glimpse into what Nipsey was doing. For anybody still confused as to what he was doing." – Jay Z

A post shared by WHATS THE WORD (@whatsthewordtv) on Apr 29, 2019 at 3:01pm PDT

JAY Z headlined a concert a New York’s famed Webster Hall this weekend to reopen the beloved venue in style. His BSides 2 concert was featured a full band, the 4:44 artist wore a tux as he serenaded the crowd with some of his deeper cuts from his albums. He shared the stage with artist such as NAS, Camron, JimJones .

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Idk about y'all weekend but #Jayz #Bsides2 did it for me 🙌🏽 he shared the stage with #Nas #JimJones and #Camron 😢 that old #rocafella feeling. #Hov #NewYork

A post shared by WHATS THE WORD (@whatsthewordtv) on Apr 29, 2019 at 9:45am PDT

“Gentrify your own hood before these people do it/ Claim eminent domain and have your people move in/ That’s a small glimpse into what Nipsey was doing/ For anybody still confused as to what he was doing.” Jay-Z

Paying homage to Nipsey Hussle who invested in the neighborhood he grew up in, JAY Z’s use of the words “gentrify” seemed to rub a lot of people the wrong way. However, not everybody took issue with Mr. Carter’s freestyle and blasted those who lacked the nuance and dexterity to grasp the meaning behind the message.

Playing semantics on gentrification, Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, calling Bey & Jay “black capitalists” all of is superficial AF. Like you’re not living here in America your damn self. You’re IN the system yourself! Be pontificating on history and stats with no work in the hood.

— Exavier Pope (@exavierpope) April 27, 2019

What y’all gone theorize us free???? They’ll be quizzing you on how many James Baldwin books have you read and how tall Frederick Douglass was. FOH

— Exavier Pope (@exavierpope) April 27, 2019

regardless of jay-z’s use or misuse of the word gentrification, y’all know the exact message he was trying to get across and are on here being willfully obtuse.

— BRÉ 🐉 (@_teenagerebel_) April 27, 2019

Jay Z will say some the most basic ass shit about gentrification. I mean dead ass common sense, and yall will praise him like he is some revolutionary lol. Fuck outta here. He was 43 rapping about Tom Ford. I ain't forget.

— Hezekiah (@CulturedProdigy) April 28, 2019

Jay z saying gentrify ur own communities is still harmful, u know y? Its still fucking gentrification!

— Thirsty Thoooot (@identicalcrises) April 27, 2019

This whole thing stems from Jay Z saying “gentrify your own good before u let them do it”. Jay Z is not in great understanding or educated on the gentrification process & what it means to communities of color. Making him UNEDUCATED in that space…meaning he shouldn’t say that.

— Decorated Ex-GF (@FabDLT_) April 27, 2019

Jay Z Rap on Gentrification & Black Wealth doesn't make sense – Watch my Video on @S_C_ Click Here: https://t.co/lFzGrl5OMT pic.twitter.com/kfhrAyfEaj

— Antonio Moore (@tonetalks) April 29, 2019