Jay-Z Is Playing Chess With The NFL and Colin Kaepernick
Say it for the people in the back; “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business- man. Let me handle my business, damn”. These words will haunt Jay-Z for the rest of his career. Better yet, his life. For an MC, all they have is their words. While some glorify violence, the sell and use of drugs, and the degrading of women, we still hang on to every syllable they speak.
Why is that? It’s simple. For some of us, those rappers are our voice. They can enter a studio and say things we want to say to our loved ones, significant others, and strangers on the street. But when they step out that booth, the armor comes off and we’re left wondering who they really are.
For Jay-Z, he becomes Shawn Carter. For some strange reason, I don’t think he signs any deals under the name of Jay-Z. That’s a stage name, a name that has given him respect in any hood or stage. But for the man himself, Shawn Carter, that’s his legacy.
When Colin Kaepernick kneeled for the Nation Anthem almost three years ago, the nation was sent in an uproar. While Kap has been blacklisted by all NFL teams, his stance on Social Injustice is still strong. And for that, we tip our hats. But three years later and nothing has really changed then we have to ask ourselves– what’s next? This is where Jay-Z and the NFL come into play.
Is the NFL racist? Not to my knowledge, but if you let some tell it, them treating Kap the way they have sure seemed like it. But here’s a thought. Why was Martin Luther King murdered? The same for John F. Kennedy and Malcolm X? They wanted change and were willing to be the first to push for it. When police enter through a house, it’s normally the first cop through the door that takes the first bullet. It’s just the way things are.
When Kap kneeled, he knew what he was doing and what the risk and consequences were going to be. But he did it anyway. He wanted to make a stand and he did. And for that stand, he took a career hit but guess what didn’t–his pockets. Kap was still being paid a huge sum by Nike and then he sued the NFL and won.
Although he doesn’t have a team to call his own, Kap has become the face for Injustice in America. The sad truth is, he was never going to be the one on the ground floor to get it fixed. He was the spark to get the fire started, just not the water to put it out.
So, Roger Goodell and the NFL asked Jay-Z and his Roc Nation team to be the water to put an end to this. As soon as news dropped, social media went bonkers. While some praised the move, others took it as disrespectful to Colin Kaepernick. Nothing wrong there as everyone is entitled to their opinion but there missing the bigger picture.
When did it become just about Colin Kaepernick?
Kap took the knee three years ago and nothing has changed. Obviously, the right people weren’t involved. If something is to change, it has to be from within. By throwing Jay and Roc Nation into the mix, the NFL is saying, were going to give money to the one person who just may be able to get this done.
What is also being missed is who Shawn Carter is.
Forget the drug-dealing past. Forget the millions of albums sold. Let’s focus on how this man became the first billionaire from Hip Hop. When does he fail? Better yet, when has he not spoken out for the black community? When a rapper gets in trouble, little do people know, it’s Jay-Z who is behind the scenes putting in that work. While Puffy wanted to buy a team, Jay did one bigger. He got a seat at the table and now has the ear of the decision-makers.
Do you want to clean up the black eye the NFL has? If so, then get the man with the most powerful voice in the community. Is it a sell-out job? No. This is exactly what we need. What if Godell would’ve gone to Barack Obama with this and he said yes? Would Barack take this type of heat? In order for change to happen, it has to be done from within. Those are keywords there.
Should Kap have been involved in this decision? No. He made his stance and got his money. Now it’s time for someone to carry the baton. As Jay said: “So what are we going to do? Help millions of people, or get stuck on Colin not having a job”? This is where people are confused. This is not about Kap anymore just like his stance was not about disrespecting the American Flag or the Military. This is much bigger. Blacks wanted an African-American in the White House to bring change. In order for that to happen, we had to vote him in.
Is Jay-Z and Roc Nation getting something out of this deal? Yes, why shouldn’t they? Didn’t Kapernick get something from kneeling? Who cares if Jay’s artist will get first rights to Super Bowl performances? Roc Nation is still a leader in terms of being a sports agency. This is still a business move on both ends. Some are mad because it didn’t go to others. Either way, a change had to be made. The NFL didn’t have to do this. Jay-Z didn’t have to do this, and Colin Kapernick did not have to do what he did either.
Now, it’s just about bringing the issues to the table and finding a solution. That’s what needs to be focused on. Nobody was stabbed in the back. Making a business move is not about the bold print. It’s what the fine print says. How can you look at the NFL and say they have a leg up on a billionaire from the same streets and projects as some of us? The deal is not even a few days old and we have no idea what Jay-Z has planned.
Give it some time to unfold. This is the same guy who walked away from his own company (Roc-A-Fella) and started Roc Nation. The same guy who told his hometown, Brooklyn, NY he was bringing a basketball team there right across the street from where he hustled. The same guy who said, I don’t need your streaming services, I’ll create my own. The same guy whose company is taking some of the biggest athletes from well-established agents and getting them better deals. And this is the guy you’re willing to bet against?
This is a chess move. The key to defeating your opponent is to never reveal your hand too early. Checkers is about speed. Chess is about precision. Learn the difference.
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
