Super Bowl 53 was a major deal for entertainment as it was held in one of the blackest cities in America: Atlanta, Georgia. Jermaine Dupri is notably one of the greatest talents to emerge from the city as a songwriter and producer; and in recognizing his contributions to the Atlanta music scene, the NFL tapped Dupri to produce a free 10-day musical event leading up to the main Super Bowl event.
However, according to Grammy Award Winning songwriter and close friend to Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox, Jay-Z took an opposing position when it came to JD’s participation with the NFL…at the time. Cox said that JAY-Z personally called Dupri less than a year ago to advise him to turn down the deal.
Now, upon Jay-Z’s recent announcement that he‘s partnered with the NFL and has become their new “live music entertainment strategist” many, including Cox, are raising brows at exactly how strategic Jay’s venture into the NFL really is.
“I’m not saying that it can’t turn into some good shit,” Cox said of the partnership. “We’re also talking about a guy who single-handedly picked up the phone and called Jermaine to tell him not to do it…. When we all had that meeting with the NFL, all that shit was part of the same shit.”
He continued, “I’m not gonna condemn it and be like, ‘That shit’s wack.’ For me, I want to look at it intelligently because I know a lot of what was happening before and how we were engaged last year as a community… At the end of the day, [Dupri] took a beating for doing the same shit. And I guarantee you they didn’t pay him as much as they’re about to pay [JAY].”
Since then, seasoned DJ and radio personality Funkmaster Flex said he recently spoke to Jermaine Dupri personally and shared via Twitter that JD confirmed the conversation with Jay. “Last year [Dupri] did get a call from JAYZ asking him.. ‘How deep are u in with the NFL?’ Expressing… ‘That might not be a good idea.’”
Then Flex took to Instagram to elaborate on the topic. He posted, “If Jayz saw what we all saw in the press conference and feels working from the inside while being paid and receiving a ‘stake’ in a team is the answer and can spearhead social justice from the inside he is our HERO for life!!!!”
“BUT if he and the air personalities/social media influencers that Rocknation manages or wants to be managed by them have spun the ‘believe in Jayz… give him a chance’ campaign to line pockets,” Flex continued. “This will be remembered and NOT swept under the rug in a few months! TRUST!”
What do y’all think? [Listen Here]
