<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jay-z">Jay-Z</a> used his time onstage at the 2024 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/grammys">Grammy Awards</a> ceremony to chastise the Recording Academy for never giving his wife, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/beyonce">Beyoncé</a>, the coveted Album of the Year Award.
The 54-year-old hip hop artist made the remarks while accepting the 2nd annual Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, per a report from <a href="https://people.com/2024-grammys-jay-z-calls-out-grammys-dr-dre-global-impact-award-8558640">People</a>. 
&#8220;We want y&#8217;all to get it right. At least getting close to right. And obviously it&#8217;s subjective. Y&#8217;all don&#8217;t gotta clap at everything. Obviously it&#8217;s subjective because, you know, it&#8217;s music and it&#8217;s opinion-based,&#8221; Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, stated.
&#8220;But, you know, some things — I don&#8217;t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn&#8217;t work. Think about that. The most <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">Grammys</a>, never won Album of the Year. That doesn&#8217;t work,&#8221; he continued.
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Jay-Z&#39;s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Grammys?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Grammys</a> speech <a href="https://t.co/AWl6snvaPO">pic.twitter.com/AWl6snvaPO</a>
&mdash; JAY-Z Daily (@JAY_Z_Daily) <a href="https://twitter.com/JAY_Z_Daily/status/1754348213497119145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Though Carter did not clarify which “young lady” he was referring to, fans understood him to be complaining about Beyoncé. The publication noted that Beyoncé was nominated for Album of the Year four times and never won. The singer currently holds the record for the most Grammy wins in history with 32.
The “Break My Soul” singer lost out in Album of the Year in 2010 to Taylor Swift, again in 2015 to Beck, in 2017 to Adele, and in 2023 she lost to Harry Styles. This year, Swift won Album of the Year for “Midnights” while Beyonce was not nominated for any Grammys.
&#8220;You know, some of you gonna go home tonight and feel like you&#8217;ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don&#8217;t belong in a category. No, when I get nervous I tell the truth,&#8221; Jay-Z added.
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Jay-Z concluded his speech while standing beside his daughter, Blue Ivy. He said, “We gotta keep showing up. And forget the Grammys for a second, just in life. As my daughter sits and stares at me, nervous as I am. Just in life, you gotta keep showing up, forget the Grammys, you gotta keep showing up. Until they give you all those accolades you think you deserve, until they call you a chairman, until they call you a genius, until they call you the greatest of all time. You feel me?”
Viewers were quick to compare Jay-Z’s speech to the infamous incident at the 2009 MTV VMAs when Kanye West interrupted then-19-year-old Swift’s acceptance speech for Best Female Video and declared that Beyonce should have won instead.
“Yo, Taylor, I&#8217;m really happy for you, I&#8217;mma let you finish,” West said at the time. “But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!”

Beyonce

Jay-Z Complains About Beyoncé Never Winning Album Of The Year During Grammys Speech

Entertainment

Grammys

Jay-Z

Rap Music

U.S.

Rapper <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jay-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jay-Z</a> and his wife, recording artist <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/beyonce" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyoncé</a>, just purchased a $200 million mansion in Malibu.
The sale set the record as the most expensive home ever sold in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a> and the second most expensive <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/real-estate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">real estate</a> deal in the country, according to a TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2023/05/22/jay-z-beyonce-200-million-malibu-cash-purchase/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a>. The property was initially listed at $295 million. The publication noted that the couple is believed to have paid in cash.
Their new place is a 40,000-square-foot estate on eight acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It’s located in the exclusive Paradise Cove area and was designed by famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando, per <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/beyonce-jay-z-malibu-home-history-162315145.html">Yahoo</a>. 
The concrete and glass Malibu estate took almost 15 years to build.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beyoncé and Jay-Z</a> purchased the home, which doubles as an art museum, from renowned art collectors William and Maria Bell. The outlet noted that the Bells are recognized as some of the most significant art collectors in the world.
According to TMZ, Jay-Z is worth an estimated $2.5 billion, while Beyoncé’s net worth is close to $500 million. Beyoncé just began her Renaissance tour in May with a show in Stockholm. This tour alone is expected to bring in a reported $1 billion. 
The singer faced backlash for performing in Dubai in January because of the country’s strict anti-LGBTQ laws. She reportedly accepted $24 million for the concert, which was put on to celebrate the opening of a new hotel called The Atlantis Royal, per <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/beyonce-questioned-for-accepting-24m-to-perform-in-dubai-despite-its-anti-lgbtq-laws" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a>.
“Beyoncé is a huge icon for many gay people,” LGB Alliance co-founder Bev Jackson <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/22/beyonce-falls-foul-lgbt-fans-exclusive-dubai-concert/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> The Telegraph Sunday at the time. “LGB Alliance is deeply therefore disappointed that Beyoncé has agreed to give a lucrative concert in Dubai, where same-sex sex acts are a criminal offense, potentially punishable by death.”
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Fans called the singer’s actions hypocritical because she spoke about her gay uncle during an acceptance speech at the 2019 GLAAD Media Awards.
“Witnessing his battle with HIV was one of the most painful experiences I’ve ever lived,” Beyoncé said of her relative. “I’m hopeful that his struggles serve to open pathways for other young people to live more freely. LGBTQI rights are human rights.&#8221;

Jay-Z and Beyonce

Jay-Z And Beyoncé Drop $200M On Most Expensive Home In California

California

Celebrities

Real estate

Several residents at Arcadia Senior Living in Bowling Green, Kentucky, received flowers from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rihanna">Rihanna</a> and Jay-Z after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tiktok">TikTok</a> video of them dancing went viral.
The senior women put together an act recreating Rihanna’s “Rude Boy” dance sequence from her performance at <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/super-bowl">Super Bowl LVII</a> in February. The short <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@arcadiasrlivingbg/video/7203101432105700654?refer=embed">video</a> has since racked up more than 3.7 million views on the social platform and even got the attention of the singer herself.
Rihanna sent a huge bouquet of white roses with a note that said, “You Ladies Dance [sic] Was Amazing, Love Roc Nation, Rihanna.” This comes after rapper Jay-Z also sent the ladies a bouquet of red roses last week accompanied by a card that said, “We Love The Tik Tok Here At Roc Nation! Jay Z.”
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@arcadiasrlivingbg/video/7203101432105700654" data-video-id="7203101432105700654">
<section><a title="@arcadiasrlivingbg" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@arcadiasrlivingbg?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@arcadiasrlivingbg</a> Our halftime show &gt; Rihanna’s halftime show 💃🪩🏈🤍🎶🎤 <a title="seniorlivingcommunity" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/seniorlivingcommunity?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#seniorlivingcommunity</a> <a title="halftimeshow" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/halftimeshow?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#halftimeshow</a> <a title="superbowl" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/superbowl?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#SuperBowl</a> <a title="rihanna" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/rihanna?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#rihanna</a> <a title="fyp" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fyp</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Brian Esperon" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7199530179172125482?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound &#8211; Brian Esperon</a></section>
</blockquote>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
“When the roses showed up from Rihanna, we were all in shock,” Paige Oakes, director of community relations at Arcadia Senior Living Bowling Green, told <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rihanna-surprises-older-women-tiktok_n_6407c2abe4b018d7c56da327">HuffPost</a>. “All week, we have been waiting to see if we would get a response from her.”
“We were so excited to know that Rihanna watched the video and saw our lovely ladies having fun and dancing to her music,” Oakes continued.
The clip features 11 women dressed in white outfits to reference the costumes worn by Rihanna’s backup dancers during the Super Bowl. The women all step aside to show off resident Dora Martin, 87, who is dressed in red like the Grammy Award-winning singer was during her performance. 
“I would say half were aware of TikTok, and the other half did not know what it was, so we had to explain it,” the community relations director told the publication. She went on to explain how engagement director Maitlin Nuckols made the TikTok account “never thinking” any of their content would go viral.
“We were just trying to find something new and engaging for the residents,” Oakes noted, saying they are so far “loving all of the fame and attention.”
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“Everybody loves to see the older generation letting loose and having fun,” Nuckols added. “You always think of the older population in this way, and then I feel like this video just kind of shows a different side of them.”
Rihanna made headlines for announcing her second pregnancy with boyfriend A$AP Rocky during the performance. The Federal Communications Commission received <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rihannas-super-bowl-performance-compared-to-pornography-in-fcc-complaints-about-broadcast">dozens of complaints</a> that the show was “indecent” and “pornographic” due to the “Umbrella” singer dancing in a sexually suggestive manner.

Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show

Seniors Go Viral For Recreating Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance, She Sends Flowers To Retirement Home: ‘Dance Was Amazing’

Seniors Go Viral For Recreating Rihanna's Super Bowl Performance, She Sends Flowers To Retirement Home

elderly

Kentucky

Rihanna

TikTok

Jeff Bezos may be angling to buy the Washington Commanders, according to multiple reports.
Sources close to Bezos told People magazine and the Washington Post that Bezos, the second richest man in the world and founder of Amazon, is interested in buying the team, after it was announced that team owner Dan Synder was exploring potential transactions for the team. Snyder and the Commanders have been embroiled in a series of scandals in recent years, some of which have made the company a target of Congressional investigations.
The source told <a href="https://people.com/sports/jeff-bezos-interested-buying-washington-commanders-source/?utm_campaign=peoplemagazine&amp;utm_content=new&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_term=6363ed0b96327400011278e4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a> that Bezos was &#8220;looking into buying the Washington Commanders.&#8221; Bezos may also be inclined to include rapper Jay-Z in his purchase.  A separate source confirmed People&#8217;s report to the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/11/03/jeff-bezos-jay-z-washington-commanders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Washington Post</a>. The source also said that both Bezos and Jay-Z were interested in buying the team, but he did not know whether or not the two moguls would partner on their offer.
Bezos has previously expressed interest in owning an NFL franchise. A <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-playoff-picture-after-eight-weeks-predicting-final-seeding-ravens-take-advantage-of-remaining-schedule/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS Sports</a> report from 2019 said that Bezos had &#8220;become close with several current owners &#8230; and [had] strong support within the league to eventually join their ranks.&#8221; Snyder was one of the NFL owners Bezos had interacted with, CBS reported. Bezos had previously been rumored to be interested in buying the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-jeff-bezos-may-buy-seattle-seahawks-nfl-team-report-2019-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seattle Seahawks</a> after owner Paul Allen died in 2018. Meanwhile, Amazon, the company Bezos founded and serves as executive chairman of, currently holds exclusive broadcasting rights to &#8220;Thursday Night Football.&#8221;
Jay-Z previously owned a stake in the NBA&#8217;s Brooklyn Nets from 2004-2013. The rapper&#8217;s entertainment firm, Roc Nation, <a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/jay-z-s-roc-nation-entering-partnership-with-nfl-0ap3000001041162#:~:text=Roc%20Nation%2C%20the%20entertainment%20company,the%20league's%20social%20justice%20efforts." target="_blank" rel="noopener">partnered</a> with the NFL in 2019 to provide entertainment for live game experiences, including selecting talent for Super Bowl halftime shows and partnering with the NFL&#8217;s social justice initiatives.
Commanders owner Dan Snyder announced <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/storied-nfl-franchise-goes-on-block-could-fetch-5b-or-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wednesday</a> that he and wife Tanya Snyder hired Bank of America Securities to &#8220;consider potential transactions&#8221; for the team, which could include adding a minority owner or selling the team outright. The team could fetch up to $5 billion on the market.
Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.sportico.com/feature/nfl-team-values-ranking-list-1234684165/">Sportico</a> listed Washington as the league’s eighth-most-valuable franchise, at $4.78 billion. Snyder bought a majority interest in the team in 1999 for $800 million and last year consolidated full ownership. The team was founded in 1932 as the Boston Braves, but moved to Washington five years later and was rechristened the Washington Redskins. In 2020, under pressure from activists, the team dropped the name and was known for the next two years as simply The Washington Football Team. This season, it unveiled its current name.
Snyder, 57, made his fortune in indoor advertising and marketing. His tenure as an NFL owner has been stormy, marked by a losing record and only a few brief playoff appearances. In addition, a 2021 investigation into the team’s workplace culture, prompted by an explosive Washington Post report alleging rampant sexual harassment, uncovered <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfl-cheerleaders-blast-leagues-sexist-culture-following-topless-email-scandal/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incidents of harassment</a>, bullying, and intimidation throughout the organization.
The team was fined $10 million by the league, and Snyder was forced to relinquish his role in running the team’s day-to-day operations.
If the team is sold, it could be the second team under new ownership in less than a year. An ownership group led by Walmart heir S. Robson Walton purchased the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-walmart-heir-expected-to-buy-denver-broncos-for-4-5-billion-largest-sports-team-purchase-in-history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denver Broncos</a> for $4.5 billion in June, the largest purchase of a sports team in history.
Greg Wilson contributed to this report.

Jeff Bezos

Report: Jeff Bezos Interested In Buying Washington Commanders, Potentially In Partnership With Jay-Z

Billionaire

Business

Washington Commanders

Internet entrepreneur <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jack-dorsey">Jack Dorsey</a> and rapper <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jay-z">Jay-Z</a> are raising eyebrows over their initiative to teach people in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/new-york-city">Brooklyn</a> public housing about <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/cryptocurrency">cryptocurrency</a>.
<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/bitcoin">Bitcoin</a>, a form of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/what-exactly-is-bitcoin-heres-how-the-worlds-largest-cryptocurrency-actually-works">decentralized digital money</a> that can be transferred between users’ virtual wallets, was among several cryptocurrencies to plummet in price over the last few months. The digital coin’s price fell from around $48,400 at the end of December to roughly $20,600 as of Wednesday.
Nevertheless, Jay-Z and Dorsey are personally funding the “Bitcoin Academy” — an initiative for residents in Marcy Houses public housing complex in New York to learn about cryptocurrencies. Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, grew up in Marcy Houses.
“Bitcoin is becoming a critical tool for many in Africa and Central and South America,” Dorsey, currently serving as CEO of financial services company Block, <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/1534894502179180544">tweeted</a> last week. “We believe the same potential exists within communities in the US. Our goal is to prove that making powerful tools more available to people enables them to build greater independence.”
As Dorsey mentioned, El Salvador became the first nation to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/el-salvador-makes-history-becomes-first-country-to-make-bitcoin-legal-tender">adopt</a> Bitcoin as a form of legal tender last summer. According to El Salvador’s government, the use of the cryptocurrency could fuel “financial inclusion,” noting that &#8220;70% of its population doesn&#8217;t have access to traditional financial services.” Last month, El Salvador <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/09/el-salvador-buys-500-bitcoin-as-crypto-market-sell-off-continues.html">bought</a> $15.5 million in Bitcoin at nearly $31,000 — meaning that the nation lost more than one-third of its investment amid the most recent selloff.
“The vision for Bitcoin is that it doesn’t have barriers, but lack of access to financial education is a barrier,” the Bitcoin Academy website <a href="https://thebitcoinacademy.com/">says</a>. “This program aims to provide education, empower the community with knowledge, and get rid of some of the barriers so that residents can learn more about Bitcoin specifically and finance in general.”
The program will give residents MiFi devices, serve dinner twice per week through the summer, and offer a special “Crypto Kids Camp.”
Some, however, questioned whether Bitcoin is the best investment for those struggling to make ends meet given the uncertainty that characterizes the cryptocurrency space.
“They’re saying you’re going to have financial freedom, but that also means you’re getting access to cryptocurrency’s volatility and complexity,” Brookings Metro fellow Tonantzin Carmona <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/09/jay-z-jack-dorsey-bitcoin-academy-marcy-public-housing/">told</a> TechCrunch. “You’re getting access to a space that is rife with scams, fraud, hacks and all sorts of things, because there aren’t consumer protections in place as the technology currently stands.”
Earlier this week, cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/crypto-winter-coinbase-to-lay-off-nearly-one-fifth-of-staff">revealed</a> concerns about a looming recession and “crypto winter,” announcing that the company would therefore lay off nearly one-fifth of its staff.
“While it’s hard to predict the economy or the markets, we always plan for the worst so we can operate the business through any environment,” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said. “Coinbase has survived through four major crypto winters, and we’ve created long term success by carefully managing our spending through every down period. Down markets are challenging to navigate and require a different mindset.”
Despite skepticism, cryptocurrencies remain popular among younger Americans. The 2022 Investopedia Financial Literacy Survey <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gen-z-millennials-are-relying-on-crypto-for-their-retirements">revealed</a> that 28% of Millennials — those between the ages of 26 and 41 — expect to use cryptocurrencies to support themselves in their latter years. Nearly 20% of Gen Z — those between 18 and 25 — said the same.

Jay-Z And Jack Dorsey Raise Eyebrows Over Plan To Help Brooklyn Public Housing Residents Buy Bitcoin

Jay Z And Jack Dorsey Want Brooklyn Public Housing Residents To Buy Bitcoin

Bitcoin

Cryptocurrency

Economy

Jack Dorsey

New York City

Roc-A-Fella Records — the record label founded by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Damon “Dame” Dash, and Kareem “Biggs” Burke in 2013 — has sued Dash, alleging that the co-founder was attempting to sell a non-fungible token (NFT) of Jay-Z&#8217;s 1996 album, “Reasonable Doubt.”
“The clock is ticking. Dash had planned to sell at a SuperFarm Foundation online auction on June 23, 2021, the copyright to Jay-Z’s debut album Reasonable Doubt, recognized as one of the greatest recordings in history,” the <a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.nysd.562168/gov.uscourts.nysd.562168.1.0.pdf">lawsuit</a> states. “That auction was canceled, and Dash is currently frantically scouting for another venue to make the sale. It’s not a matter of if, only when. But Dash does not even own Reasonable Doubt or its copyright and, therefore, has no right to sell the album or any rights to it. Instead, RAF, Inc. owns all rights to Reasonable Doubt. The sale of this irreplaceable asset must be stopped before it is too late, and Dash must be held accountable for his theft.”
“During the past year, the market for non-fungible tokens, also called ‘NFTs,’ has exploded,” the lawsuit explained. “A non-fungible token is a unit of data that is ‘minted’ and stored on a digital ledger, called a blockchain, that certifies a digital asset to be unique and therefore not interchangeable. Simply put, it is a digit asset recorded on the blockchain that shows proof of ownership. NFTs can be created to transfer ownership of virtually any asset — from visual art to sporting event tickets, to copyrights. NFTs can be freely bought and sold like any other asset, and some NFTs have traded for tens of millions of dollars. SuperFarm owns an online platform that mints and sells NFTs to the public.”
The lawsuit then alleges that “Dash saw an opportunity in this emerging NFT market.”
“The rights to Reasonable Doubt are highly valuable and unique. They can be used to create derivative works and generate significant financial and non-financial benefits. There is only one Reasonable Doubt — the rights to it are irreplaceable,” the lawsuit stated. “Dash knew this and sought to cash in by auctioning the copyright to Reasonable Doubt as an NFT. Though the original auction was canceled, it is believed that Dash has already minted an NFT, which he intends to sell through another auction or some other means as soon as possible”
“But, again, Dash does not own Reasonable Doubt or the rights he is unlawfully seeking to sell. And Dash’s status [as a] minority shareholder in RAF, Inc., gives him no right to sell a company asset,” the lawsuit concluded. “The bottom line is simple: Dash can’t sell what he doesn’t own. By attempting such a sale, Dash has converted a corporate asset and has breached his fiduciary duties. His planned auction of Reasonable Doubt would result in irreparable harm. The Court should stop Dash from attempting to sell the copyright to Reasonable Doubt, require Dash to return the NFT of Reasonable Doubt to RAF, Inc., and hold him accountable for this brazen theft of RAF, Inc.’s most prized asset.”
<a href="https://www.tmz.com/2021/06/20/damon-dash-jay-z-roc-a-fella-records-reasonable-doubt/">TMZ</a> reported that Dash described the lawsuit as inaccurate and that he is trying to sell his minority share in RAF, and not the album itself.
“Under the terms of the deal with a potential buyer, the buyer would buy my share of Roc-a-Fella Records and Jay-Z will have exclusive administration rights” to the album, Dash told TMZ.

Jay-Z Beyonce

Major Lawsuit Claims Record Label Co-Founder Tried To Auction Jay-Z’s First Album ‘Reasonable Doubt’ As NFT

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its inductees for this year, noting that it is the most diverse class in its history.
Rolling Stone <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tina-turner-jay-z-foo-fighters-go-gos-rock-roll-hall-of-fame-2021-1168001/">reported</a> that joining the class of 2021 in the Performers category are Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s, Jay-Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren, and Tina Turner.
“This is our most diverse class in the history of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” said chairman John Sykes, who is also IHeartMedia’s President of Entertainment Enterprises. “It really represents the Hall’s ongoing commitment to honor the artists that have created not only rock and roll but the sound of youth culture.” 
Dave Grohl, Tina Turner, and Carole King will enter the Hall of Fame for the second time. Rolling Stone reported, “King was inducted along with her former songwriting partner Gerry Goffin in 1990 as a non-performer, Tina Turner entered in 1991 as half of the Ike &amp; Tina Turner duo, and Grohl was brought in as Nirvana’s drummer in 2014.”
“It’s very difficult to get inducted twice and we have three this year,” said Sykes. “It’s also a rare year where three of the six inductees are women: Tina, Carole, and the Go-Gos. It just shows the continued power and relevance and recognition of women in music.”
This year, there are more inductees outside of the Performers category than the event usually includes. The outlet reported that while most years there are two or three of those inductees, this year will have seven.
“That’s because we’ve really created, for the first time this year, special committees that actually nominate and induct artists,” said Sykes. “These are very diverse committees that actually include artists themselves like [Run-DMC’s] Darryl McDaniels, Little Steven, and Tom Morello.”
LL Cool J, Billy Preston, and Randy Rhoads will get the Musical Excellence Award while Kraftwerk, Gil Scott Heron, and Charley Patton will receive the Early Influence Award. Sussex Records founder Clarence Avant will get the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Rolling Stone said that LL Cool J and Kraftwerk were both nominated six times in past years, but did not get through with the regular procedures. Giving them the Musical Excellence and Early Influence awards allows them to go around the voters.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are eager to get back to in-person events after the world adapted to a mostly virtual environment over the past year. Induction ceremonies in the past have taken place at the Public Hall, which seats 10,000 people. This year, however, the event is being moved to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse which seats 20,000 people.
“We just needed more room,” said Sykes. “Tickets go so fast and we wanted to have as many people from the Cleveland area be able to attend the show as possible.”
Sykes discussed the ceremony in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and a return to normalcy. “I think we’re going to see this fall as the very beginnings of the reopening of live music in America,” said Sykes, who noted that the event will comply with COVID-19 guidelines. “An event like the Rock and Roll of Fame induction ceremony will be a precursor of what we’re all looking forward to getting back to in 2022.”

5DB5AEC7-BFED-46D1-ACC4-A08A081FAF18_1_201_a

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Announces ‘Most Diverse Class’ In Its History

Diversity

Depending on your political viewpoint, rapper and music mogul Jay-Z was either a hero during the Super Bowl or a villain when he and his wife Beyonce remained seated during the national anthem.
The two sat while Demi Lovato sang the national anthem ahead of Super Bowl LIV, prompting many to believe he did it in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the former quarterback who started kneeling during the national anthem once his career started hitting the skids. Kaepernick claimed he was kneeling to protest racism in America, specifically, racist cops, but the stunt did little to make him a desirable player.
Now Jay-Z has said he did not sit as a political statement. TMZ <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/02/04/jay-z-sitting-super-bowl-national-anthem-not-protest-beyonce-blue-ivy/">published footage</a> of the rapper’s recent appearance at Columbia University where he stated unequivocally that it was not a political statement. He had been asked by a Columbia professor about whether the alleged stunt was meant to “convey a signal.” Jay-Z responded quickly: &#8220;It actually wasn&#8217;t. Sorry.&#8221;
He then said Beyonce had just explained to him what Lovato must have been thinking while performing in front of so many people because she had “performed at the Super Bowl before, and I haven&#8217;t.&#8221;
He said he and his wife “immediately jumped into artist mode,&#8221; while watching Lovato sing.
“I&#8217;m really just looking at the show. The mics start. Was it too low to start?&#8221; he told the audience at Columbia.
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation previously had reached a deal with the NFL to produce all of the entertainment at Super Bowls, which included the national anthem, Yolanda Adams’ “American the Beautiful,” and, of course, the halftime show. Jay-Z said he didn’t need to perform a “silent protest” because they were “making the biggest loudest protest of all&#8221; by hiring performers from diverse backgrounds.
The mogul also joked that people thought his 8-year-old daughter Blue Ivy must have been in on the protest, saying the young girl would absolutely not be able to keep up the façade.
TMZ also reported that Jay-Z and his family regularly attend sporting events and always stand for the national anthem.
“Sources close to the situation tell us Jay knew revealing the real reason he sat might spark new criticism from <a href="https://www.tmz.com/people/colin-kaepernick/">Colin Kaepernick</a> supporters &#8212; some of whom took Sunday&#8217;s video as a sign Jay <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2020/02/01/jay-z-defends-nfl-partnership-super-bowl-police-brutality-colin-kaepernick/">was backtracking</a> on his ‘We&#8217;ve moved past kneeling’ remark,” the outlet reported.
Jay-Z <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-jay-z-beyonce-sit-during-super-bowl-national-anthem">previously defended</a> his partnership with the NFL from critics who were upset that he would allegedly snub Kaepernick.
“As long as real people are being hurt and marginalized and losing family members, then yes, I can take a couple rounds of negative press.” He then said of Kaepernick, “No one is saying he hasn’t been done wrong. He was done wrong. I would understand if it was three months ago. But it was three years ago and someone needs to say, ‘What do we do now — because people are still dying?’”
He said that he and Kaepernick are two adult men who disagree on the tactic but are marching for the same cause.”

Jay-Z Explains Why He Sat During National Anthem: It Wasn’t Political

Colin Kaepernick

Super Bowl

Despite the fact that rapper Jay-Z has signed a lucrative contract with the NFL, the league that tries diligently to appeal to fans&#8217; patriotism, that didn’t stop him and his wife Beyonce from remaining seated during the singing of the national anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday.
While Demi Lovato stood on the field to sing the anthem, the couple sat while others stood. Just one day before the Super Bowl, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/01/style/jay-z-super-bowl-roc-nation.html">The New York Times</a> published an interview with Jay-Z in which he defended his partnership with the NFL from critics, including Eric Reid, a safety for the Carolina Panthers who joined former San Francisco 49ers quarterback  Colin Kaepernick in a lawsuit against the NFL. Reid called the deal between Jay-Z’s company, Roc Nation, and the NFL “kind of despicable.”
That deal, wrote the Times, “gives Jay-Z influence over the league’s most important music events, including the halftime show.” Shakira, who performed at the Super Bowl, is a client of Roc Nation.
Jay-Z commented about the criticism he had received, “As long as real people are being hurt and marginalized and losing family members, then yes, I can take a couple rounds of negative press.” He said of the NFL and Kaepernick, whom he has defended before, “No one is saying he hasn’t been done wrong. He was done wrong. I would understand if it was three months ago. But it was three years ago and someone needs to say, ‘What do we do now — because people are still dying?’”
He added of Kaepernick, “We are two adult men who disagree on the tactic but are marching for the same cause.”
Things were a little different in 2013, apparently, as Beyonce felt others should stand during the national anthem when she performed it. After Beyonce was slammed for allegedly lipsyncing when performing the national anthem at Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 21, 2013, she defended herself  a week later at a press conference in New Orleans to preview her Super Bowl halftime show. As <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/beyonce-speaks-out-on-national-anthem-lip-sync-controversy-at-super-bowl-press-conference/2013/01/31/dc3dfd2a-6be6-11e2-bd36-c0fe61a205f6_blog.html">The Washington Post</a> reported, “ … the superstar began with an unusual request of reporters: ‘Would you guys mind standing?&#8217; And then she sang the National Anthem — live, unaccompanied, and loud. ‘Any questions?&#8217; she asked.”
In December 2017, Beyonce presented Kaepernick with the the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award at the annual Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year Awards ceremony, saying, &#8220;It feels so good to be here on such a special night of appreciation. Thank you, Colin Kaepernick. Thank you for your selfless heart and your conviction. Thank you for your personal sacrifice. Colin took action with no fear of consequence or repercussion — only hope to change the world for the better, to change perception, to change the way we treated each other, especially people of color. We are still waiting for the world to catch up.&#8221;
As <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/mbvd/beyonce-made-a-surprise-appearance-to-present-colin#.qrJEXDbJv">Buzzfeed News</a> reported, she continued, &#8220;It’s been said that racism is so American, that when we protest racism, some assume we are protesting America. So, let’s be very clear: Colin has always been very respectful of the individuals who selflessly serve and protect our country and our communities and our families. His message is solely focused on social injustice for historically disenfranchised people. Let’s not get that mistaken.&#8221;
Video below:
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Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Sean “Diddy” Combs – Show

WATCH: Jay-Z, Beyonce Sit During Super Bowl National Anthem

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Entertainer and businessman Jay-Z was disappointed with Colin Kaepernick ditching the Saturday tryout the NFL organized for the anthem-kneeler on Saturday. Instead, the former 49er organized his own event at a different venue, where only a handful of teams attended.
A source close to Jay-Z told <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/11/17/jay-z-calls-colin-kaepernick-workout-publicity-stunt?xid=socialflow_twitter_si&amp;utm_campaign=sinow&amp;utm_source=twitter.com&amp;utm_medium=social">Sports Illustrated</a> that the rapper is &#8220;disappointed with Colin&#8217;s actions and believes he turned a legitimate workout into a publicity stunt.&#8221;
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Jay-Z is widely known as one of Kaepernick&#8217;s biggest supporters, and has even been rumored to have had a hand in organizing the Saturday workout with the NFL to help the athlete secure a position with a team.
As noted by <a href="https://theundefeated.com/features/joining-forces-with-jay-z-is-just-what-the-nfl-needed/">The Undefeated</a>, Jay-Z&#8217;s Carter’s Roc Nation entertainment company signed on with the NFL this summer to lead the organization&#8217;s &#8220;music and entertainment endeavors, including advising on the selection of artists for the Super Bowl halftime show, a production that has presented challenges for the league.&#8221;
Following the announcement, the entertainment mogul made what some presumed to be a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nfls-reid-unloads-jay-z-money-deal-behind-james-barrett">dig at Kaepernick</a>. When asked by a reporter if he&#8217;d &#8220;kneel or stand,&#8221; Jay-Z responded: &#8220;I think we&#8217;re past kneeling. I think it&#8217;s time to go into actionable items. I think everyone knows what the issue is, and we&#8217;re done with that. &#8230; Okay, next. Where we moving on next?&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JayZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JayZ</a> believes that we’re past kneeling to protest against social injustice and explains why. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Socialites?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Socialites</a>, do you agree with him? 👇🏾 via: <a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nflnetwork</a>&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/ForTheCultureHH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ForTheCultureHH</a> <a href="https://t.co/uTp887xyYj">pic.twitter.com/uTp887xyYj</a>
&mdash; Wilkinmeta𝕏 (@wilkinmeta) <a href="https://twitter.com/wilkinmeta/status/1162006895927943168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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As reported by <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/kaepernick-skips-workout-organized-by-nfl-wears-t-shirt-comparing-himself-to-a-slave">The Daily Wire</a>, Kaepernick cancelled the scheduled NFL workout abruptly on Saturday, about a half hour before the session was to begin, apparently because he had to sign a liability waiver and wasn’t allowed to bring his own camera crew.
However, according to the NFL, the waiver in question was a “standard liability waiver based on the waiver used by National Invitational Camp at all NFL Combines and by NFL clubs when trying out free agent players.”
The NFL also claimed Kaepernick did not inform them of his request to have his own personal camera crew attend the event until Friday night: “We heard for the first time last night, around the same time we heard from Nike, that Colin wanted to bring his own video crew. We heard for the first time this afternoon that Colin wanted to open the event to all media,&#8221; the league said in a statement.
The 32-year-old, who hasn&#8217;t played since he opted out of his contract in 2016, blamed the NFL for his workout snub.
“Y’all have been attacked for the last three years. Y’all continue to be attacked,” he told fans in front of reporters on Saturday. “We appreciate what y’all do. We appreciate you being here today, and we appreciate the work that you do for the people in telling the truth. That’s what we want with everything”
“I’ve been ready for three years. I’ve been denied for three years,” Kaepernick continued. “We all know why I came out here today and showed it today in front of everybody. We have nothing to hide, so we’re waiting for the 32 owners, 32 teams, Roger Goodell, all of them to stop running. To stop running from the truth. To stop running from the people. We’re out here. We’re ready to play. We’re ready to go anywhere.”
As previously noted by The Daily Wire, Kaepernick, a multimillionaire sponsored by Nike, wore a “<a href="https://heavy.com/sports/2019/11/colin-kaepernick-kunta-kinte-5-fast-facts/">Kunta Kinte</a>” t-shirt at the event, seemingly comparing himself to a defiant slave.

Jay Z And Colin Kaepernick

Jay-Z ‘Disappointed’ Over Colin Kaepernick ‘Publicity Stunt’: Report

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