Tuesday, it was announced that Jay Z along with his Roc Nation empire would be partnering up the NFL. More details have been released explaining exactly what this new venture entails.
In an article posted on the NFL site, it states that :
Roc Nation, the entertainment company founded by rapper and businessman Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, is entering into a multiyear partnership with the NFL to enhance the NFL’s live game experiences and to amplify the league’s social justice efforts.
As part of the agreement, Roc Nation will advise on the selection of artists for major NFL performances like the Super Bowl. A major component of the partnership will be to nurture and strengthen community through football and music, including through the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative.
The NFL formally launched the Inspire Change initiative in early 2019, after more than two years of work with NFL players, with the goal of creating positive change in communities across the country. Through this initiative, NFL teams and the league office work with the Players Coalition and other NFL players to support programs and initiatives that reduce barriers to opportunity, with a focus on three priority areas: education and economic advancement; police and community relations; and criminal justice reform.
“With its global reach, the National Football League has the platform and opportunity to inspire change across the country,” Carter said. “Roc Nation has shown that entertainment and enacting change are not mutually exclusive ideas — instead, we unify them. This partnership is an opportunity to strengthen the fabric of communities across America.”
Roc Nation also will work with the NFL to create and distribute content across multiple music streaming services for a variety of initiatives.
“Roc Nation is one of the most globally influential and impactful organizations in entertainment,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “The NFL and Roc Nation share a vision of inspiring meaningful social change across our country. We are thrilled to partner with Roc Nation and look forward to making a difference in our communities together.”
Many were speculating the intentions of this new partnership and whether or not Colin Kaepernick alerted of this deal. However, both Jay and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addressed that topic Wednesday at Roc Nation’s NYC offices and confirmed that Jay talked to Kap ahead of signing his new deal but didn’t mention the former quarterback’s response.
But Carolina Panthers’ Eric Reid, the first teammate of Kap to kneel during the national anthem in the 2016 season, criticized the league and confirmed that the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was not part of the deal yesterday.
He is not https://t.co/jIRVCatNLt
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) August 14, 2019
Check out more of what Reid had to say on Twitter below:
Interesting timing on the partnership with Jay-Z on the heels of Stephen Ross’ fundraiser for Donald Trump and the backlash his other companies are getting because of it. #PayAttentionFolks
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) August 14, 2019
You & some others seem to misunderstand that we had no beef with the NFL until they started perpetuating the systemic oppression that we are fighting by blackballing Colin and then me. Nah I won’t quit playing but I will be a royal pain in the NFL’s a** for acting like they care https://t.co/bL6SMUkrQP
— Eric Reid (@E_Reid35) August 14, 2019
Stay tuned to the Shadow League for more details.
