Last week, we reported the beef with Jay-Z and many OCCUPY supporters who learned via press conference that Rocawear was not donating a portion of their sales from their OCCUPY ALL STREETS stamped t-shirts.
Well, the beef continues!
One supporter of the OCCUPY movement created what he calls a Scrooge Totem Pole of Jay-Z . The artist says that he is appauled that Jay-Z who reportedely earned 63 million dollars last year would now find a way to profit off of a social justice movement.
The sculpture, created by artist Daniel Edwards, features Jay-Z wearing chains with a big dollar sign on his chest at the base and animated characters that have played the money-hungry Scrooge character on television stacked on top of him. Above Jay is Mr. Burns from ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Scrooge McDuck’ from Disney’s.
Daniel recently discussed why he chose to make the sculpture of Jay-z:
“I think Jay-Z has made himself a face of [the] Wall Street that Occupiers are protesting against. Maybe Jay-Z is striving to be in the one percent? Which is why I chose the composition of a totem pole because I thought it would resemble the number one. Rap stars who turn ‘Scrooge’ have to suffer some damage to their street credibility.”
Russell Simmons recently spoke out defending his friend’s choice to sell ‘Occupy All Streets’ tees, saying that the movement isn’t being against, it’s just against those businesses controlling our government.
“What’s wrong with selling goodness? There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s not the most preferred. In yogi scripture, at least, the highest form of giving is giving without expectation. Selfless. But a lot of people need incentive.
You should sell things you’re happy about. You should sell products that you’re inspired by, that promote lasting and stable well-being. Give the world something or sell the world something that you’re proud of. Jay-Z didn’t make a T-shirt [that said] “F— the Bums on the Street.” He wrote a T-shirt “Occupy All Streets” – I’m happy, it furthers the movement, it inspires the movement.
Listen, I’m going to get every corporation that wants to support us to get branding as part of the process. No one’s against business. We’re against business having too much control over our government.”