It’s been a little over two weeks since Jay-Z announced his partnership with the NFL, which has caused a great deal of controversy. And now the first move associated with that partnership has surfaced.
According to reports, the rapper will launch a new apparel line called “Inspire Change,” and he’ll also put on a series of concerts titled “Songs of the Season.”
The first concert will be for the league’s “NFL Kickoff Experience” on Sept. 5 at Grant Park in Chicago. And Meek Mill will perform along with Rapsody, DJ Pharris and singer Meghan Trainor.
A number of concerts will run all season long, and they’ll feature various artists from different musical genres. Some of those artists will also create a song for the NFL that will be used for the league’s promotional campaigns.
Meanwhile, proceeds from the apparel line, which is expected to arrive in October, will fund social change programs throughout the United States.
The line has been called “a new social enterprise model” that will support “Inspire Change” programs that focus on education, economic empowerment, police and community relations, as well as criminal justice reform.
Jay hasn’t responded to the criticism he’s faced since announcing the partnership. Because many said he shouldn’t have accepted it since Colin Kaepernick hasn’t played in the NFL since the 2016 season.
The quarterback has seemingly been blackballed by the league since he began protesting racism against black people by kneeling for the national anthem.
Nessa Diab, Kaepernick’s longtime girlfriend, was one of the first to blast Jay-Z, and others followed. But people like T.I., Sean “Diddy” Combs and Killer Mike have come to the Brooklyn rapper’s defense.
“THIS is what WE must acknowledge‼️” T.I. wrote Sunday on Instagram. “Bruh work & reputation should speak for itself…& it’s far louder than your presumptuous twitter rants.”
