When a snippet of Pharrell and JAY-Z’s “Entrepreneur” rang out on Thursday (August 20), it included a line about JAY-Z baiting Black Twitter to do better, resulting in a sturdy trending topic attacking Jigga’s grasp of reality.
The end result, however, is a shining platform for vibrant Black business owners all across the country.
JAY-Z’s full verse mentioned more companies than initially thought as he spits on the opening lines, “Uh, lies told to you, through YouTubes and Hulus/Shows with no hues that look like you do/Black Twitter, what’s that? When Jack gets paid, do you?For every one Gucci, support two FUBUs/Sippin’ Crip-a-Cola consumer and an owner, uh/’Til we all vertically integrated from the floor up/D’Usse pourer, sip Ace ’til I throw up/Like gang signs ‘cept I bang mines for both ya.”
Elsewhere in the verse, he gives tips for others to see significant growth in their own enterprises.
The video highlights the efforts of Issa Rae, Nipsey Hussle, Tyler, The Creator, Robert Hartwell, Six Sev, Vox Collegiate Junior High founder TyAnthony Davis, Honey’s Kettle founder Vincent Williams, Iddris Sandu, Honey’s Pot founder Beatrice Dixon, D’ART Shtajio founders Arthell & Darnell Isom, Neighbors SkateShop, Alrick Augustine, Partake Cookies founder Denise Woodard, Chace Infinite (repping his Harun Coffee Shop), My Two Cents Chef Alisa, Debbie Allen for Tribe Midwifery, PUR Home founder Angela Richardson, Miss Bennett Fitness, Black and Mobile, Trill Paws Dog Accessories, Third Vault Yarns and Nicholas Johnson, Princeton’s first Black Valedictorian.
JAY-Z Gets A Black Twitter Beating After Lyrically Checking Fans’ Pockets
The powerful anthem was released in conjunction with TIME magazine’s special edition cover project “The New American Revolution” which combined the minds and perspectives of Tyler, The Creator, Angela Davis, Yara Shahidi, Kenya Barris, Imara Jones, Naomi Osaka and more.
View this post on InstagramI couldn’t be more grateful to curate “The New American Revolution”—a special issue of @TIME Magazine that envisions a Black Future in an America where all people are actually created equal. Link in bio.
Watch the full “Entrepreneur” video (produced by The Neptunes and directed by Calmatic) above. The TIME feature can be read here.