Jay-Z in talks with NFL to buy a share of one of the league’s flagship franchises, report says

Rapper and business mogul, Shawn “Jay Z” Carter, caused an uproar when he announced that he is partnering with the NFL. Even Colin Kaepernick, who was essentially kicked out of the NFL for kneeling during the US National Anthem, isn’t pleased with this development.

The rapper’s decision to do business with the NFL has caused an uproar among some of Jay-Z’s biggest fans as it’s seen as a slight to former NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, and his movement.

Social justice advocates see Jay-Z's coziness with the NFL as a slap in the face to the movement Kaepernick started with kneeling during the National Anthem before the start of NFL football games. Kaepernick has always stated that his kneeling was to shed light on police brutality and the oppression of minorities throughout the country.

According to a  press release issued by the NFL, 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 in a press release. "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."

Carter added during an August 14, 2019, Q&A with select media, "I'm really into action -- I'm into real work. I'm not into how it looks. How it looks only lasts for a couple months until we start doing the work. I've been in this position many times. Take Tidal as a great example from five years ago. Now, people look at it today, people have a different outlook on it. But at the time, people didn't see what was going on. So I've been in this position many times. I just show up and do the work, I'm not interested in how things look on the outside. If protesting on the field is the most effective way, then protest on the field. But, if you have a vehicle that you can inspire change and you can speak to the masses and educate at the same time."
Carter said the platform that the NFL provides speaks to the work in the community that the league and Roc Nation can do together.

"Inspire Change is already happening (with Roc Nation) and the NFL has a huge platform," he said. "We can use that huge platform, and we've seen it happen. Like with J.J. Watt, when he brought the aid to everyone in Houston, everybody forgot about the turmoil that was in the NFL. If you can use this platform to do that in different areas, that's a home run. That's how I would view a success. That's success for me."

Roc Nation also will work with the NFL to create and distribute content across multiple music streaming services for a variety of initiatives.

"Every conversation I've had with Jay has been inspiring," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "Not just on his perspective on the process of how we do the entertainment, but what we should try to achieve. We always say we should get better and we should evolve. We think we should partner with the best, and that's why we're sitting here. We believe we're partnering with the best. So, his perspective is going to drive us."

Q. Is this a good move for Jay Z and the NFL, and what do you think Jay Z hopes to accomplish in addition to making money?

WATCH VIDEO: Is Drake dating a teenager? Nicki and Cardi, can’t we all just get along? Chadwick Boseman shows up big time, and; an interview with Nabate Isles

In the Quick Takes section of this episode of What’s The 411, award-winning journalist, Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Tamar and Vince, Chadwick Boseman's visit to St. Jude's Hospital, Kenya Barris' new deal with Netflix, hip-hop icon, Drake, was spotted in a Washington, DC restaurant with 18-year-old model, Bella Harris, and how Nike's stock price shows the people are embracing the company's moves, even actress Jenifer Lewis wore blinged out Nike gear on the red carpet at the 2018 Emmy Awards show.

Additionally, the episode includes an interview with Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer, Nabate Isles, talking about his debut album, Eclectic Excursions.

Ava Duvernay, Issa Rae, Jay-Z are up for an NAACP’s Entertainer of the Year Image Award

In this episode of What's The 411 hosts Kizzy Cox, and Onika McLean are talking about Wendy Williams; Cynthia Bailey and Peter Thomas' business venture; John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, the NFL, Colin Kaepernick, Morgan Freeman, Diana Ross, Ava DuVernay, Issa Rae, Jay-Z, Tank, The Rock, Tyrese, and much more.

Was that a diss from Knicks' Carmelo Anthony to Nets' Jeremy Lin? Carolina Panthers Cam Newton still in concussion protocol

Check out video of Episode 79 of What's The 411Sports, where the panel of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Sydney Wayman, are talking about:

The return of Tom Brady after serving an NFL four-game suspension for deflated footballs

MLB Playoffs - in particular, the Chicago Cubs; can the Chicago Cubs take it all?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will come under center in NFL Week 6, and a whole lot more in the video for What's The 411Sports Episode 79.

The Kaepernick Effect; Odell Beckham Jr. - Josh Norman; Ryan Fitzpatrick measuring up? Will Derrick Rose Trial impact Knicks? Will the Nets Bring the Buzz

In this episode, the What's The 411 Sports team of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Amsterdam News reporter, Vincent Davis are talking about:

Quick Bites

Miami Heat team president, Pat Riley, says Chris Bosh will no longer play for the Miami Heat
Kevin Garnett is retiring this year after 21 years in the NBA
Tom Brady living a good life on suspension; he's staying in shape with his supermodel wife, Gisele Bundchen, and paling around with Jim Harbaugh on the campus of his alma mater, the University of Michigan

What's Poppin'!

• NFL Week 3
• Is it Tom Brady or Bill Belichick?
• The Kaepernick Effect

What's The 411Sports New York Sports Report

• NY Jets
• NY Giants
• Odell Beckham vs. Josh Norman
• NY Mets and the MLB Wild Card Race, can the Mets pull it off?
• Derrick Rose Civil Trial and its Impact on the Knicks
• Jeremy Lin is a marketing buzz magnet. Will the Brooklyn Nets Create Some Buzz this Season?

On The Bench

On the What's The 411Sports bench this week are Steve Clevenger and Mike Ditka.

Steve Clevenger on the Bench

Seattle Mariners catcher Steve Clevenger is on the bench because on his Twitter comments that called the Black Lives Matter protestors and President Obama pathetic and further declared that "everyone involved should be locked like animals". The Seattle Mariners dismissed Clevenger for the rest of the season. Clevenger has since issued an apology.

Mike Ditka on the Bench

Mike Ditka is on the bench for making the following comments:

"I have no respect for Colin Kaepernick – he probably has no respect for me, that's his choice. My choice is, I like this country, I respect our flag, and I don't see all the atrocities going on in this country that people say are going on."

Ditka added, "I see opportunities if people want to look for opportunity – now if they don't want to look for them – then you can find problems with anything, but this is the land of opportunity because you can be anything you want to be if you work. If you don't work...that's a different problem."

Perhaps, these two, Clevenger and Ditka belong in the What's The 411Sports Dog House.

In Memoriam

We also bid a sorrowful farewell to Florida Marlins catcher Jose Fernandez; the legendary golfer Arnold Palmer, and actor Bill Nunn, who is best known for his role as Radio Raheem in the Spike Lee movie, Do The Right Thing.

Robert F. Smith donated $20 million to National African American Museum; Kanye West joins Instagram, Nicki Minaj uses Twitter to find girlfriend for her brother, Tinder lets you swipe and chat

In this episode of What's The 411, the panel of Kizzy Cox, Courtney Rashon, and Sydney Wayman are talking about:

• Nicki Minaj took to Twitter to give notice that her brother needs a new girlfriend

• Uber is requiring its drivers to check in with face time before picking up a passenger

• The Magnificent Seven starring Denzel Washington debuted at No.1 with just over $35 million

• Strut, a new reality TV show about a transgender modeling agency, executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg, debuted on Oxygen

• Tinder's new app will let you swipe while you chat

• Kanye West has a verified Twitter account, but it doesn't look like he's using it

• Robert F. Smith, a Black billionaire donated $20 million to the new National Museum of African American History and Culture, in addition to Oprah Winfrey

• 100 Oakland student musicians took a knee during the National Anthem at an Oakland A's game

• Geode-inspired lips are a hit on Instagram; will it make it to the street?

Caribbean Cook-up

Dance teacher and fitness guru Shola Roberts is Kizzy Cox's guest in the Caribbean Cook-up segment

411 Social

Jasmine Blake and Nicole Okeke, members of the What's The 411 social media team, gave feedback on the Teyana Taylor and #TeacherBae stories, as well as shout outs to people who commented on the stories on the What's The 411TV Facebook and Instagram pages.

Nicole: Shout out to our followers who commented on our Instagram post with the hashtag "TeacherBae." That photo has got a lot of you talking and we were surprised to find out that everyone who commented had no problem with her clothing. So, thanks to Dana Sorrentino for commenting on the Teacher Bae story on Facebook.

Jasmine: And, shout out to ilove_charlie_peter, im_just_evette , and Jimswinger on Instagram for their comments on the "Teacher Bae" story. So keep those comments coming at WhatsThe411TV on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter!

In Memoriam

Actor Bill Nunn, best known as Radio Raheem in the Spike Lee movie, Do The Right Thing, passed away after a battle with leukemia. He was just a few weeks short of his 63rd birthday.