Who Owns the Idea Behind Jay-Z’s ‘Occupy All Streets’ Shirt?

[Liberal_in_LA]

The Internet began buzzing following a photo of Jay-Z and Russell Simmons backstage after one of the “Watch the Throne” concerts earlier this week.



Jay-Z was sporting a black t-shirt that read “Occupy All Streets.” The shirt will soon be for sale via his Rocawear collection.

But, according to Business Insider in a post published on Gawker, Rocawear is not planning to release profits from the shirt sales towards the movement. In a statement, Rocawear argued that the sentiment of the shirt was more universal than the political movement in Zuccotti Park and other cities.

Russell Simmons, who lives just steps from Zuccotti Park, has been tweeting in support of his friend and posting updates via his GlobalGrind web site. In a post published on Friday afternoon, Simmons asked readers where profits of the shirt sales should go. As of Friday evening, about 60% of 200 votes cast were in favor of donating the proceeds to the movement.

http://blogs.wsj.com/runway/2011/11/11/who-owns-the-idea-behind-jay-zs-occupy-all-streets-shirt/

update: JayZ has backed down.

http://www.tmz.com/2011/11/12/jay-z-occupy-wall-street-t-shirts/

Jay-Z
Occupy T-Shirts Disappear
Amid Criticism

[msongs]

1. the 1% cashing in on the 99% - doesnt have his favorite word on it tho lol nt

[Tunkamerica]

2. I? the? this? what's his favorite word?

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. he's the .01%, very rich and married to Beyonce. Building 2000 sq ft nursery for baby

[JI7]

6. i wouldn't care about any of that, but exploiting the movement

like this is just a turn off.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. that's the point. He's already rich. doesn't need to make money by exploiting. Glad he backed down

[NYC_SKP]

3. This is your chance, gentlemen, to make a difference.

One that matters, beyond the music.

If you care to.

.

[MADem]

5. If he's got the copyright, he's got the checks.

He's not the only one, though.

Warner Brothers has made a fortune off OWS--they're loving it.

[JI7]

7. what did warner brothers do ?

[MADem]

11. They created that movie and that mask.

They get a sweet cut from every sale. Ka-ching!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

8. did you mean to say "C" all streets or "A" ll

[Donnachaidh]

10. woo hoo roflmao

"Before the t-shirts were pulled ... TMZ spoke with Grim, one of the leaders of the Occupy movement, who told us, "Jay-Z, as talented as he is, has the political sensibility of a hood rat and is a scrotum. To attempt to profit off of the first important social moment of 50 years with an overpriced piece of cotton is an insult to the fight for economic civil rights known as #occupywallstreet."


Jay-Z should come out with a scrotum tshirt :rofl:

He won't be invited to any OWS gatherings in the near future :rofl:

[sabrina 1]

12. Maybe someone else should do the 'scrotum' tee shirt

and use his image to sell it. This way he gets to do some good for society, and the proceeds could go to the poor.

[FrodosPet]

13. Is Russell Simmons any better?

Railing against the banks - his competition - while pushing a debit card with fees that would make the most jaded bankster envious?

[EC]

14. I always questioned the sincerity of Russell Simmens.. n/t