Russell Simmons defends Jay-Z’s Occupy Wall Street T-shirts
By Petar Kujundzic / News / November 17, 2011 / 1520 Views

While Jay-Z's "Occupy All Streets" is facing heavy criticism, Russel Simmons spoke up and defended his longtime friend in an interview with Billboard.

"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."

Simmons further revealed that he is working on acquiring permits for a concert in support of the movement and that artists have OWS-inspired songs in the works:

"There'll be a protest song that goes along with Occupy Wall Street. I promise you that. Me and you, promise."

Simmons and Kanye West showed up at the Occupy Wall Street protest last month to show their support. Leave your thoughts on this in the comment section below.

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  • Ohhhhfuhhhhhh

    Of course this other fucking hypocrite would defend him as well

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  • Torosnegros

    Hey, great way to cash in on something that's protesting against cashing in on things....  Come on Russell, we all know that Jay-Z is clueless, but you too?

  • Torosnegros

    Hey, great way to cash in on something that's protesting against cashing in on things....  Come on Russell, we all know that Jay-Z is clueless, but you too?

  • Pingback: Russell Simmons defends Jay-Z’s Occupy Wall Street T-Shirts | HipHopCube

  • Voucher

    i just wrote an enormous reply in which i made, i believe, many worthy points. but i managed to delete it and now im pissed. i think my points were "what do you expect" and "whos still wearing rocawear/looking to them for political goodness" and thusly "why is this shit actually news worthy havent we learned anything just ignore people being dicks if no one buys the shirt then they'll get the message but obviously people would still buy the shirt because people are idiots so please hypetrak dont remind me that people are idiots with information like this just give me some more BIG SEAN AND CHRIS BROWN"

  • http://twitter.com/nobuwithnoshoes Sergio S. T.

    Hustlers gonna hustle. Care of you and let the fuckin' people live.

  • Jabmech

    let me start by saying that I don't think that was the smartest move by Jay-z and or the Rocawear weed carrier that thought it was cool, but I think one point that Russell made that is true is that it does push the movement to other spheres. There's plenty of Rocawear wearing kids that have no clue about this, and maybe if this helps a few kids get it, it's worth it. 

    In any case, I'm not sure giving the funds would have been better. OWS doesn't really have a way to manage the funds...

  • Jabmech

    let me start by saying that I don't think that was the smartest move by Jay-z and or the Rocawear weed carrier that thought it was cool, but I think one point that Russell made that is true is that it does push the movement to other spheres. There's plenty of Rocawear wearing kids that have no clue about this, and maybe if this helps a few kids get it, it's worth it. 

    In any case, I'm not sure giving the funds would have been better. OWS doesn't really have a way to manage the funds...

  • http://www.facebook.com/asunkee Jamila Wallace

    I guess...

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NDAPBDNRGGDN34CUF3DXMIDC7U Raz

    not surprising is it? Russell is another greedy 1%-er, gutless, punk-azz, beatch...and i know that for a fact, cause i've done biz with him. i hope he and hoe-va get knocked on their azzes. or, at least a mirror knocked out of their maybachs, while someone steals everything but der socks. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NDAPBDNRGGDN34CUF3DXMIDC7U Raz

    not surprising is it? Russell is another greedy 1%-er, gutless, punk-azz, beatch...and i know that for a fact, cause i've done biz with him. i hope he and hoe-va get knocked on their azzes. or, at least a mirror knocked out of their maybachs, while someone steals everything but der socks. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NDAPBDNRGGDN34CUF3DXMIDC7U Raz

    not surprising is it? Russell is another greedy 1%-er, gutless, punk-azz, beatch...and i know that for a fact, cause i've done biz with him. i hope he and hoe-va get knocked on their azzes. or, at least a mirror knocked out of their maybachs, while someone steals everything but der socks. 

  • TheMayor

    Torosnegros,

    When White Folks cry, 'inequity' blacks designed a Tshirt.
    When Black Folks cry, 'inequity' whites designed the NAACP.

    Put that inya pipe, & smoke it.

  • TheMayor

    Torosnegros,

    When White Folks cry, 'inequity' blacks designed a Tshirt.
    When Black Folks cry, 'inequity' whites designed the NAACP.

    Put that inya pipe, & smoke it.

  • TheMayor

    Torosnegros,

    When White Folks cry, 'inequity' blacks designed a Tshirt.
    When Black Folks cry, 'inequity' whites designed the NAACP.

    Put that inya pipe, & smoke it.

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