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Bill O’Reilly Is Wrong: Jay-Z Is Worthy of America’s Respect
FrontPage Mag ^ | 03/18/2014 | Ronn Torossian

Posted on 03/18/2014 7:26:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind



Count me as a fan of the divergent brands of Fox News, hip-hop and Jay-Z. Growing up in the Bronx, New York in the 1980s and 1990s, a product of the New York City public school system, hip-hop is in my blood. It has changed my life for the better, as the hip-hop lifestyle teaches so many important American values. From the importance of rising up no matter what your circumstances, to constantly working hard and seeking more and more, to personal responsibility, there are so many hip-hop values that all Americans – including political conservatives – must appreciate.

As CEO of a leading New York PR agency, we have represented countless hip-hop artists, including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ice-Cube, Snoop Dogg and others — and it’s been a great experience.

As readers of FrontPage Magazine know, I am a proud conservative – for many reasons. Foremost among those reasons is the fact that I shouldn’t be penalized tax-wise for my success. No one gave me anything. As a conservative, it is evident that the media are often liberally-biased and Fox News, the fair and balanced network, has eliminated liberal bias from at least one station. Yet, too often conservatives are out of touch with youth culture, and a perfect example of that is overlooking the countless ways that hip-hop has made America a better country.

Bill O’Reilly’s perpetual attacks upon the hip-hop industry are wrong and misguided. This week, O’Reilly confronted Valerie Jarret, a senior advisor to President Obama, on-air as they were discussing Obama’s new “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, which seeks to help minorities find role models. O’Reilly said, “You’re gonna have to get people like Jay-Z, alright, Kanye West, all of these gangsta rappers to knock it off. That’s number one.” He continued, saying that young males idolize “these guys with the hats on backwards” and “terrible rap lyrics,” and that these “gangsta rappers” and “tattoo guys” need to speak to kids and tell them that they’ve “got to stop the disruptive behavior or you’re going to wind up in a morgue or in prison.”

O’Reilly continually speaks negatively about hip-hop, and inaccurately claimed that Jay-Z and Kanye West were “gangster rappers.” They aren’t. While Jay-Z made many mistakes growing up – as a drug dealer he undoubtedly hurt many people — none of us are perfect. The man is tremendously influential and has shown so many of us how to overcome adversity and become successful. With sheer determination, Jay-Z has succeeded as a world-class entrepreneur, and demonstrated how self-confidence, passion and a strong work ethic can allow anyone in this great country to get anywhere.

At times, as an entertainer, Jay-Z curses and is inappropriate. “The Terminator” was inappropriate as well, as were other characters played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in countless movies. Indeed, there are PG-13 and R-rated movies and actors. But the real life of Jay-Z today is parental-encouraged, and worthy of being viewed by all. People should watch and learn from Jay-Z.

Neither Jay-Z nor Kanye West are “gangster rappers” and the fact that they may wear their hats backwards, and may have tattoos, doesn’t say anything more about them today than the clothing style of someone wearing a suit says about that person. Marc Zuckerberg, Jan Koum of Whats App and many others have non-traditional viewpoints on corporate rules and how to dress. Whether it’s a hoodie, or someone with a tattoo, people cannot be defined by how they dress or what they look like.

So often, hip-hop represents the greatness of America – opportunity, risk-taking, thinking outside of the box — and Jay-Z is at the forefront of that movement. Hip-hop embraces entrepreneurship and a culture of self-sufficiency. As the American business icon Warren Buffett said:

“Jay is teaching in a lot bigger classroom than I’ll ever teach in. They’re going to learn from somebody. For a young person growing up he’s the guy to learn from.”

From becoming one of the world’s most recognizable artists, to investing in professional sports teams, cosmetics brands, restaurants and much more, Jay-Z shows first-hand the results and importance of hard-work, responsibility, and risk-taking. Jay-Z’s values today are of a family man who is the face of major American brands – married to one of the most beautiful, charismatic artists of our time. He has taught so many of us to strive for more, to work hard at what we love. Jay-Z is worth $475 million dollars according to Forbes Magazine and is still going. For so many Americans, myself included, Jay-Z is worthy of our immense respect. As a grown man, Jay-Z is a business role model for so many people. (His political viewpoints, on the other hand, leave a lot to be desired.)

Mr. O’Reilly: Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. As Jay-Z said, “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.” Jay-Z’s business skills show so many Americans that even if we aren’t Ivy League graduates, we can still succeed in a major way.

P.S.: For those who will disagree with this article, I will offer this qualifier: As a marketer and a father, I agree with what NBA legend Charles Barkley said in his famous Nike commercial:

“I am not a role model. I am not paid to be a role model. Parents should be role models. Just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids.”



TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: billoreilly; jayz; oreilly; respect
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To: SeekAndFind

“as the hip-hop lifestyle teaches so many important American values. From the importance of rising up no matter what your circumstances, to constantly working hard and seeking more and more, to personal responsibility”


While not a fan of hip-hop myself, a fair number of my friends are...and none of them get the good side of this out of it aside from maybe the rising up part.


21 posted on 03/18/2014 8:21:57 AM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: .45 Long Colt
The writer is a very lost man.

Right you are. From the article: "While Jay-Z made many mistakes growing up – as a drug dealer he undoubtedly hurt many people — none of us are perfect."

No. A mistake is writing 1+1=3. Deciding to sell drugs is not a mistake. It can be forgiven, but it is not a mistake. It is a conscious decision to hurt people for personal gain. Anyone who sees such a criminality as a simple "mistake" is indeed lost.

22 posted on 03/18/2014 8:23:25 AM PDT by Leaning Right (Why am I holding this lantern? I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: lepton
From the importance of rising up no matter what your circumstances, to constantly working hard and seeking more and more, to personal responsibility

Well I suppose becoming a successful pimp or drug dealer does take some work and personal responsibility.

23 posted on 03/18/2014 8:24:12 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

I don’t know anything about Jay-Z, but I will respect this man’s opinion. If you grew up in New York City (or Chicago, or LA or Miami) then Jay-Z is what you know.

if Conservatives expect and want black Americans to be conservative, then you have to expect people who like Jay-Z will be in the tent also.


24 posted on 03/18/2014 8:28:44 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: PGR88
If you grew up in New York City (or Chicago, or LA or Miami) then Jay-Z is what you know.

Only if you're too lazy to learn anything else.

25 posted on 03/18/2014 8:29:17 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator
Only if you're too lazy to learn anything else.

My kids study cello and piano and can play Chopin - because my wife and I demand it. But the world is what it is, and I know vast segments of the US population were raised on Jay-Z. Sadly, its the culture we must swim in. One has to deal with people as they are, and work to improve from there.

26 posted on 03/18/2014 8:42:02 AM PDT by PGR88
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To: PGR88
and I know vast segments of the US population were raised on Jay-Z.

And look where we are.

27 posted on 03/18/2014 8:43:01 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: ExTxMarine
While Jay-Z made many mistakes growing up – as a drug dealer he undoubtedly hurt many people — none of us are perfect.
Charles Manson comes to mind. Another potential role model, maybe for the white hip-hoppers?
28 posted on 03/18/2014 8:56:54 AM PDT by Old North State
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To: Old North State
none of us are perfect.

Yeah, but the vast majority of us would never stoop to selling drugs.

29 posted on 03/18/2014 8:58:07 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind

For some people, the only thing they respect is a person’s ability to accumulate wealth, regardless of how they do it, apparently.


30 posted on 03/18/2014 9:11:05 AM PDT by MNnice
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To: SeekAndFind

“None of us are perfect”......

I can name a great many people I have met in my lifetime who are not perfect, nor am I....

HOWEVER——NONE of us was EVER a DRUG DEALER!!!!!!!

NONE——ZERO——ZIP——NADA.....


31 posted on 03/18/2014 9:24:08 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: SeekAndFind
the hip-hop lifestyle teaches so many important American values.

1) perils and quirks of inner city life
2) beatboxing
3) breakdancing
4) graffiti
5) fashions derived from urban styling
6) ebonics

no thanks, I'll pass

32 posted on 03/18/2014 9:41:28 AM PDT by mjp ((pro-{God, reality, reason, egoism, individualism, natural rights, limited government, capitalism}))
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To: mjp

7) Bitches and Hos.


33 posted on 03/18/2014 9:43:58 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: SeekAndFind; Libloather

Big Pimpin’ Lyrics:

“Nigga it’s the big Southern rap impresario
Comin’ straight up out the black barrio
Makes a mill’ up off a sorry hoe
Then sit back and peep my scenario

Oops, my bad, that’s my scenario
No I can’t f*** a scary hoe
Now every time, every place, everywhere we go
Hoes start pointin’, they say, there he go

Now these motherf****** know we carry mo’ heat than a little bit
We don’t pull it out over little s***
And if you catch a lick when I spit, then it won’t be a little hit
Go read a book you illiterate son of a bitch and step up yo’ vocab “

h/t Libloather


34 posted on 03/18/2014 10:16:05 AM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears ("There's always free cheese in a mousetrap." - Marine Col. Peter Martino)
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To: Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears
As CEO of a leading New York PR agency, we have represented countless hip-hop artists, including - Snoop Dogg

Snoopy Dogg Dogg is now known as Snoop Lion. Some PR firm.

35 posted on 03/18/2014 5:23:43 PM PDT by Libloather (Embrace the suck)
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

Comment #37 Removed by Moderator


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