Jay-Z Touches On Brooklyn Nets Situation In Scorching 'Open Letter'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Jay-Z just released a blistering attack track, taking aim at the critics of his controversial trip to Cuba with Beyonce.
But there were four lines of "Open Letter" that jumped out to us here at the WFAN sports desk:
"Woulda brought the Nets to Brooklyn for free/Except I made millions off of (off it?) you f------ dweeb/I still own the building, I'm still keeping my seats/Y'all buy that bulls----, y'all better keep your receipts."
OK then.
Jay-Z is reportedly selling his small stake in the Brooklyn Nets so he can become a certified player agent in the NBA.
The news isn't sitting well with some Brooklynites.
"As they say, never turn your back on where you came from, but that's what he did," Shanice Reynolds told CBS 2's Hazel Sanchez.
"I know a lot of Brooklyn is ... people are very upset that he did do it. And me, I'm hoping he knows what he's doing. I feel like he's missing a great part of great Brooklyn," said community activist Debra Cesaire.
The rap mogul wouldn't be required to sell his piece of Barclays Center, according to the New York Daily News.
Jay-Z expanded his empire into the on-field representation business with Roc Nation Sports last week, signing Yankees star Robinson Cano as his agency's first client. Cano will be co-represented by Creative Artists Agency.
Jay-Z, 43, played a large role in the Nets' move to Brooklyn. He came up with the team's black-and-white look and revealed the club's official jersey during a concert at Barclays Center in September.
The rapper also attacked critics of his recent trip to Cuba.
"Politicians never did s--- for me/except lie to me, distort history/Want to give me jail time and a fine/fine, let me commit a real crime," he raps.
The track was released Thursday on the rapper's "Life + Times" website.
DISCLAIMER: PROFANE LANGUAGE
"I appreciate his contributions -- not withstanding the words and whatever they sing so," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz.
Markowitz said he takes no offense to Jay-Z's lyrics or his decision to leave the Nets, but other community leaders did.
"I just don't like the fact that he took a jab at us but..Nonetheless, he made his money and I guess he's moving on," said City Councilwoman Letitia James.
Jay-Z's response to critics of "Open Letter" was "no comment."
Tell us how you really feel, Shawn Carter. Leave your response to the track in the comments section below ...
