I M Not Black Jay Z Analysis

In 2017, Jay Z released his song The Story of OJ to satirize the famous OJ Simpson quote, “ I’m not black, I’m OJ.” He uses OJ Simpson to highlight the divide between black celebrities who have “made it” and the rest of the black community. Jay Z focuses his song around the idea that no matter what a black person’s socioeconomic status is or the amount of media attention they might receive, they are still black. In other words, black people cannot dismiss their roots, regardless of where they might stand in their lives. Through his lyricism, Jay Z initiates the conversation on how the black community can break the continuous cycle of poverty. “I bought every V12 engine, Wish I could take it back to the beginnin', I coulda bought a place in Dumbo before it was Dumbo, For like two million, That same building today is worth twenty-five million, Guess how I'm feelin'?

Additionally, Jay Z refers to himself as “Dumbo” to mock his foolish past purchases on cars when he should have been buying land and buildings that would increase in value. Although the lyrics of the song are a crucial part of the project, the music video holds greater power. In the beginning of the video you see Nina Simone playing her famous song, Four Women, on the piano at a strip show. Simone's song is about the everlasting oppression black women have faced, even after slavery. Jay Z illustrates her to be saddened after a black woman's body is being broadcasted at a strip show to be exploited. He is specifically targeting black men who are spending their money at strip shows, rather than establish businesses to increase economic stability. He uses Nina Simone to highlight the issue with the sexualizsation of black female