Jay Z
Rapper Jay-Z has received some stick in the past, but the new criticisms over his new video seem to be rather bizarre. And Jay-Z can't believe some of the outrageous slurs he has heard over his personal life, as online critics likened the music video to "devil worship"
Jay-Z has dismissed the murmurs as "silly" and "ignorant." The video features ram skills, black crows and dark imagery causing the hip-hop legend to come under fire over the promo for single, "On to the Next One."
He tells U.S. radio station Hot 97, "I don't know where it started. I don't know where it came from. I really think it's really silly. For the record, I of course believe in God, but I believe in one God. If people must know my religious beliefs, I believe in one God. I don't believe in religion. I don't believe in Christians or Muslims. I think all that separates people. I think it's one God. I think it's all the same God, and I don't believe in Hell.
"Am I a part of some sect or cult? That sounds stupid to me. It's ignorant to even say, and I guess that'll be the last time I address that. It's ignorant to me."
And Jay-Z's collaborator, Swizz Beatz, who features in the song, has backed the star - insisting critics are wrong to read too much into a music promo.
He adds, "The video displays another level of art and creativity from two great minds: the director and Jay - and myself, bringing the collaboration together.
"There's no satanic ways around me and that's for sure. I'm with Jay - I never see none of that stuff around him unless he's hiding something, which I doubt. That's silly stuff"
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