Rappers Who May Have Sold Their Souls For A Paycheck

In the hip-hop community, selling out means changing your ways or turning your back on your roots, all in the name of success. While this was once a major faux pas for rappers, it's become a reality of today's musical climate. And so we ask: Did these rappers sell their souls for a paycheck? Black protest and the NFL have long been wrapped up together, ever since the days of all-white teams, segregated stadiums, and fan and player boycotts. In 2016, quarterback Colin Kaepernick added a new notch on the protest belt by choosing not to stand for the National Anthem ahead of a game. He later addressed his decision, stating: "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." As The Undefeated detailed, Kaepernick started a movement. Though he was essentially blackballed from the league, he inspired protests and helped people elevate a dialogue about systemic racism and police violence and brutality against black people. That's why it was such a shock when Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, rapper and icon in the black community, teamed up with the NFL. In 2019, the NFL announced a partnership with Carter. The rapper would help with the league's social justice efforts, but not everyone was thrilled with the move, according to Vox. Though Jay-Z supported Kaepernick's efforts in the past, many criticized the rapper for jumping on Kaepernick's movement without properly acknowledging it. However, Jay-Z later defended the deal by telling NBC News: "I think we've moved past kneeling...I think it's time to go into actionable items." Watch the video to see more Rappers Who May Have Sold Their Souls For A Paycheck. #JayZ #KanyeWest #NickiMinaj Jay-Z | 0:17 Black Eyed Peas | 1:24 Macklemore | 2:22 Chance the Rapper | 3:22 MC Hammer | 4:41 Ice Cube | 5:33 K'Naan | 6:30 Travis Scott | 7:32 Nicki Minaj | 8:15 Kanye West | 9:20