Jay Z is set to get a lesson about the Occupy Wall Street movement from rap mogul Russell Simmons after the hip-hop star admitted he has no idea what the activists are fighting for.
The 99 Problems rapper recently hit headlines when he confessed he did not understand the anti-big business protest, which spread worldwide last year (11), insisting "free enterprise" should not be seen in a negative light.
Leaders of the movement now plan to stage a demonstration outside the star's concert in Brooklyn, New York on 28 September (12), but Simmons, who is a vocal supporter of Occupy Wall Street, is hoping to get the message across to the rapper himself.
In a post on his Globalgrind.com website, he writes, "As a person who cares deeply about Occupy Wall Street, I have to honour their year-long effort and educate my long-time friend, Jay Z...
"If he understood it and endorsed the movement, it would make a big difference to poor people. As the same man that said he would pay more taxes if it helped educate more children and create affordable healthcare, Jay Z's words matter.
"He was honest enough to say that he didn't understand it. A lot of Americans don't... I know in his heart he gets it. I know he is a compassionate person who cares about the poor, so I'm certain if I had two more minutes with him, I could change his mind."