.

Jay-Z: Cristal Chief's Comments "Racist"

By 
June 16, 2006 1:09 PM ET

Jay-Z's 40/40 Club in New York City will no longer be serving Cristal champagne. Hova's decision to boycott hip-hop's favorite beverage is a reaction to comments made by Frederic Rouzaud, the managing director of Louis Roderer Cristal, who told The Economist that he approached rappers' constant name-checking of the brand "with curiosity and serenity" and went on to say, "What can we do?" when asked if association with the rap lifestyle could hurt the brand. Rouzaud also said, "I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business." Jay-Z responded by saying, "I view his comments as racist and will no longer support any of his products through any of my various brands." The 40/40 Club will now be exclusively carrying Dom Perignon and Krug as its high-end champagnes. This morning Roederer responded to the rapper's comments by releasing this statement: "A house like Louis Roederer would not have existed since 1776 without being totally open and tolerant to all forms of culture and art, including the most recent musical and fashion styles which -- like hip-hop -- keep us in touch with modernity." Uh-huh.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
The Essential James Brown Playlist
Music Main Next
Rufus Wainwright at Carnegie Hall: More Rainbows Than Stormy Weather

Picks From Around the Web


blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Most Popular

Photos & Videos

Go To Content

Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures

Go To Content Play Video

Video: Dave Grohl Sits in With the Rolling Stones

Go To Content

Gallery: 'Born Sinner' Series by J. Cole

Best Ever Lists
100 Greatest Singers

Other Lists

Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »