Jay Z strikes me as similar to Johnny Cash in that the music is in the voice of an outlaw character. That's also a big thing in Irish music, such as the song Whiskey in the Jar. Lots of musicians adopt another persona in their art. I don't think celebrating Jay Z's art necessarily means endorsing that character, any more than celebrating Cash's art means endorsing a character who'sdshoot a man just to watch him die.
You see, THIS is what being the "equalizer" of the board gets you. You make the most ridiculous claims just to try to even things out. And this is one of the most ridiculous claims I've seen on this board.
You're quite hung up on one lyric by Mr. Cash's. The aforementioned "I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die". However, let's take a look at, you guessed it, CONTEXT:
1. The song in which the lyric is performed is called "Folsom City Blues". Yes, Blues. As in, singing about sadness. Jay Z's well established message has never been about any sadness about any sort of violence, but of energy, power, and dominance. According to Jay Z, you're a b*tch if you get shot, and he's the mother f*cking greatest for doing so.. n*gga, or something to that effect. And you know I'm not exaggerating one bit when I mention these things.
2. Just after the line you referenced, Cash continues:
When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry..
Hang his head and cry? What is the sudden-gangster Cash doing here? He's showing REMORSE. I've listened to much of Jay Z's library over the years (the early stuff on purpose, the later stuff in passing), and remorse for killing someone is something Jay Z has never been about expressing. He's constantly done the polar opposite, bragging about murdering "b*tch-assed n*ggas" and "f*ggots". Oh, and those women out there? Hilary? The Obama Daughters? If you talk up you might just get hit with the strap too, b*tches. (Again, I'm not exaggerating any part of Jay Z's message).
3. I'm not sure who I'm talking to exactly, but I'm hoping, Mr. Ark, you're not completely oblivious to the nuance of music. The claim that Cash and Jay Z are some sort of parallel equals in the outline of their message would say you're completely numb to the topic, but like I said earlier, I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt, and assumed you're simply "in character" and helping us all out by being our blessed watchdog towards board equality.
I've also listened to some Johnny Cash over the years, and he and Mr. Jay Z could not be more different as far as what they express.
Cash often digs inward, breaking himself down, sings about large universal topics and does at times admit to bad deeds, but in no way encourages the behavior. His music is soft, unimposing, and clam.
Jay Z, in turn, constantly boasts and brags about his dominance over all the other "n*ggas" out there, all the women he could f*ck any time he wanted, and how he's living the high life, not sorry for anything, and doesn't really give a f*ck what you think. His music is meant to be hard, at times dancy, but always aggressive. There's a clear hard-shell exterior, with plenty of guns blazing on the attack.
So please, stop this madness Ark. Drop the character. It's making you take the dumbest positions I've ever seen.