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Jay-Z & Vic Mensa Demolish D.C. For '4:44' Tour
Jay-Z & Vic Mensa Demolish D.C. For '4:44' Tour
Photo Credit: Vickey Ford for Okayplayer

Jay-Z On Harry Belafonte Feud: "I Wish I Hadn't Said What I Said Then"

Jay-Z & Vic Mensa Demolish D.C. For '4:44' Tour Photo Credit: Vickey Ford for Okayplayer

Although Jay-Z and Harry Belafonte's feud from several years ago has ended and the two have made up, the Brooklyn rapper wishes that the situation had been handled differently than how it played out.

READ: Jay-Z's Made In America Festival Will Stay In Philadelphia

Speaking with the New York Times in light of his soon-to-be-released documentary series Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story, Jay-Z discussed his role as an activist. During the interview, the rapper touched on his previous feud with Belafonte.

"That narrative that this is something new for me — I get it, I understand, because now you see my name on the doc. But I've been doing this for a long time," Jay-Z said. "...Big B and I, we had a conversation shortly after. I've been to his house, we've talked many times. I don't know how far he wants this to go out. I don't know if he's ever spoken about it, so I won't speak too much in detail. But we had brilliant conversations after this."

"I wish I hadn't said [what I said then] because again, he's someone who's done so much work and I feel like what I felt about what he said should have been taken care of in-house, because we could've straightened each other out with a phone call without being on the record, or being on a record," he added.

The feud came about after a comment Belafonte made in regards to celebrities turning their back on social responsibility, with the activist calling out Jay-Z and Beyoncé in his comment.

Following that, the rapper addressed the comments in his song "Nickles And Dimes" as well as discussed it during an interview with Elliot Wilson. Jay-Z ended up facing criticism for the interview, where he declared that his "presence is charity."

Recently, Jay-Z's Made in America music festival faced being relocated after Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney announced he wouldn't allow the festival to continue at Benjamin Franklin Parkway. However, the annual festival will remain in the city.

Source: New York Times