Russell Simmons Defends JAY-Z Over ‘4:44′ Lyric Deemed Anti-Semitic

JAY-Z spits a lot of game on his platinum-selling album, 4:44. On “Story of O.J.,” the rap mogul talked about black ownership and wealth. However, one lyric on the track has been deemed anti-Semitic by a few in the Jewish community.

“You wanna know what’s more important than throwin’ away money at a strip club? / Credit/ You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America? This how they did it,” raps JAY-Z on the song.

Amid the criticism, former Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons has stepped in to defend Hov’s line and insist that Hov wasn’t being negative to the Jewish community. He tweeted:

Madonna's manager Guy Oseary also spoke out and defended JAY-Z's lyric on the song, explaining that the rap vet was simply exaggerating the stereotype of Jewish people being savvy business people who maintain generational wealth. You can read Oseary's message below.

What do you think about JAY-Z's song "Story of O.J."? Tell us in the comments below.