Jay-Z and Pharrell Williams have released their collaborative new song, ‘Entrepreneur’.
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The Neptunes are credited with production on the song, which is out today (August 21).
“In this position with no choice, the system imprison young Black boys, distract with white noise,” Pharrell says on one verse, while Jay-Z asks: “Black Twitter, what’s that? When Jack gets paid, do you?”, referencing Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey.
He later adds: “For every one Gucci, support two FUBU’s.”
‘Entrepreneur’ arrived with a music video, which spotlights Black entrepreneurs, creatives and business owners around the world. Tyler, the Creator and Insecure creator Issa Rae appear in the clip. It also pauses for a moment of silence for Nipsey Hussle, the influential California rapper and entrepreneur who was shot dead last year.
Watch it below:
The song arrives alongside a cover package Williams has worked on with TIME magazine. Called ‘The New American Revolution’, the package includes interviews with Tyler, The Creator, Angela Davis and more following the global Black Lives Matter movement this summer. TIME have described the song as “a celebration of Black ambition.”
Speaking about the song to TIME, Williams said ‘Entrepreneur’ is about “how tough it is to be an entrepreneur in our country to begin with. Especially as someone of colour, there’s a lot of systemic disadvantages and purposeful blockages.
“How can you get a fire started, or even the hope of an ember to start a fire, when you’re starting at disadvantages with regards to health care, education, and representation?”
Williams added: “The song is trying to communicate that when we stick together, treat each other better and welcome each other, there’s more money and more opportunity for everyone.”
TIME adds that the magazine issue will explore “the systemic inequalities that Black people have faced throughout United States’ history, and how a more equitable future might be achieved across policy, medicine, culture, sports and education.”
“This is a very special moment,” Williams said during his speech. “From this moment on when you look up, you look at the vastness of the night sky, and you see those stars moving up there—know that those stars are our African ancestors dancing.
“They’re dancing in celebration because their lives are finally being acknowledged. And I can’t say it too many times up here today, a paid holiday. It’s not the end of it. It’s merely just the beginning. Their lives matter. Their descendants’ lives matter. Black lives matter in the eyes of the commonwealth.”
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