Jay-Z and NFL stage first concert despite Kaepernick backlash
Rapper criticised for league deal after it shunned ex-49ers player for kneeling protest
The first musical event to come from a partnership between Jay-Z and the NFL was staged in Chicago on Thursday, with the rapper facing a backlash over the league’s treatment of the activist and former San Fransisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Roc Nation, the company founded by Jay-Z, was announced in August as the “live music entertainment strategist” for the world’s richest sports league, which is beginning its new season this weekend. The opening game, between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, was preceded by a free concert featuring Meghan Trainor and rappers Meek Mill and Rapsody.