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Hip-Hopcracy: Jay-Z’s ‘Occupy All Streets’ Shirts Scandal

By April MacIntyre Nov 13, 2011, 4:56 GMT

11/09/2011 - Jay-Z - 2011 Victoria\'s Secret Fashion Show - Runway and Performance - Lexington Avenue Armory - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Occupy Wall Street or OWS protested abuses in Capitalism, inequality and gross salary inequities, the lingering effects of the financial crisis and economic stagnation, bankruptcy rates of middle-class people swamped by medical debt and the seemingly bottomless fall in home values.

However, insanely rich rapper turned entrepreneur Jay-Z's Rocawear company found an opportunity to sell ‘Occupy All Streets’ Shirts, receiving massive complaints.

Gawker reports Jay-Z was wearing am OWS shirt backstage with another hip hop mogul, Russell Simmons.

DListed.com got a picture of Jay-Z and the shirts.

Simmons allegedly tweeted that Jay-Z's wardrobe choice "took #OccupyWallStreet to a whole new level."

The rub was that Rocawear refused to give one penny to the OWS cause.

Rocawear sent Gawker a statement confirming there's no plan to distribute any of the profits to Occupy Wall Street:

    The 'Occupy All Streets' T shirt was created in support of the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement. Rocawear strongly encourages all forms of constructive expression, whether it be artistic, political or social. 'Occupy All Streets' is our way of reminding people that there is change to be made everywhere, not just on Wall Street. At this time we have not made an official commitment to monetarily support the movement.

On Saturday, Gawker reported that the OWS shirts vanished from the Rocawear site.