Colin Kaepernick Finally Responds to Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium Freestyle: ‘I View That as Speaking to a Guilty Conscience’
The former NFL quarterback talked to NBC about his initial reaction to being mentioned by the legendary rapper.
Colin Kaepernick commented on Jay-Z referencing him during his July 2023 freestyle at Yankee Stadium. In an interview on Dateline NBC’s Before & After With Lester Holt on September 7, 2023, Kaepernick said the reference spoke to the power of people. He noted Jay-Z's backlash from partnering with the NFL in 2019 and how people are now questioning his alignment with positions contrary to public interest.
Kaepernick interpreted Jay-Z's use of his name in the freestyle as indicative of a guilty conscience, attempting to reframe the conversation. Jay-Z addressed the backlash over his Target partnership for the Reasonable Doubt vinyl, stating he received a check but also had to sign a non-disparagement clause. He expressed relief that it was Kaepernick who was brought up again, noting half a billion dollars back into the community as "good math."
NBC reported that Kaepernick’s upcoming memoir, The Perilous Fight, will not be sold at Target locations. Billboard contacted Jay-Z’s representatives for a response.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
