{
  "id": 5193898,
  "title": "Colin Kaepernick Finally Responds to Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium Freestyle: ‘I View That as Speaking to a Guilty Conscience’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/colin-kaepernick-finally-responds-to-jay-zs-yankee-stadium-freestyle",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-02T23:05:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Billboard",
    "slug": "billboard",
    "url": "https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/colin-kaepernick-responds-jay-z-yankee-stadium-freestyle-1236331837/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "The former NFL quarterback talked to NBC about his initial reaction to being mentioned by the legendary rapper.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}