Jay-Z's Five Percent Affiliation Questioned by Prominent Member of the Organization
Jay-Z's affiliation with the Five Percent Nation is being questioned by a prominent member of the religious organization.
This member named Born Justice Allah commented on the rapper's recent activity including his choice to wear one their more sacred symbols on a chain at a Nets game earlier this month.
"Some of us don't know if Jay-Z is a Five Percenter," said Born Justice Allah to The Source magazine. "He should have some kind of influence from some of the Five Percenters in his area' cause he grew up in Brooklyn. Brooklyn, as we call Medina was heavily influenced back in the 60s. So I'm not gonna say he's not a Five Percenter but I can't say he is either until I talk with him."
Jay-Z's affiliation with the religious group began when he sported its Universal Flag pendant to a radio interview at Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club last year. He popped up sporting the same symbol at a recent Nets game and rapped about some of the group's mythology in a few of his recent songs including "Heaven" from Magna Carta Holy Grail album and his "We Made It" freestyle.
Five Percent teachings have been a staple in the hip-hop community since the late '80s and early '90s. Artists such as the Wu Tang Clan, Nas, Mobb Deep and Rakim used the group's terminology and teachings in their songs. Jay-Z rarely ever referred to Five Percent knowledge in his early career. His religious beliefs are a bit unclear, but he did confess to believing in one God during a Hot 97 interview a few years back.
He's also worn both Christian and Satanist shirts during different appearances and in music videos.