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Jay Z spoke up about his controversy with iconic singer and social activist, Harry Belafonte.

The beef started with Belafonte’s statement to The Hollywood Reporter accusing both Jay Z and his wife, Beyonce, of turning their back on social responsibility. Jay, not known for biting his tongue, fired back at Belafonte in the song “Nickels and Dimes” from his latest album “Magna Carta Holy Grail.”

Beyond that, here’s what Jay Z had to say when asked to expound on his stance:

“Yeah I’m offended by that because first of all…this is going to sound arrogant…but my presence is charity, just because of who I am. Just like Obama’s[Barack] is. Obama provides hope. Whether he does anything the hope that he provides for a nation and outside of America is enough. You know what I’m saying? Just being who he is. You’re the first black president. If he speaks on any issue or anything, he should be left alone. No, I’m not going to say anything bad about him. Of course we want to challenge him to do better but Belafonte went about [it] the wrong way. The way he did it within the media and then he bigged-up Bruce Springsteen. It was like woo, you just sent the wrong message like all around…You just bigged-up the white guy against me in the white media. I’m not saying that in a racial way. I’m saying what it is the fact of what it was. – JAY Z ”

(Photo: AP and PRPhotos)

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