BROOKLYN, New York — It’s been seven years since Jay-Z announced he was bringing the New Jersey Nets back home to New York during his 2003 “Fade To Black Concert” at Madison Square Garden. On Thursday (March 11), Nets co-owner Hov, an assortment of New York politicians and executives from the Nets came to Brooklyn for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the team’s future home, the Barclays Center.
During the conference, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz also hinted he wanted Jay-Z to convince LeBron James to play for the Nets when he goes into free agency this summer. The Jiggaman innocently shook his head no as if he didn’t know what he was talking about and put his hands up.
Finally, Hov himself came to the podium.
“What I stand here and represent is hope for Brooklyn, New York City. I’m a son of Brooklyn, I’m from Marcy projects.” Jay said. “I think about growing up in Brooklyn in the Marcy projects and shooting jump shots, thinking I can make it to the NBA. Now I stand here as an owner of team that’s coming back to Brooklyn. The pride in that, and bringing that dream so much closer for people, brings me so much pride I get a little nervous about it. But I’m very happy, very excited about this day. And we did it again Brooklyn — shout out to [Notorious] B.I.G.”
After the conference, Jay-Z and company officially broke ground, breaking out the hard hats and lightly shoveling dirt. The confetti rained down.
“It was a long process,” Jay said after the ceremony, with his “Empire State of Mind” playing in the background. “It’s a sensitive one. I’m from the people. I’m for the people. I could never be opposed to the side of the people. But this project, when you look at the numbers at the end of the day, was so overwhelmingly in favor of the people: the job creation, the housing that’s being built. It was difficult; you had to tread through that process lightly. But we’re here, it’s a fantastic day and it’s a celebration. It’s a beautiful day in Brooklyn and the hope that’s represented — on a small scale — is the same I felt when I saw Obama run for president: That we can be a part of something so grand.”
Via MTV.
they still gon suck
LOL!!!
^^agreed.
i watched this today, live. and while they are completely in dreamland on thinking they could grab lebron, they do have a good starting base in the mold of the current bucks/bulls.
but aside from that, how big of a look is that for jay-z and hip hop in general? THATS AMAZING. that’s something alot of people should aspire to do. be more than a club/drug/guns/dance move rapper. set things in place to build yourself up to be more. cuz right now, you could argue that jay-z may be the most important person in hip hop ever(not named russell).
The Knicks will always be #1 in NYC. You can’t beat Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, like Yankee stadium always being more historical than Shea/Citi field.
The only people I see abandoning the Knicks & becoming Nets fans are fairweather fans only if the Nets become more successful than the Knicks in the future. Kinda like in the 80′s when people became Mets fans cuz they won & the Yankees sucked, then in the 90′s everyone switched to the Yankees again. Those people are faggots & shouldn’t root for a team in the 1st place.
They have won 7 games this year..lol Who cares Hov? Who cares?
Nas loses gain!
1st lost the war to Hov
2nd lost to Kelis, he owes her child support
3rd lost to the IRS
4th lost to Hov again
^again*
This has shit to do with Nas u lil stan. Props to hov for helping dreams happen
^LOL, i know that.
bout time!
PushBeatsDOTcom
lol at “for the people.” Maaan we all know this is about the money he can make off his own people. Dude will always think about himself over the rest. Call it a “hustler’s mentality” or whatever but this is one nigga i do not trust. And in all honesty i think dude has done more to hurt the black culture than anything.
He can make some good music though.
*”… on a small scale — is the same I felt when I saw Obama run for president: That we can be a part of something so grand.”*
Yeah, Joe Camal’s in this for self.
And the Obama reference – it was cool an all when Obama was promising the moon & the sky during the campaign…we’ve all now figured out the hard way that was all talk and everyone was duped. This will be an epic fail too.
lolz the negro get a pass for that one huh?
I’m more interested in 50 investing in mineral mines in Africa.
Amazingly enough I am a nets fan dating back to the Derrick coleman ,Kenny Anderson era. It’s been a long time but I am most def excited!! I was tired of goin to the swamp to watch my team!!!
“you know.. you know.. you know.. you know.. ”
Jay Z
this is pointless get to the music
jay has always been a faggot for moves like this. if you think it isnt all for personal gain you’re clueless. fucking sell out.
no wonder his music has been on a huge fucking decline since the debut
God DAMN, the hate. If you watched the ground breaking ceremony, the Nets VP talked about all that Jay-Z has done to make this happen. Why do I keep reading these crab ass comments? Same niggas, over and over again.
^^^ Where do you live? If you don’t live in the 5 boroughs and see what’s going on with the housing market where there’s nothing but high priced condos being built and moving out the middle class out of NY, causing a complete gentrification of all neighborhoods, then shut your fucking face. If you do live in the boroughs and don’t see what’s going on, then you need to get informed son.
This project is going to disenfranchise and displace hundreds of Brooklyn residents just in the vicinity of the arena. Jay and the people behind this project are part of an elite group of people that don’t give a shit about anyone that’s not apart of their club. The problem is that people don’t try to see the bigger picture of what’s going on and it’s creates a business as usual policy.
good job arguing your point as to why its just “hate” BRO.
“^^^ Where do you live? If you don’t live in the 5 boroughs and see what’s going on with the housing market where there’s nothing but high priced condos being built and moving out the middle class out of NY, causing a complete gentrification of all neighborhoods, then shut your fucking face. If you do live in the boroughs and don’t see what’s going on, then you need to get informed son.
This project is going to disenfranchise and displace hundreds of Brooklyn residents just in the vicinity of the arena. Jay and the people behind this project are part of an elite group of people that don’t give a shit about anyone that’s not apart of their club. The problem is that people don’t try to see the bigger picture of what’s going on and it’s creates a business as usual policy.”
I don’t live in NY. I don’t like Jay-z. But I was ready to agree with yomakshthsadfj, the 2nd comment. That he has been the only successful rapper that has branched out, aside from 50 with his movies, water, sneakers, and games.
After ready that, it is true that this is going to happen. Same shit is happening in Philly for the casinos being built here.
Should sign Obama to a 10-day.
i say they should have brought the Nets back to their original spot, long island, when Dr J played for them in the ABA days…and yeah, Nets will STILL suck!
Is this somehow part of his Illuminati plan to move blacks out of the city and replace them with the white upper class?
I’m surprised I haven’t seen any bullshit like that yet…
^^^^Nah, that’s phase 2… this is just phase 1.. lol
this guy should work on his public speaking…whatever he said makes no sense
hedosball.tumblr.com
Congrats Hov! fuck all these hatin niggas yo
All I know is that New York may have some basketball to look forward to. If the Knicks make some more moves, and the Nets get reworked and move to Brooklyn I might like NY basketball again.