Jay-Z and O.J.: Sport and the Performance of Race in Hip-Hop Music

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the symbolic messaging in hip-hop music as it relates to the lived experiences and realities of Black Americans in the United States. The study examined the song and music video titled “The Story of O.J.,” by hip-hop artist Jay-Z to gain a better understanding of how Jay-Z interpreted the impact of Black Americans’ lived experiences in the United States on their identity and ability to progress economically and socially, regardless of social standing, within subcultures such as sport. Employing a content analysis method, data were collected and analyzed using critical race theory. The results of the analysis of lyrical and video data identified three major themes: (a) battle with Blackness, (b) economic enslavement and financial freedom, and (c) systematic subjugation.

The U.S. Government's Program of Welfare for the Wealthy

“…The marketing concession that two distinct cultural grouping within the target audience of the United States might perceive the anthem in very different manners, incorporates the marketing logic of coopetition into sporting ritual displays as the same game. Teams will compete under the same league rules while it is left to consumer choice how to consume and perceive the respective duality of anthem performances perceived very differently in the collective memories of African American versus White consumers (Northcutt, Henderson, and Chicoski 2020;.…”

Through the Decades: Critical Race Theory and Pathways Forward in Sport Sociology Research

“…Thus, in this case, and with other studies (e.g., Knoester & Ridpath, 2021;Shaw et al, 2019), CRT was influential in situating the study within the broader discussion of racism, racial inequities, and systemic power differentials. Northcutt et al (2020) provide an example of how CRT has been utilized to analyze data. The scholars described incorporating the framework, noting, "Using components of CRT to analyze Jay-Z's perceptions of the Black experience, themes emerged that highlighted the battle with Blackness, economic enslavement and financial freedom, and systemic subjugation" (Northcutt et al, 2020, p. 202).…”

“…Within this decade, five articles and one book review incorporating CRT focused specifically on Black populations (Book et al, 2023;Frederick et al, 2022;Northcutt et al, 2020;Smith & Hattery, 2020;Williams, 2020). Book et al (2023) published an autoethnography of three researchers (two white and one Black); however, the reflections were of their experiences researching with Black youth in sport settings.…”