I think that what Rouzaud said is insane. And I am glad that Jay-Z is taking a stand. However, I know that it will not make a difference to most of us. It seems as if as a people, we are more concerned about how we appear to others than how others feel about us. I cannot believe how many people I know that drink Cristal anyway. I know a sister that always has it in her fridge. Her fridge in Gary, IN. that sits inside a house that looks as a strong wind would blow it over. And lets not even talk about the amount of money we spend on our dress, hair, cell phones and cars. Just drive by any public school in any city and see how many Escalades & Lexus' pull up. Not to mention the cost of the rims in the lot. Still I know that the Ghetto Fab among us will still try to keep up with the celeb world. Even at the cost of our children, homes, and self respect. Oh, and does anyone even remember the Tommy Hilfiger comments?

I don't see how that comment is racist. Do most black people think rap, especially rap music today, represents them to the point where someone insults a rapper and that means they are insulting black people in general? I can't speak for most black people, but I don't think that way. As a black woman, if I ran a business and was asked how I felt about rappers connecting my product with exalting being shot 9 times, going to jail, and degrading women and even blacks via their song lyrics and videos...I would respond similarly to Rouzad, only more direct. I would not want to be associated with such images, no matter how much business it took away from me. You see how Lynette in particular points out how Christal is connected with the "Ghetto Fab" world, meaning that, thanks to rappers, that is the image most people have of Christal...which is probably not the image or appeal their company had in mind. They never said they didn't want blacks to buy their drink, just that they were not looking for a "Ghetto Fab" image, which I completely understand.

Once again we miss the big picture. Why is our community spending so much on a product that does not court or respect our business. All of these rappers who proudly show Cristal in their videos as a status symbol could just as easily make a black owned and controlled product popular. Out here is some struggling brother who is trying to peddle his "sweet potato flavored soda" to Walmart or some other megabuyer; and he would love to have the free advertising a video could give. Again we have not learned to use the power we have to support our own. Is there any chance Jay-Z has sought out a sister with a struggling winery to invest in or advertise? Why can't "we" make something that's "ours" and make it pay off for "us". The American culture has adopted our music and copied it for their profit; our hip hop dress and copied it for their profit. Which rappers put their money together and started their own brand of "liquor in the hood"?

I agree with Robin,
I don't think that the comment is racist at all. I would not want my business being promoted in that manner. Now I am not saying that Hip Hop is negative as a whole but there are some characteristics that are negative such as promoting something negative as alcohol anyway. Whether it is produced and manufactured by blacks or any other culture it is negative. Jay Z should use his popularity to fight for a more positive cause not boyotting some liquor manufacturer who cares.