Jay-Z will exact revenge on his once-beloved Cristal Champagne at the concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of his classic album, "Reasonable Doubt," on Sunday.

We're told the rap icon will change the lyrics of some Cristal-plugging songs from "Reasonable Doubt" - "Can't Knock the Hustle," "Dead Presidents," "Feelin' It" and "Brooklyn's Finest" - when he performs them at Radio City Music Hall.

Meanwhile, the Beyoncé-dating president and CEO of Def Jam tells Page Six that he intends to stand by his decision last week to pull the pricey bubbly from his 40/40 Clubs in Manhattan and Atlantic City. "The response from our customers at 40/40 has been incredible," Jay-Z said in a statement. "This weekend, we sold more bottles of Krug and Perrier Jouet than [ever] and we expect that trend to continue. They are great products and we are glad they have embraced us with open arms."

Jay-Z spokesman Ron Berkowitz added, "You can bet that Cristal will not be in Jay's lyrics on Sunday. What will replace it, only he knows at the time, because he rhymes on the fly - so don't be surprised to hear something different."

Jay-Z popped his cork last week after Cristal honcho Federic Rouzard, the managing director of Louis Roederer Cristal, told The Economist that his company views its unsought association with the hip-hop world with "curiosity and serenity." The snooty Rouzard added, "We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business."

Jay-Z branded Rouzard's comments "racist" and vowed to "no longer support any of his products through any of his various brands, including the 40/40 Club nor in my personal life." Cristal issued a statement in a lame attempt to placate Jay-Z and others offended by Rouzard's comments: "A house like Louis Roederer would not have existed since 1776 without being totally open and tolerant to all forms of culture and art, including the most recent musical and fashion styles which - like hip-hop - keep us in touch with modernity," a company spokesman told allhiphop.com.

Source: New York Post

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Posted by Lawren at June 21, 2006 08:32 AM | Trackbacks (0)

You Said

Wow, for all the social issues / battles a celebrity could start a campaign against, he has to pick one that I, with my meager salary and lifestyle, could not support if I had the option.

I would equate this right up there with Republicans trying to create a Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage.

Dumb, waste of time, and the majority of Americans could probably care less.

Says: at June 21, 2006 10:41 AM

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It affects his livelihood/business. I think that gives him his own personal justification.

Says: Iceman at June 21, 2006 09:42 PM

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