From Newsday
BY GLENN GAMBOA | Newsday Staff Writer
Posted June 15, 2006

Jay-Z has launched a hip-hop boycott of Cristal, the high-end champagne that he and many other rappers have praised in their rhymes for years, after reading comments from the managing director of the Cristal brand's parent company.

"It has come to my attention that the managing director of Cristal, Frederic Rouzaud, views the hip-hop culture as 'unwelcome attention,'" Jay-Z said in a statement. "I view his comments as racist and will no longer support any of his products through any of my various brands including The 40/40 Club nor in my personal life."

Jay-Z, as well as Sean Combs, Snoop Dogg and dozens of other rappers, have extolled the virtues of Cristal for years, making references to the champagne in their lyrics as commonplace as showing off bottles during their MTV "Cribs" episodes. Hip-hop events in recent years have stocked Cristal, which usually sells for anywhere between $100 and $1,000 a bottle."

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