Jay Z once bragged about having President Barack Obama “on the text,” but it seems he would rather stay quiet about President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday (Jan. 25), Hov spoke with reporters at Sundance about his Spike documentary series “TIME: The Kalief Browder Story,” but dodged a question about the nation’s new administration and what it could mean for mass incarceration.
Jigga, who campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the presidential race, simply shut down the reporter’s question and ended the interview. “We’re not gonna answer that,” he said, before walking away. Studio executive Harvey Weinstein, Jay Z’s partner in various film projects, also added: “This is a labor of love for Jay and I. We’re here to talk about that and nothing else.”
In a panel interview at the film festival, Jay Z opened up about “TIME,” noting that it was a conversation with President Obama that helped spark the six-part documentary series.
“The conversation with Obama, then these guys brought me this story,” he said. “Me and Harvey just signed our partnership. Everything just started happening in a way where I was like, he’s a prophet. His life was meant to make sure that other kids don’t have to go through the same thing.”
Jay Z speaking at Sundance Film Festival 2017 for the premiere of ‘Time: The Kalief Browder Story’
During his interview with The Associated Press, Jay also discussed the project in more detail.
“His story will save a lot of lives,” he said. “What was done to him was a huge injustice. People will see his story and realize this is going on…This is happening a lot, especially in places where I come from.”
In November, during a concert in support of Clinton, Jay discussed his feelings on Trump without using his name.
“I want to grow up in a world,” he said, “where our daughter has no limitation. She feels like she can be whatever she wants to be in the world. This other guy [referring to Donald Trump], I don’t have no ill will towards him, but his conversation is divisive and that’s not an evolved soul to me so he cannot be my president. He cannot be our president. Once you divide us, you weaken us. We’re stronger together.”
“TIME: The Kalief Browder Story” is set to premiere March 1 on Spike. Watch the trailer below.