(AllHipHop News) Rapper Nas is raising funds for a criminal justice reform initiative by selling ugly Christmas sweaters featuring a kneeling Santa.
The “I Can” hitmaker, real name Nasir Jones, has taken inspiration from American footballer Colin Kaepernick’s ongoing Black Lives Matter protest and featured Father Christmas taking a stand on his new line of festive clothing.
The red, black, and green sweaters will be sold by Nas’ HSTRY brand, with some of the proceeds benefiting The Center for Court Innovation in the star’s native New York City.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kaepernick first decided to take a knee during the U.S. National Anthem at the start of pre-season games to draw attention to the mounting deaths of African-Americans at the hands of white police officers, which sparked activism across the U.S. earlier this year.
A number of African-American sportsmen have also since followed Kaepernick’s lead to bring awareness to the cause.
Nas isn’t the first rapper to cash in on the popularity of ugly Christmas sweaters.
Last year, 2 Chainz capitalized on the dance craze the dab and created a range of Dabbing Santa merchandise, which raised $2 million for his TRU Foundation, which helped him give back to his local community in Atlanta, Georgia.
He has expanded his Christmas clothing line for 2016, and he has appealed to fans to help him “change some lives”.
“If you have a situation or know a family who’s in a bad place… you can submit stories on my website 2chainzshop.com,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’m looking for families to help. Each sweater SOLD is going to help a family.”
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