The rapper Jay-Z (above) was criticized Friday by a major American Jewish organization for lyrics in one of his songs that appear to promote anti-Semitic stereotypes

The rapper Jay-Z was criticized Friday by a major American Jewish organization for lyrics in one of his songs that appear to promote anti-Semitic stereotypes.

The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that monitors bigotry in the United States and abroad, voiced its objection to a line from a song on Jay-Z’s new album.

The lyric from ‘The Story of O.J.,’ the second track from Jay-Z’s latest studio album titled 4:44 reads: ‘You wanna know what's more important than throwin' away money at a strip club? Credit/You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America? This how they did it.’

The ADL says that line about Jews ‘owning all the property’ reinforces age-old stereotypes related to supposed Jewish control of finance.

'We do not believe it was Jay-Z's intent to promote anti-Semitism,' an ADL official told Rolling Stone.

‘On the contrary, we know that Jay-Z is someone who has used his celebrity in the past to speak out responsibly and forcefully against the evils of racism and anti-Semitism.

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The lyric from the ‘The Story of O.J.,’ the second track from Jay-Z’s latest studio album titled 4:44 (above) reads: ‘You wanna know what's more important than throwin' away money at a strip club? Credit/ You ever wonder why Jewish people own all the property in America? This how they did it’

'[But] the lyric does seem to play into deep-seated anti-Semitic stereotypes about Jews and money.

‘The idea that Jews “own all the property” in this country and have used credit to financially get ahead are odious and false.

‘Yet, such notions have lingered in society for decades, and we are concerned that this lyric could feed into preconceived notions about Jews and alleged Jewish “control” of the banks and finance.’

A representative for Jay-Z has yet to publicly comment on the matter, but friends of the hip hop star whose real name is Shawn Carter dismiss any suggestions that he harbors anti-Jewish sentiment.

Russell Simmons, the entrepreneur and hip hop mogul who co-founded Def Jam Records, said Jay-Z was merely paying a compliment to the Jewish community’s sound financial practices.

‘Mischief makers would like to take Jay's statements about the culture and practices that exist within some parts of the Jewish community (notice I say some),’ Simmons wrote on his Facebook page.

‘The fact is this culture that promotes good business and financial well-being is and has been a guiding light to the black and specifically the hip-hop community.

‘From music to film, television, fashion, technology and financial services, the hip-hop community including myself have partnered with Jews where there were no blacks to partner with.

Russell Simmons (left), the entrepreneur and hip hop mogul who co-founded Def Jam Records, and Guy Oseary (right), Madonna's manager, said Jay-Z was merely paying a compliment to the Jewish community’s sound financial practices

‘The wasps and other ethnicities didn't lift a finger.

‘It was blacks and Jews creating new opportunity and new wealth…Jay-Z was celebrating that bond that was built when no other community gave and continues to give us as much support in our fight for liberation in this very white country.’

Guy Oseary, Madonna’s manager who is also an acquaintance of Jay-Z, echoed similar sentiments.

'If you read the lyrics out of context I can understand why people are jumping to that conclusion,’ Oseary wrote on his Instagram.

‘But if you listen to the song in its entirety you will hear that the whole of the song is based on exaggerated stereotypes to make a point.

‘In my opinion, Jay is giving the Jewish community a compliment.’

Opinion on social media, however, was more negative.