Hillary Clinton will hold a lavish fundraiser Wednesday night at Jay-Z’s exclusive New York City nightclub The 40/40 Club, inviting well-heeled donors and attracting left-wing protesters outside the club.
The Clinton campaign will mark the grand finale of its fundraising quarter like rap royalty. Hillary Clinton, returning from a set of fundraisers in California, will appear with guests plunking down $2,700 per head for a ticket.
Occupy Wall Street activist Marni Halasa is planning a protest outside the fundraiser that will feature a performance-art piece depicting Clinton as a money-grubbing pig.
(Marni Halasa, Facebook)
Rapper Jay-Z opened The 40/40 Club in 2003 with his right-hand man Juan Perez. The 25th and Broadway Manhattan hotspot describes itself as “12,000 square feet of pure sports and entertainment in an opulent lounge setting that combines the lavish warmth of a New York City penthouse with the vivacity and glamour of courtside seats at a championship game.”
Jay-Z, who opened four additional 40/40 Clubs including in Las Vegas and Atlanta, made an apparent reference to his nightclubs in the lyrics for his song “Pray,” in which he described how his empire all began with his humble workaday first career selling crack cocaine.
“Mind state of a gangster from the ’40s, meet the vicious mind of Motown’s Berry Gordy, turn crack rocks into a chain of 40/40’s,” Jay-Z declares in the song.
Jay-Z mentioned one of his past interactions with Clinton in his guest lyrics for the Kendrick Lamar song “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” in which the rapper recalled being seated next to the former Secretary of State while smelling of marijuana.
“Sittin’ next to Hillary smelling like dank,” Jay-Z said.
The nightclub’s interior represents the height of hip-hop luxury.
“The multi-level space includes a custom 20’ x 20’ illuminated resin top bar encircling an 18-foot tall illuminated champagne tower,” according to the club website. “Supple leather upholstered wall paneling, custom walnut millwork with smoked bronze mirrors, and plush lounge banquets make the space feel luxurious. A large marble stepped arena style seating area can accommodate guests with a wonderful view of the 4 165in state-of-the-art video walls. A new second floor ‘catwalk’ allows guests to circumnavigate the ‘scene’, and relax at the semi private second floor mezzanine bar and seating area. The space also includes over 30 55in flat screen monitors and a one-of-a-kind jersey hall of fame featuring the 40/40 club members.”
The club rents out space for private events in its five VIP (“Very Important Person”) lounges, including a “Player’s Lounge,” an “Owner’s Suite,” and an intentionally misspelled “Elit Lounge.”
“Upstairs there are 5 VIP Lounges available to guests for all types of private events,” the website states. “Two of the lounges, Private Lounge 1 and Private Lounge 2, are fully equipped with luxurious bespoke lounge seating encircling a custom billiard table, 2 – 55in screen HD televisions, a custom chandelier, cerused oak paneling with silver leaf detailing, and stately wood floors. Both rooms come fully equipped with state-of-the-art independent audio and visual systems including an iPod dock.”
President Obama previously held a fundraiser at the 40/40 Club in September 2012 with both Jay-Z and Beyonce.
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