Jay-Z Lands One Of The Covers Of July’s Vanity Fair

Jay-Z has landed one of the 20 covers for Vanity Fair’s July issue, which was edited by U2’s Bono. Allhiphop.com reports that the special 20-cover issue of the magazine is dedicated to focusing on the plight of Africa. Some of the other celebrities who landed their own covers are Muhammad Ali, Oprah Winfrey, Madonna, Warren Buffett, George W. Bush, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, and Bill and Melinda Gates. The covers were all shot by Annie Leibovitz.

Bono selected Jay-Z because he toured Africa last year and went out of his way to bring attention to the water crisis. The rapper’s journey was captured in the MTV documentary, titled The Diary of Jay-Z : Water for Life.

Following the trip to Africa, Jay-Z said, "In my business, we like to say we’re from the hood, we’re not in the hood. By no means. Not even close."

The Vanity Fair issue also features the debut of a new print advertising campaign for Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons’non-profit Diamond Empowerment Fund (D.E.F.). The organization’s goal is to raise money for educational programs to uplift the people and communities of Africa.

Vanity Fair has pledged to donate $5 to the Global Fund To Fight AIDS for everyone who purchases a subscription online to Vanity Fair during the month of June.