Jay Z Helping Barneys with Advisory Council

WWD reported that Shawn "Jay Z" Carter has met with Barneys New York to give his input on an internal advisory council that will be formed around the issue of racial profiling. Jay Z also helped create new guidelines for the way the retailer interacts with the New York Police Department.

Jay Z was very vocal about wanting to be apart of the process after two black costumers were detained by the NYPD at Barneys last month. The incident also ignited a firestorm with the Rev. Al Sharpton calling for an investigation by the Attorney General. A source close to Barneys said Jay Z had a role in the advisory council and that both parties came up with it together. "There's cooperation there. The council is a work in progress. It's an internal advisory council that Jay Z is going to be a part of."

Jay Z is launching the BNY SCC Gallery and Collection for holiday at Barneys. After the incident, Barneys announced that 100 percent of all sales from the BNY SCC Collection will benefit the Shawn Carter Foundation, which provides educational opportunities to young people facing socioeconomic hardship. Orginially, only 25 percent of sales were going to be donated.

Last week Barneys released an internal memo to its store security staff saying it will begin monitoring the police as they monitor shoppers in its flagship store on Madison Ave. Police officers will be required to provide "a reasonable description of the individual or individuals that they wish to place under surveillance and the reason the police wish to place such individuals under surveillance," the memo said.

"We recognize the need to cooperate with the NYPD as they address criminal activity in our city and within our locations. However, those needs must be balanced with ensuring that the rights of individuals are respected at all times," the memo said.