Cold Shoulder: When Musicians Participate in Boycotts

From Stevie Wonder to Jay-Z these stars took a stand.

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Musicians Boycott - In reaction to the recent acquittal of Trayvon Martin's accused murderer, George Zimmerman, several high profile celebrities have expressed their distaste of the official outcome. Specifically, music legend Stevie Wonder expressed that he will be boycotting Florida and all other states that enforce the controversial Stand Your Ground law. In light of Wonder's recent bold announcement, here is a roundup of other high profile musicians who have participated in boycotts of their own in the past.(Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for BET)

Good Deeds - Kanye West hits the stage in a black leather kilt and hoodie to perform at "12-12-12," a concert benefiting The Robin Hood Relief Fund to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy. The concert, which aired on HBO was presented by Clear Channel Media & Entertainment, The Madison Square Garden Company and The Weinstein Company and held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

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Kanye Boycotts Arizona Immigration Law - Kanye West, known for his brash and outspoken demeanor, was one of several musicians who protested Arizona's controversial immigration law. The Arizona measure requires immigrants in the state to carry documents verifying their immigration status.(Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Best Live Performer: Jay Z - As if he needed more accolades on his lengthy résumé, Jay Z added another history making tour to it in 2013. Co-headlining the 14-city Legends of Summer concert tour with Justin Timberlake put the Hov in stadiums from Toronto to Miami. Fans watched the hip hop mogul raise the bar for his competitors by turning a hip hop show into a sophisticated affair night after night. (Photo: Andrew Benge/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Hov Boycotts Cristal Bubbly - Before Ace of Spades became the bubbly of choice for the hip hop elite, Cristal held that title. Once a vocal advocate for the champagne distributor, Jay-Z decided to boycott Cristal over comments from Frederic Rouzaud, managing director of Cristal's production company.When asked if the association between Cristal and the "bling lifestyle" of the hip hop community could be detrimental, Rouzaud said, "We can't forbid people from buying it. I'm sure Dom Perignon or Krug would be delighted to have their business." (Photo: Andrew Benge/Redferns via Getty Images)

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Mos Def Also Boycotts Arizona - Joining the likes of fellow musician Kanye West, actor and conscious rapper Mos Def (who now goes by Yasiin Bey) joined the Sound Strike protest against Arizona's immigration law.(Photo: Johnny Louis/WENN.com)

"Rewind" - Nas told the story of a murder in the 'hood backwards on his track "Rewind" from Stillmatic. It would have been ill seeing a visual with the story being told from ending to beginning, too. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Nas Boycotts Hot 97 - Hip hop great Nas boycotted Hot 97's Summer Jam in 2002 after being declined when he asked to perform a Jay-Z diss. After declaring that he "wouldn't sell out," he decided that he would not attend the concert. The Queens MC made his return to the Summer Jam stage 10 years later.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Photo By Kevin Winter/Getty Images

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50 Cent and Bad Boy - Soon after he was shot nine times in 2000, 50 Cent had a meeting with Diddy to discuss writing for him and possibly even signing to Bad Boy at some point. However, when Puff, who was dealing with his own Club New York shooting case at the time, saw that a paranoid 50 was carrying a Mac-10, he reportedly backed off.(Photos: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

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50 Cent Boycotts Diddy - Yes, 50 Cent boycotted a person! Claiming that he was tired of Diddy "disrespecting" the name and legacy of Notorious B.I.G., in 2010 the "Candy Shop" rapper created a petition to stop the mogul from allegedly exploiting B.I.G. once and for all.(Photos: Scott Gries/Getty Images)

Legendary - Inductees of the 28th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy perform onstage at the induction ceremony at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live  in Los Angeles. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Public Enemy Boycotts the Grammys - Historic hip hop group Public Enemy boycotted the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards in 1991 after claiming that their album Fear of a Black Planet, which was nominated for best rap performance, was snubbed, after being nominated for the third time, due to racism.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Jay-Z Boycotts the Grammys - Hov decided not to attend the Grammy Awards ceremony in 2002 after claiming that fellow rapper DMX was snubbed."I didn't think they gave the rightful respect to hip hop," he said. "DMX had an incredible album in 1999. He didn't get a nomination. I was like, 'Nah, that's crazy!'"(Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff - From kicking it on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to rapping about the awesomeness of summer, these two have risen to fame together. Though Will has become a household name and DJ Jazzy Jeff has kept a lower profile throughout the years, the two have managed to maintain that brotherly bond like nothing's changed. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images) 

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Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff Boycott the Grammys - The riff that the hip hop community has with the Grammys first came to light in 1989. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith), the first rap act to ever win a Grammy, refused to attend the 1989 ceremony in protest of the hip hop portion of the show not being televised.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" -  \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \r \rRecorded once on 1970's Small Talk at 125th and Lenox, and used again on his follow up LP, "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was also sampled by Masta Ace on "Take a Look Around," Queen Latifah's "The Evil That Men Do," Salt-N-Pepa's "Whatta Man Luvbug Remix 1" and Professor Griff's "Real African People 'Rap,' Pt. 2." \r(Pho...

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Gil Scott-Heron Boycotts Israel - Respected poet, musician and author, the late Gil Scott-Heron canceled his 2010 Israel tour date after stating in a lengthy monologue that he "hated war." Scott-Heron is also very well known for being a leading voice in protesting and further boycotting apartheid in South Africa.(Photo: Anna Webber/Getty Images)

Harry Belafonte - Harry Belafonte served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and then went on to attend The New School for Social Research in New York City using his GI Bill benefits.(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

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Harry Belafonte: Montgomery Bus Boycott - Legendary actor, musician and social activist Harry Belafonte partnered with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to organize the now historical Montgomery Bus Boycott. Their relationship began with Belafonte giving financial advice to King, and as time progressed, they became immensely close friends.(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)