CNN

"Rap fans who succeeded in scoring tickets on Friday morning or through concert pre-sales are already hawking their seats for even higher prices on other Web sites."

Are they really "rap fans"? Or just ticket scalpers?

How is this helping PE Obama? Jay-Z should have held a free concert. He certainly doesn't need the money. However, it is every one's right to spend as they chose.

Strong and anyother Nay-sayer
Get a grip! What does Jay-Z charging for his concert have to do with Obama. You might as well get mad at Obama for the airlines, hotels, motels, taxis, memoribilia peddlers, club owners, event locations and planners who are charging a preimium for an event as they always do for everything else. I could see if Obama himself was demading the money but he isn't and for the record Jay-Z held a dozen or so free get out the vote concerts during the election season as did many other music aertist Like the Boss. Grow up. Your blinding buy your hate that if the weather was perfect you'd be mad at Obama for it. I take great comfert in knowing that you will be consumed by your hatred and baseless anger....RIP

JAY-Z! What a freak of nature!

Looks like a lot of people are going to make a nice profit off of this inauguration. Hollywood claims that Republicans only help the wealthy, while meanwhile back at the ranch, here's a celebrity charging a MINIMUM of $100 a ticket to see him sing when the country is in a recession. No thanks. KEEP THE CHANGE!

@ BM .. I hope that you feel the same way about the QVC channel and things like that who have been selling Obama Plates and towels and things like that.. Some of these companies have made over 10 million dollars selling Obama material..

That is just for the rich and famous like Obama and Brad Pitt etc. The average poor folk aren't allowed to get near that place.

Only in America can a former thug drug dealer become a hero to millions.

We demonize the ones who teach, the ones who protect. We idolize the ones who demean women, boast of violence.

Nice

Jay-Z sux i wouldn't pay for that

Will there be any place around DC where I will be able to hear some good music?

To Bm...Obama is NOT charging anyone for anything!Do you know how to read?

Now,as americans we have two choices.if you can afford it and want to go,you purchase the ticket and you go and if you dont want to go,you dont purchase the tickets.PERIOD!!

President Barack Obama...sounds so good.I cant wait!!

Look I understand that there is a recession.. but that doens't mean that Obama shouldn't throw just as big a party as the previous presidents have. Everybody.... I know it is a recession.. but lets celebrate... we are Americans and we have accomplished a lot just by electing this man. No he is not the saviour.. but the world does look at us in a different light... especially the Middle East. From now on... when another country says that America is doing this and that wrong... we just have to ask them "well if we are so bad.. where is your Barack Obama"?

Jay-Z... Party hard man.. everybody lets party like Americans. If you are hurting from this economy... borrow a few dollars and get a cheap bottle... get drunk and forget about all these problems! We have plenty to celebrate and plenty to be proud of.. and lets show the world that we know how to celebrate.

@ttmolin Jay did a lot because he gave like 4-5 free concerts before the election and he did with Diddy, Mary J and Kevin Liles the Vote for Registration parties.
I think the prices are adequate for such an big artist like HOV!

Gee, I wonder if there will be a single place around DC where one could find good music...

Wow, where's the money coming from? So many people have lost their jobs, they can stilll afford to waste money like this?

Oprah's next, she'll be raising the cost to get into her show when Obama makes an apperance.

It's all part of the payback structure.

Shameless.

Change? Only in the presses eyes.

"Jay-Z should have been tapped to join Obama's economic team. He's a brilliant business-man."

who ever wrote that must have bought the crack he was selling in his "business" years

but yes- he could have been on Obama's team- a bunch of liberal fools telling you they know better than you how to spend your money-

they cannot save the economy- only make it worse- great depression history lesson anyone? the goverment is not the soultion to our problems- goverment is the problem

7,500? In this economy? See ya on tv barack...

For $7500, you should get Beyonce doing a lap dance while he sing!

strong...um...Jay-Z is selling the tickets, not Obama!

BM> Hey, people are buying the tickets. That's their perogative, right? And if people will pay that much, why wouldn't he charge that much?

JUST GREAT, A RAPPER WHOZ GOT DA BLING, TELLIN US TO STEP TO DA BACK OF DA BUS, OR IS IT UNDA DA BUS. HIS IDLE IS IN CHARGE AND BROTHER OH HOW HE'Z GONA CHARGE OUR FUTURES AND OUR CHILDRENS LIVES TO THEIR CHILDRENS OBLIGATION ALL ACROSS DA NATION PRESIDENT BLING IS GONA RULE CUZ HE IS THE MAN WHO NOW DICTATES THE GOLDEN RULE.

I know this sounds crazy, but I just got a call from a friend of mine, and they are taking their 2 kids, and have already booked a flight going to D.C. for the Inauguration day ceremony......not only that, but they ended up "renting" a 6' X 6' spot on a Lawn for an overnight thing.....in someone's YARD ! I was practically speechless when they told me that they spent $3500.00 (thirty five hundred dollars) for the spot......NOW, that's crazy !!

strong January 9th, 2009 11:35 am ET

Look at the prices of these tickets! Did someone say that we're in a recession or a looming depression?

Change we can believe in. Another lie
************************************************************************
Are you serious???? What does "Change We Can Believe In" have to do with the price of Jay-Z's tickets?
Obama isn't selling tickets or giving a concert.
Jay-Z is doing what Jay-Z does....selling out concerts! And I agree, he is a brilliant buisness-man!

Send a mighty message . . . don't go!
Do not be conformed to this exploitation of such a historic event but be reformed. Let that change begin with you.

You could not entice me to go see this monkey even if you gave me free ticket(s).
I have no desire to attend either event.

@ tomlin –

Jeez, relax already !! And don't spill your Koolaid. Idiot.

How come I can't afford these prices? Is the recession over?

Sad how people buy them just to resell and make a profit.

@ strong
Look at the prices of these tickets! Did someone say that we're in a recession or a looming depression?

Change we can believe in. Another lie.
----------------------

you want to believe that so bad you can taste it.

I wonder if some of McCain and Palin's white trash spittoon supporters who seemed so bold when in their element (GOP Klan rallies) will be attending the Jay-Z concert. They might have to wear disguises.

A lesson in democracy: If you cannot afford it don't go – nobody is twisting your arm. Also, PE Obama has nothing to do with the concert. Subject yourself to a news blackout and try yoga. Ummmm!

Obama's platform of change and all the merchandise that vendor's are selling maybe the single most important factor to saving the economy.

I'm joking, but actually, while folks are losing their jobs left and right and major department stores are closing, these venders are making a fortune.

Maybe we should all sell Barack Obama merchandise for a living and bail ourselves out of the economic crisis.

SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT! HE CAN MAKE US MONEY!!!

What does the price of the tickets have to do with Mr. Obama? He is not charging you anything to go see him in concert, these tickets are being sold so that you can go see Jay-Z in concert. Now, seeing that we are in a looming depression, you have the right to decline in buying these concert tickets and not going. Don't get things twisted, there will be many who will be throwing parties surrounding the inauguration – - your American freedoms gives you the right to go or not go to these said parties. Obama is not charging you anything to attend these events – - the party throwers are.....when it's all said and done, this is Change that you can believe in!

How come everytime someone does something, all you idiots that post on these blogs always talk about "Change we can believe in" like PE Obama has anything to do with the price of Jay-Z concert tickets. I wish that he wasn't a BLACK MAN sometimes because then I wouldn't have to listen to all the scrutinizing he recieves, because I know if it was a white man I wouldn't hear all of this BS.

I would not pay .50 to see this clown! Who the hell does he think he is to capitalize on the new president elect. I would only pay those prices to see Mr. Obama. He is the change we can believe in! What has Jay-Zee done for us lately?

Jay-Z should have been tapped to join Obama's economic team. He's a brilliant business-man.

Who cares? I certainly don't. Big deal, a rapper is going to perform, wow, that really makes my life better,... Not.

@Strong Look at the prices of these tickets! Did someone say that we're in a recession or a looming depression?
Change we can believe in. Another lie.......Trust in GOD!!!!

Jay-Z, just don't bring Beyonce with you. Keep her home. Can't wait to see you!!

I hope he sings those great songs to honor the moment...

you know...

the ones using the N-word repeatedly and singing about how rich he is because you buy his records and how he hangs out at the 40-40 club, which he owns.

Jay Z should do us a favor. Take about $5 million of the $500 million you have in your bank account, donate it to charity, and give a free show.

I'm sick of this garbage...

meh who cares about Jay-Z anyway? he's just another washed up wannabe musician ... I wouldn't pay that much for the tickets to see him even if they promised me a full refund at the time of the concert.

Keep in mind that this concert has nothing directly to do with PE Obama. So all you haters about to start crying about the recession and how can they charge these prices or why is Obama condoning this should just re-direct you comments towards Jay-Z and his record label. These prices are ridiculous but someone is paying so I guess thats what capitalism is all about right?

strong, please it's Jay-Z's concert, not Obama's! Obama doesn't set the price of the tickets or have anything to do with the concert. Yes while I agree the prices are outrageous, but not really anything new, especially with ticket scalpers.

Thug concert for the inaugural? What else can we expect.

@ strong

Please oh please offer up an explanation of how the prices of these tickets has ANYTHING to do with Obama's message of change. It would be the icing on your irrational cake.

The concert should be free, unless the the money from the ticket sales is going to the DNC or to charity.

Ah, there you go. Good old capitalism showing up at a Democrats themed event. An event that only the more affluent and criminals can afford to attend.

Ha, that's nothing. Try getting tickets to Phish's reunion at the Hampton Coliseum or the summer tour they just announced.

Just when I think our society has sunk as low as it can get.................

Look at the prices of these tickets! Did someone say that we're in a recession or a looming depression?

Change we can believe in. Another lie.

COOL........ wish I could be there!

HOPE WON...........HOPE WON.............HOPE WON..........HOPE WON!!!

" those disappeared from ticketmaster in less than five minutes..."
seriously? 5 minutes? WOW...i'm still trying to imagine what the scene would look like on january 20th.

Hov sold out the same way at his Madison Square Garden concert. I think he broke his own record on selling out tickets in less than 5 minutes.