Rapper, businessman and global trend-setter Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter announced last week his new partnership with the UN and MTV to bring attention to the world water crisis.

Our favorite quote at the press conference went something like this:

:: Reporter: "Jay-Z, at a concert before your alleged retirement about 2 years ago, you said 'I'm like the United Nations of this rap game.' Are we now to believe that you had this planned all along?"

:: Jay-Z: "I wish I could say I'm that smart, but I was just bragging."

Today, 1 in 6 people lacks access to clean, affordable water, and 2 in 5 lack adequate sanitation. The UN expects that number to increase…. But not if Jay-Z has anything to say about it. During his worldwide tour starting Sept. 9, he'll visit people struggling to get by without adequate access to safe water, as well as communities using innovative, green solutions. MTV will be following him with cameras, and will air their documentary special, "Jay-Z: Water for Life" on Nov. 24 in more than 179 countries. Jay-Z is also exploring ways to alleviate some hardship, by donating "play pumps"--- a combination merry-go-round/water pump that draws water as children spin around on it--and soliciting donations from his colleagues in the music industry.

Jay-Z isn't the only rap star giving airtime to the world's most popular beverage; in 1999 Mos Def released the song New World Water, with some hard-hitting lyrics. It's about time our world leaders started listening to some hip-hop.

"There are places where TB is common as TV Cause foreign-based companies go and get greedy The type of cats who pollute the whole shore line Have it purified, sell it for a dollar twenty-five." --Mos Def, "New World Water," 1999