What is the deal with Jay Z Signing a 9-year-old to a record deal?

Yesterday, American Idol host and radio personality Ryan Seacrest, announced on his Twitter page that veteran industry mover & shaker, Jay Z signed 9-year-old Willow Smith to a recording contract with his Roc Nation Records. Willow, whose club flavored debut single “Whip My Hair” dropped on the same day as Rihanna’s “Only Girl in the World”, was a guest – along with her “rep” Jay Z — on Seacrest’s radio show today (click above to listen).

In a statement released yesterday, Jay Z said:

“We at Roc Nation are excited to work with Willow. She has an energy and enthusiasm about her music that is truly infectious. It’s rare to find an artist with such innate talent and creativity at such a young age. Willow is about to embark on an incredible journey and we look forward to joining her as she grows in all aspects of her career.” [link]

Willow’s mature, heavily studio-enhanced sound, drew ridiculous comparisons to Rihanna, which was obviously planned from the outset.

Everyone knows that Jay Z guided Rihanna’s career. And the fact that Jay Z is a close friend of the Smiths — and even produced the Broadway musical Fela! along with Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith — proves that this move is calculated to jump start the career of a 9-year-old who should be allowed to grow up normally.

The announcement that Willow Smith is signed to Jay Z’s Roc Nation Records came as no surprise. What is surprising is the level that narcissists Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith are willing go to pimp their precocious children to the world.

And even worse, Jay Z comes off looking like a pedophile pimping a small child for his own selfish purposes.

While “Whip My Hair” is cute, and the annoying hook is catchy, everyone is forgetting that Willow is a 9-year-old child singing a club track that is certainly not age-appropriate for kids her age.

Willow’s single is drawing praise from music critics everywhere. But the praise will come to a crashing halt once Willow attempts to perform her single live onstage.

That’s when everyone will see her for what she is — a semi-talented 9-year-old girl who should be playing with Barbie dolls.

[audio:willow-smith_whip my hair.mp3]