Jay-Z has offered a convicted drug trafficker a job within his multi-million pound business.

The rapper has stepped in for his cousin, Emory Jones, writing a letter to a federal judge saying that he would offer Jones a position at his Roc Apparel Group.

In his letter Jay Z wrote: "I believe his attributes - including intelligence, interpersonal skills and solid work ethic - will be a significant asset for my organization... he is an honest and reliable individual; it would be a privilege to offer him an opportunity."

The letter, published in today's Sun newspaper, was included in a bid for a reduce plea for Jones after he was sentenced to nearly 16 years in prison.

He pleaded guilty to a cocaine trafficking charge in January 2000.

Meanwhile, Jay-Z recently payed tribute to the dead New Zealand miners at a recent gig.

(by Holly Frith)