Rap superstar Jay Z is moving ahead with his designer collection deal with Barneys despite the furor surrounding the store's alleged racial profiling policy.

The high-end chain has been at the center of a scandal over claims two young black shoppers were detained by cops after making expensive purchases at a New York City branch and quizzed as to how they could afford to pay for the items.

Campaigners called on the rapper to pull plans to release a curated designer collection for Barneys in time for the festive season, with more than 55,000 fans signing a petition calling on him to cut ties with the store.

He has now announced he will move forward with the project on the condition he is involved with an investigation into the racism claims.

A statement from the star reads, "While I await the findings of the Attorney General's Office, I have agreed to move forward with the launch of (the) collection under the condition that I have a leadership role and seat on a council specifically convened to deal with the issue of racial profiling.

"I am in a unique position to use my voice to affect change to this disturbing issue. The easy position would have been to walk away and leave policy making to others hoping that someone addresses the problem. I will not leave the outcome to others. I will take this into my own hands with full power to recommend, review and revise policies and guidelines moving forward. I am choosing to take this head on."

All proceeds from the sales of the collection will now go to his Shawn Carter Foundation, rather than the original 25 per cent.