Young Jeezy’s “My President” was the anthem of the 2008 presidential election. The song captured the enthusiasm of a gaggle of young Barack Obama supporters, and elevated Jeezy to semi-prophet status, as he recorded the track long before Obama emerged as the prohibitive favorite in the general election. Jeezy steps out of his lyrical comfort zone, highlighting the faults the Bush administration and calling attention to the economic collapse. Nas joins Jeezy for a guest verse, delivering incisive political criticism in line with much of his previous work. More than any other performance or commodity, the “My President” cemented the association between Obama and hip-hop.
Even before Jeezy had young Americans bopping their heads to the infectious beat, then Senator Barack Obama had already shown the masses his hop hop leanings. With an assist from aide Reggie Love, his playlist already contained more than its fair share of hip hop legends from Tupac to JayZ. Who can forget the righteous laughs and claps when we saw his nod to Jigga and the world during the intense primary season of 2008?
After securing the White House, right wing media insisted on associating the President with every element of hip hop. No problem!
Take for instance the 2011 White House Evening of Poetry. Rapper and fellow Chicagoen, Common is invited to read poetry at the White House, conservatives lose their minds.
To those familiar, like President Barack Obama, with Common’s love-spreading ethos and positive vibes, the rapper was a logical choice to perform at the White House as a part of first lady Michelle Obama’s Musical Series, a PSA for poetry and arts education. To those unfamiliar though, he, as a rapper, represented controversy, violence and all of the negative connotations associated there within, and in response to Common’s presence at the White House, many in the media expressed faux outrage.
Fox News pundit Sean Hannity devoted a segment of his show to the issue, dubbing Com a “controversial rapper and poet” with a “running list of controversial comments” and claiming that the Obama administration “will never learn its lesson.”
In a press conference, Press Secretary Jay Carney said that while President Barack Obama opposes and “has spoken very forcefully out against violent and misogynist lyrics,” he supports the Grammy-winning artist’s many positive contributions to hip-hop and poetry at large. Carney also noted that it’s “ironic” to select out hateful lyrics from a rapper who is widely considered positive and socially aware.
In a December 2015 interview with People Magazine, the president said his favorite song of 2015 was Kendrick Lamar’s “How Much A Dollar Cost.” Officially cementing him as not just the best, but the coolest President EVER.
In April, President Obama met with a group of hip hop artists to discuss the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, a community outreach effort designed to help young, at-risk men find good role models who help them make good choice. It’s an initiative Obama will continue to pursue after he leaves the White House.
In July, FLOTUS joined James Corden for Carpool Karaoke and they were joined by none other than Missy herself. FLOTUS proved for all, SHE IS DA COOLEST!
FLOTUS enlisted Missy Elliott, Kelly Rowland and more to sing on “This Is For My Girls.” Missy materialized in the back of Corden’s vehicle just in time to rap her verse: “Even when the times get rough we get up/ Treat your life like a stage, you go ‘head and tear it up.” “We got our girl power squad,” Mrs. Obama said.