Obama congratulates Jay Z for induction in Songwriters Hall of Fame – VIDEO
Former US president Barack Obama gave a touching tribute of rapper Jay Z after the rapper was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the first-ever rap artist to be inducted.
In a pre-recorded video message, Obama congratulated the Run This Town rapper by calling him “friend and first-time ballot Hall of Famer”.
Obama highlighted the similarities the two share and might also have hinted that Jay Z and his wife Beyonce might be having daughters.
He began by saying; “I like to think Mr Carter and I understand each other, nobody who met us as younger men would have expected us to be where we are today. We know what it’s like not to have a father around, we know what it’s like not to come from much, and to know people who didn’t get the same breaks that we did. And so we try to prop open those doors of opportunity so that it’s a little easier for those that come up behind us to succeed as well.”
TWIN DAUGHTERS
“Jay and I are also fools for our daughters, although he’s gonna have me beat once those twins show up,” he continued.
“And let’s face it, we both have wives who are significantly more popular than we are… Like all of you, I am a fan, and I’ve been listening to Jay since I was a young and hungry state senator. I sampled his lyrics to close my speech at Selma, I tweeted a reference to ‘My First Song’ as I was putting the finishing touches on my final State of the Union address, and I had to brush some dirt off my shoulders during a campaign. I’m pretty sure that I’m still the only president to listen to Jay Z’s music in the Oval Office. That may change at some point, but I’m pretty sure it’s true now. In fact, Jay, you’ve been inspiring and making me want to be active in my retirement just like you’ve been in yours.”
He also congratulated other inductees this year, who included Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Chicago’s Robert Lamm & James Pankow and Max Martin.
Obama closed his remarks by recalling something “that Jay once said that struck me” about not changing and staying true to himself.