After Jay Z was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, he got a shout-out from none other than former President Barack Obama.
America’s coolest and first Black POTUS started out his message congratulating every single inductee before he specifically referred to Jay Z, the first hip-hop artist to be inducted into the hall of fame, as his “friend” and continued:
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 that didn’t get the same breaks that we did. So, we try to prop open those doors of opportunity so that it’s a little easier for those who come behind us to succeed as well.
“Jay and I are also fools for our daughters, although he’s going to have me beat once those two twins show up. And let’s face it, we both have wives who are significantly more popular than we are,” he continued.
“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, I had to brush some dirt off my shoulders during the campaign,” he added. “I’m pretty sure I’m the only president to listen to Jay Z’s music in the Oval Office.”
“That may change at some point,” he said, “but I’m pretty sure that’s true now.”
“In fact, Jay, you have been inspiring, making me want to be active in my retirement just like you have been in yours.”
.@BarackObama shouted out Jay Z for being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame; says Beyonce & M.O. are more popular than him & Jay pic.twitter.com/QTWL80hMQw
— Victoria M. Walker (@vikkie) June 16, 2017