Former US president Barack Obama hailed Jay Z as the hip-hop mogul became the first rapper to enter the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Obama made a surprise appearance by video to present the honor to Jay Z, who was not in attendance,fueling speculations,Beyonce has put to birth.
Obama said
Obama described himself as a longtime fan of Jay Z and, in a veiled reference to his successor Donald Trump, said: "I'm pretty sure 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 that's true now," he said.
Jay Z did not appear at the ceremony. Beyonce is pregnant with twins, and his absence is sure to fuel speculation that her delivery date is approaching.
The rapper took to Twitter to thank artists who influenced him. In a speech in his name, his music publisher Jon Platt said the award came after years of rappers being told "you're not songwriters."
"Jay would want you to know that this induction is a signal that your time has come and your time is now," he said.
- Respect for songwriters -
Pitbull, the bilingual Cuban-American rapper, took the most political turn of the gala as he received an award for global contributions.“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,”
Obama said he related to Jay Z in that neither grew up with a father, both understood deprivation
“and, let’s face it, we both have wives who are significantly more popular than we are.”“I’m pretty sure 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 that’s true now,” Obama said.
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