Obama’s Interview About Hip Hop

I was looking through music videos the other day and I came across an interview with President Obama about his thoughts on hip hop music.  It’s striking from the beginning as he is asked if he listens to hip hop music and replies, “of course.”  He talks about why he likes Jay Z’s latest album, things that he doesn’t like, and then settles down to what sort of role hip hop might play in his administration.

One complaint of President Obama’s is that hip hop tends to be looking at life through a rear view mirror.  He wishes that the music could be balanced by looking forward with hope.  This resurrects the age old question: “is art imitating life or is life imitating art?”  

I think I’ve decided that it’s both.  Both art imitating life and life imitating art are happening in a cycle.  Kids listen to hip hop music and want to imitate it, but eventually someone stops being the button that is pushed and decides to become the button pusher.  Something new ends up being created and eventually, if it’s great, it is imitated.

If you’re interested, you can check out the interview here…