Back in 2008, then-US Presidential candidate Barack Obama gave Rolling Stone magazine a look at his iPod playlist; which showed eclectic taste, with everyone appearing to give it a thumbs up. His iPod contained a little bit of AOR classic rock alongside rap artists with Jay-Z going head to head with Bob Dylan, as well as finding the Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow and Ludacris in the mix.
Almost 30 months later, Obama is now the US President, the GFC has caused havoc with the US economy and Obama’s popularity with the electorate has dropped from that of Messiah to not much more than George W. Bush’s. So how has this affected Obama’s listening habits? Alas Tone Deaf’s emails to the White House went unanswered, but luckily they recognised Rolling Stone’s name as a magazine for hippies who miss the revolution, because they gave them an update. It seems the Obama’s getting fully ghetto now, using street smarts to deal with the dissin’ as he hustles to hold on to run for a second term as President.
Not only is Jay-Z keeping him in an Empire State of Mind, he’s getting his kicks from jail house rapper, ‘Lil Wayne, who’s currently doing time in a prison in upstate New York. “Jay-Z used to be sort of what predominated, but now I’ve got a little Nas and a little Lil Wayne,” said the US President. He also gave credit to his aide Reggie Love for ensuring that “my rap palate has greatly improved”. It looks like his most important advisors are starting to get in his ear as well, with his daughters “[Malia and Sasha] now getting old enough to where they start hipping me to things.” It’s nice to know that even the most powerful person in the world will soon be constantly reminded that ‘Dad, you’re soooo embarrassing.’
