Obama on Nicki Minaj: ‘She Likes to Play Different Characters’

The President of the United States is more hip to Nicki Minaj than you might think.

By Channing Kennedy Sep 10, 2012

Last week, Jorge Rivas reported on the parts of the internet [caught up by a Nicki Minaj line](https://colorlines.com/archives/2012/09/nicki_minaj_raps_im_a_republican_voting_for_mitt_romney_on_mix_tape.html) on Lil Wayne’s new Dedication 4 mixtape: "I’m a Republican, voting for Mitt Romney / You lazy bitches are fucking up the economy…" While most folks assumed Minaj, who often raps from the point of view of different assumed personas, was just engaging in artistic license, some folks thought she was making a real confession of her politics. (Not sure where these folks were when Jay-Z and Nas released "Black Republican" in 2007.) This morning, [Obama was asked about the lyric](http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/09/obama-americas-rap-explainer-chief/56685/) in a phone interview Orlando hiphop station Power 95.3’s The Obie And Lil Shawn Morning Show. You can listen to Obama’s answer above, in which he explains that he and Michelle aren’t old yet, and that they try to keep their iPods current and in touch with popular culture. But the real magic happens when the President of the United States has to explain Nicki Minaj’s ouvre to the nation. "I’m not sure that’s actually what happened," said Obama. "She likes to play different characters, you know, so I don’t know what was going on there." Not sure if President Carter ever had to expound on David Bowie’s Thin White Duke period. Minaj confirmed on Twitter that she was, you know, rapping:

And in case you’re concerned that Obama is too cool, just listen to how he dad-splains Minaj’s guest verse as "a little rap."

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ArchiveNicki MinajObama Re-election Campaign