OK, the President has decided to weigh in on hip hop again.  At an Obama fundraiser in New York, David Samuels (the same guy who in 1991 argued that rap wasn’t really “black music”) recently asked the President a three-word question:  “Kayne or Jay Z?”  The President, calmly and confidently, answered “Jay Z,” even though he conceded that Kanye is “very talented” also.  Keep in mind that in 2009, after Kanye embarrassed Taylor Swift and himself at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, President Obama called him a “jackass.”  Reminded of this, Obama replied “He is a jackass.  But he’s talented.”

Not sure where to start on this one.  First off, Obama is right that Kanye West is talented–in fact, I’d argue he’s more talented than Jay Z.  David Samuels seems to agree, saying “Whatever you think of the many controversies he has ignited, you must admit that Kanye West is at least some kind of musical genius, ranking among the top five producers and the top five rappers of the past decade.”  This is half right.  Kanye is probably among the best producers (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is but one example of his prowess), but nowhere near the top five rappers.  It’s widely understood by people who like and listen to rap that Kanye isn’t a premiere MC, and rapping alongside Jay Z makes that even more obvious on Watch the Throne.  But the issue is that Jay Z is not among the top five in either category (no disrespect intended) so it’s unclear why the President was so confident in his proclamation.  And Kanye’s a Chicago native to boot!  Is this just an attempt to double down on the “jackass” comment?

Actually, I don’t care.  But I will note that every time that he talks about rap these days, the President seems to betray his ignorance of the genre.  A year or so ago, when asked who he’s listening to, he shortlisted Lil Wayne of all people.  Really, you have hundreds of MCs to choose from, and you pick a guy who doesn’t even attempt to say something meaningful or positive–ever–and who raps about precisely the kinds of things you condemned during your 2008 campaign?  If you’re the President, what message are you trying to send with that?  Now, you let a reporter pigeon hole you into a choice between two mainstream rappers, neither of whom is regularly using his art to raise social consciousness (instead peddling what pioneering MC Rakim calls “luxury rap”), and you actually pick one?  And then it’s the wrong one?  A tip: save the petty “who’s better” debates for the teenagers.  Or me.

If the President is reluctant to talk about hip hop during this election cycle, I get it, but then it might be better if he just remained silent.  That would definitely be better than picking favorites among two players in a genre I am beginning to doubt he really understands.