We’re sorry we missed this story from over the weekend, but the meeting didn’t appear on the president’s schedule on the White House website, nor did it show up in the @WhiteHouse or @POTUS Twitter feeds, or even Valerie Jarrett’s Twitter feed. Not even White House pool reporter Mark Knoller seems to have been notified that something was up Friday aside from the president’s daily briefing, which is closed to the press.
Tomorrow at the WH: Pres Obama has no public appearances, at this writing. Same for @VP.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 14, 2016
CNN was clued in soon after the event, but we don’t think they were invited to send a reporter.
Today President Obama met with Nicki Minaj, Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Common, Busta Rhymes, Janelle Monae, etc…
— Michelle Kosinski (@MichLKosinski) April 16, 2016
We’d ask why Obama met with them, but thanks to Vibe magazine, we’ve learned that President Obama has taken on these members of “hip-hop’s elite” as advisors on criminal justice reform.
@VibeMagazine @JoyAnnReid @BarackObama So basically reinforcing the tired, racist idea that there is fundamental link btwn rap & criminality
— I'm always angry (@Grizzly_Stats) April 17, 2016
Pretty much, yeah.
President @BarackObama hosts a criminal justice reform meeting with some of hip-hop’s elite https://t.co/BmqJ2mhfbK pic.twitter.com/NMiPp5QoU7
— Vibe Magazine (@VibeMagazine) April 17, 2016
For those wondering, on the right is Ludacris, the man behind the tender love song “Move Bitch” and the 2008 election anthem “Politics As Usual,” which features the line, “Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant.”
https://twitter.com/Jimmy_Webber1/status/721574785885478916
Obama and his homies Nicki Minaj and Ludacris roll out to reform the justice system: https://t.co/QjPAgOtiVd pic.twitter.com/AfZeYcl83o
— Vulture (@vulture) April 16, 2016
Killer Mike has been on the road campaigning with Bernie Sanders, so we know he’s busy. But if your favorite rapper or singer isn’t on the following list, consider him or her dissed by the White House.
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/721346589323866113
(Vibe reports that DJ Khaled and Wale were also in attendance, while Vulture adds Pusha T and Rick Ross to the mix; no word on whether the late Tupac Shakur appeared via hologram.)
Just leaving the White House…I never got to go on my elementary school field trip there. Thanx for the invite @POTUS #MyBrothersKeeper
— King Push (@PUSHA_T) April 15, 2016
Mr. President, although Nicki Minaj posted a photo you autographed for her to Instagram, we dare you to look the nation in the eye and tell us you didn’t take a selfie with her. Time for #ReleaseTheSelfies to trend.
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