The White House wasn't going to let Jay-Z rap about a conversation with the president without giving a response. Hov name drops President Obama on his new track "Open Letter," claiming that he spoke with the commander in chief about going to Cuba.
On the verse, the Roc Nation executive raps about turning "Havana to Atlanta," and getting White House clearance to do so, before mentioning the president: "Obama said chill you gonna get me impeached/ We don't need this sh-t anyway. Chill with me on the beach."
Apparently, that conversation never really happened.
Responding to a question from a journalist (who hilariously read the lyrics in slow motion) White House Press Secretary Jay Carney discredited Jay's line. "I guess nothing rhymes with 'treasury,'" he said, referencing news that the U.S. Treasury licensed the Cuba trip on grounds that it was a "cultural" excursion.
Most Americans are not allowed in the country due to a longstanding travel embargo, which is why The Carter's vacation-- to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary-- was met with opposition. "Treasury offers and gives license for travel as you know," Carney continued. " The White House has nothing to do with it."
Asked once more if the POTUS played a role in the couple's Cuba trip, Carney reiterated his stance. "I am absolutely saying that the White House, from the president on down, has nothing to do with anybody's travel to Cuba."
Jay dropped the new track just as the backlash behind the trip was dying down. Republican Senator Marco Rubio has called for Obama to further explain Jay & Bey's Cuban trek, but based on Carney's reiteration that the president has no say in said trips, he'll probably never get a response.
Read more at http://hiphopwired.com/2013/04/11/the-white-house-responds-to-jay-zs-open-letter-says-lyrics-are-untrue-video/#44eySG3OlGWkpW9R.99
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