Jay-Z performing at a rally for President Barack Obama in Columbus, Ohio (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
You can take the man out of Brooklyn, but you can’t take the BK out of the man. Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter proved that today at a campaign rally for President Barack Obama in Columbus, Ohio.
With a mischievous grin, the multi-millionaire business owner and part owner of the NBA franchise team, the Brooklyn Nets, looked around at the crowd in the battleground state, then said jokingly:
“They told me no colorful language. So I brought two songs. I have to do it, I’m sorry,” Jay-Z laughed. “I didn’t get clearance from Secret Service, so hopefully they won’t tackle me. I changed the lyrics of the song. It goes like this – so let’s do it real fast before they come up here and take the mic away.”
And, boy oh boy, did he change the lyrics:
Hit me!
If you havin’ world problems, I feel bad for you, son/ I got 99 problems but Mitt ain’t one.”
The crowd exploded in cheers, most appearing to join in.
Senior communications adviser to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, Ted Newton, jumped on the arguably inappropriate song choice, and aired the issue on Twitter:
President Obama — who is admittedly a huge Jay-Z fan, along with being a close friend to him and wife, Beyonce — has not issued a statement. Suffice it to say, he can’t be too thrilled that on the eve of this monumental election with so much at stake, the rap phenom chose that song after being told “no colorful language” — especially with the original “bit*ch” still being clearly heard in the background.
Once this election is over, the president is sure to have 99 problems, but Jay-Z just may not be one of them.
