Obama Condems Song calling Hillary "irrelevant Bitch", but Campaign played “99 Problems (But a Bitch Ain’t One)” at Victory in Iowa

UPDATED 7/1/08 (see bottom of article)

According to Ben Smith of Politico, Obama condemns Ludacris new Rap tune referring to Hillary as an “irreverent Bitch” (ref the previous post on this subject). Yet the Obama campaign played Jay-Z’s “99 Problems (But a Bitch Ain’t One)” at their Iowa Victory Celebration.More...

According to the associated press: Jay-Z is featured on Barack Obama's iPod”. When asked what he thought of rap, Obama responded:

“ the genre has broken down barriers within the music world" though he's concerned about his daughters _ Malia, 9, and Sasha, 7 _ listening to it.

"I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics," he said, "but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."

He said hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris were "great talents and great businessmen. It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying that they were getting bad images of themselves," he added.

But that didn't stop Obama and his campaign from playing Jay-Z's "99 Problems (and a Bitch ain't one) at his Iowa victory celebration. Full of profanity and slurs, it's not what most would describe as a "family" song:

Jay-Z:99_Problems
If you havin girl problems I feel bad for you, son
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one

I got the Rap Patrol on the gat patrol
Foes that wanna make sure my casket's closed
Rap critics that say he's "Money, Cash, Hoes"
I'm from the hood stupid, what type of facts are those?
If you grew up with holes in your zapatos
You'd celebrate the minute you was havin dough
I'm like fuck critics, you can kiss my whole asshole
If you don't like my lyrics, you can press fast forward
Got beef with radio if I don't play they show
they don't play my hits - well I don't give a shit, SO!
Rap mags try and use my black ass
So advertisers can give 'em more cash for ads, fuckers!
I don't know what you take me as
Or understand the intelligence that Jay-Z has
I'm from, rags to riches, niggaz I ain't dumb
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!

99 problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin girl problems I feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!

The year is ninety-four, in my trunk is raw
In my rearview mirror is the motherfuckin law
Got two choices y'all, pull over the car or (hmm)
bounce on the Devil, put the pedal to the floor
And I ain't tryin to see no highway chase with Jay
Plus I got a few dollars, I can fight the case
So I, pull over to the side of the road
I heard "Son do you know what I'm stoppin you for?"
Cause I'm young and I'm black and my hat's real low
Or do I look like a mindreader sir? I don't know
Am I under arrest or should I guess some mo'?
"Well you was doin fifty-five in a fifty-four;
license and registration and step out of the car -
are you carryin a weapon on you? I know a lot of you are"
I ain't steppin out of shit, all my paper's legit
"Well do you mind if I look around the car a little bit?"
Well my glove compartment is locked, so is the trunk in the back
And I know my rights, so you gon' need a warrant for that
"Aren't you sharp as a tack! You some type of lawyer or somethin, somebody important or somethin"
Child I ain't passed the bar, but I know a little bit
Enough that you won't illegally search my shit
"Well we'll see how smart you are when the canine comes"
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!

99 problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin girl problems I feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!

99 problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin girl problems I feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!

Now once upon a time, not too long ago
A nigga like myself had to strongarm a hoe
This is not a hoe in the sense of havin a pussy
But a pussy havin no God damn sense, try an' push me
I try to ignore him, talk to the Lord
Pray for him, but some fools just love to perform
You know the type, loud as a motorbike
But wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight
And only thing that's gon' happen is I'ma get to clappin and
he and his boys gon' be yappin to the Captain
And there I go, trapped in the Kit-Kat again
Back through the system with the riff-raff again
Fiends on the floor, scratchin again
Paparazzis with they cameras, snappin them
D.A. try to give a nigga shaft again
Half a mill' for bail cause I'm African
All because this fool was harassin them
Tryin to play the boy like he's saccharin
But ain't nuttin sweet bout how I hold my gun
I got 99 problems but and a bitch ain't one - hit me!

99 problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin girl problems I feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!

99 problems but a bitch ain't one
If you havin girl problems I feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems, but a bitch ain't one - hit me!

.. Whoo! Whoo! Uh, uh
Havin girl problems I feel bad for you son
I got 99 problems and a bitch ain't one, ha ha!
You crazy for this one Rick! It's your boy!
~
Click here to read the New York Post article on Obama's Iowa Victory Party music.

UPDATE 31JUL08: Politico's Ben Smith claims he "can't find any evidence that [Jay-Z's tune was playing at Obama's Iowa Victory party, though it does seem to have been the subject of chatter among staffers of both campaigns."

UPDATE 1AUG08: From "The Left Coaster:

Monday :: Jan 14, 2008: By the way, it's not clear that Ben Smith is necessarily right. Here's some additional information:

Jay-Z and Barack Obama

by Jeff Dinelli

Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction. After a couple of weeks of jokingly predicting Sen. Barack Obama's☼ new campaign theme ("No Woman No Cry" was the most popular with friends), it turns out Obama's camp in reality came up with a much nastier one for the Iowa victory party. While Barack and Michelle entered the Iowa hall, waving and thanking supporters, Jay-Z's "99 Problems (But A Bitch Ain't One)" was pumping out of the loudspeakers.

Now, I'm not suggesting Obama is the DJ for these events, I'm not even saying he gave the real DJ a list of songs he wanted played, like you do at your wedding reception. But his claims of running a "clean campaign" are ringing hollow at this point.

While he still hasn't apologized to the GBLT community for having crazed homophobe Rev. Donnie McClurkin on the payroll, his campaign has insinuated that Sen. Hillary Clinton's☼ campaign has a racist undercurrent. Hillary has personally taken swift action against anyone on her campaign making untoward comments, and indeed, accusing the Clintons of racism is a rather ridiculous idea, given everything the couple has done for minorities during President Clinton's administration and before or since.

"99 Problems (But A Bitch Ain't One)?" This is terrible. The level of discourse in this primary must rise, beginning with the two really quality candidates gaining more control of who works for their campaigns and what they say. Hillary seems to have a grasp of things. Sen. Obama needs to catch up.

Here's Taylor Marshes attempt at clarification

And here's at least one other source referencing the event: http://themoornextdoor.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/obama-jay-z-and-hip-hop-rhetoric/