Of course, Barack Obama knows the bars about mom’s spaghetti. In Detroit, former president Obama was introduced by Eminem, who he stated set a perfect stage for him. How else could he open his speech? With “Lose Yourself” bars.
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy; there’s vomit on his sweater already….
Obama raps Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” after being introduced by the rapper at a rally for Harris in Detroit, MI. pic.twitter.com/MqXJzplZPY
After dropping bars, Obama spoke to the people of Detroit and Michigan, urging them to get out and vote in the upcoming election. Obama emphasized the sharp contrast between Vice President Kamala Harris, who has a clear plan to address rising costs and the needs of everyday Americans, and Donald Trump, whom Obama described as increasingly unstable with a track record of prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires.
His remarks follow a rally in Wisconsin earlier today alongside Governor Tim Walz. Obama is crisscrossing the country to energize voters ahead of Election Day. With high stakes in this election, Obama is focused on mobilizing the electorate to support the Harris-Walz ticket.
“The choice is clear,” Obama said. “We need a leader who is ready for the job, not someone who thrives on chaos and only talks about problems without offering real solutions.”
Obama’s speeches have been central to efforts to galvanize voters in key battleground states as the Harris-Walz campaign pushes to secure its path to the White House. With crucial issues like the economy, healthcare, and democracy on the line, Obama stressed the importance of participating in this pivotal election.
The Moneybagg Yo we know now isn’t the same one we met on projects like All Gas No Breaks or the Federal series. Before he penned a deal with CMG, he was already a household name among hustlers and trappers. In the past three and a half years alone, he’s reaped the benefits from his relentless hustle of high-quality mixtapes. Bagg has nabbed a #1 album on the Billboard 200 and secured several RIAA certifications, many of which have been the result of the grip he has every summer. His latest album, Speak Now, produced the Morgan Wallen-assisted country-rap banger, “Whiskey Whiskey,” which recently made it to Obama’s Summer Playlist 2024.
“I was like, ‘Damn, Barack.’ Like, he’s listening? That was a good feeling, but it was a shocking one,” Moneybagg Yo tells HotNewHipHop over Zoom. “You don’t think when you’re putting these songs together and you putting this stuff out that it’s going to reach and do what it do.”
However, Moneybagg Yo’s relentless hustle throughout his career has positioned him in such a way as to land on Obama’s playlist and have a sit-down with Denzel Washington. Today, he releases the deluxe edition of his latest album titled, Speak Now Or. It’s the bridge between the June album and his forthcoming follow-up, Forever Hold Your Peace, which he said will be out before the year’s end. He explains that the key to his prolific output relates back to his conversation with Denzel Washington who told him, “With me, you gotta know how to be Shakespeare, and you gotta know how to be the man in Training Day. You gotta know how to do both of them. That’s what made me different.”
“Every project should just be viewed and looked at like a movie,” Moneybagg Yo explains. “Like, all right, what can we expect from him in this movie? Like, the actor good. We know he plays good roles, and he do his thing when the camera’s on. But, what is this about that’s different from last time? Like, Malcolm X and Training Day are two different things, but it’s the same great actor, you know what I’m saying? So basically, that’s how I’m taking the approach with just Speak Now, Speak Now Or, and Forever Hold Your Peace. It’s just like you get a different movie every time.”
We recently caught up with Moneybagg yo to discuss his latest project, his immeasurable influence, and working alongside Morgan Wallen.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 4: Rapper Moneybagg Yo performs during MoneyBagg Yo Larger Than Life Tour at State Farm Arena on August 4, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
HotNewHipHop: The last time, we spoke was around the time “Hard For The Next” came out and you released AGangsta’s Pain shortly after. You’ve had a productive few years since then. What’s been the biggest difference in your life between that album coming out and now?
Moneybagg Yo: When I dropped A Gangsta’s Pain, I set the standard so high, you got to always be able to fill those shoes up when people expect you to fill them shoes over and over again. It’s just really me vs. me. I’m in a me vs. me type of situation. I’m battling me. So, that’s what I’m doing, just trying to be better than my last.
How’d you feel about the reception of Speak Now, especially after having the summer pass and still dominating?
It’s cool, you know? I feel like I could do better, you know what I’m saying? But I feel like, it’s just a different movie of me. It’s just a different thing. Like, AGangsta’s Pain was one thing, Hard To Love was a moment. and then, Speak Now. Even with these eight, or nine songs that I’m about to add to the deluxe, this is even different. It really could have probably been its own tape but it makes more sense to attach it to Speak Now, you know what I’m saying? Then, even the next project, Forever Hold Your Peace. The next body of work, it’s a whole other Moneybagg. You don’t get the same thing every time. That’s how you get bored.
On a creative level, what’s been fulfilling you creatively? What’s been impressing you when you step out of the booth?
The Forever Hold Your Peace project, I’m impressed with that. Like, how it’s coming out, how everybody is like hearing it, listening to it. They taking a liking to it, and just really happy for me and excited for the body of work. That’s a good thing.
I think I heard you say that it’s going to be more melodic. Is that accurate?
Yeah, it’s just a whole melodic bag. You know, you probably heard a lot–well, I know you heard a lot of melodic songs from me. Songs like “Wockesha,” “Scorpio”–that type of vibe. A lot of just different ways that you can think that I probably came like that, but that’s the tone.
It’s a sequel to Speak Now, right?
Yeah, it’s just like a sequel. Everything ties in. Like. this right here that I’m going to drop is Speak Now Or. Like, the deluxe is like Or, you know what I’m saying? It’s like Or then Forever Hold Your Peace. We’ll drop that in another couple of weeks, a couple of months or however it might go. Whenever it’s ready, and then, that’s that. And that’s the whole attachment.
How far along are you with Forever Hold Your Peace?
Probably like 75-80% done.
I imagine we’ll probably get a single from this before the end of the year or sometime in the next few months.
Yeah, you’ll get the whole thing before that.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JULY 10: Moneybagg Yo performs during the Wireless Festival at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on July 10, 2022 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Katja Ogrin/Redferns)
I was reading your interview with Billboard a few months ago where you were discussing when you met Denzel. You recalled him telling you, “With me, you gotta know how to be Shakespeare, and you gotta know how to be the man in Training Day. You gotta know how to do both of them. That’s what made me different.” I want to know, how do you think this quote applies to your approach to music?
I feel like I took that like, basically what I was telling you. You have to be like, just a different character every time. Every project should just be viewed and looked at like a movie. It should just be really looked at like a movie. Like, all right, what can we expect from him in this movie? Like, the actor good. We know he plays good roles, and he do his thing when the camera’s on. But, what is this about that’s different from last time? Like, Malcolm X and Training Day are two different things, but it’s the same great actor, you know what I’m saying? So basically, that’s how I’m taking the approach with just Speak Now, Speak Now Or, and Forever Hold Your Peace. It’s just like you get a different movie every time.
Some people were feeling like Speak Now was a bit commercial or something. So Speak Now Or, they get this, I guarantee you, they ain’t gonna say that. This is strictly street records, energy, street records. And then you got Forever Hold Your Peace, it’s just melodic. It’s more of a vibe. It’s the “woo the ladies” in and talk like it’s good with that.
In that same interview, you mentioned how you don’t feel like you have much to prove because you’ve accomplished so much. Are you able to identify your influence in music and in culture at large these days?
Yep. The largest. Really, basically, to where it’s the largest. I feel like everytime I do something, people gravitate and bite onto it. Like, I’m not a person that like is meant to follow. I’m meant to lead. Every time I do something where I take the lead or take the initiative, I set the trend like that. Once I do it, everybody else does it or they try to act like they ain’t do it and then, do it [laughs]. Or try to like, see me halfway doing it and try to finesse it all the way to the T. Now, when I‘m coming me down there, I almost look like–once I finish what I’m doing, it damn-near look like they seen it before because he did it.
That’s another thing too, like I don’t like posting everything before it’s done. I like posting the finished product. Then I show you the behind-the-scenes of it, how I did it, instead of the other way around. Like, showing you the behind-the-scenes first, and then “this coming” and then I put it out. Because when you do that, you just opening up doors for people to be like, “Oh, he’s doing it. Let me do this. But I’m gonna put a twist on it. I’m gonna do it like this, this new wave. This gotta be it.”
They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Do you feel like people are giving you your flowers when they’re biting your style?
No, not really. They don’t pay homage all the time. They need to.
You’ve been an advocate for a lot of the women in the South who are crushing it in rap right now, even with your collabs with GloRilla. How do you think the women in the South complement what you bring to hip-hop? Obviously, it’s a different perspective but they bring that energy.
Yeah, I like what all the women doing right now. I like what all the women doing. I’m excited for them, I’m happy for them. It’s like a handful of them that I rock with. too. Another thing is I feel like we resonate well, the chemistry is good because of the substance and topics and like, how I come. How I come, I feel like this is just a versatility thing. Like I can do anything, you know what I’m saying? If it’s a song with a girl, I can do it. Like, if it’s a song with guys, I can do it. If it’s me singing like melodic, I can do it. Whatever it is, I feel like I can adjust to it whatever the case may be.
No, for sure. “Whiskey, Whiskey” is probably one of the more surprising songs that you’ve released. It just landed on Obama’s summer playlist. Can you just describe to me where you were when you first received that news, and what was your reaction to it?
I seen that yesterday. I was like, “Damn, Barack.” Like, he’s listening? That was a good feeling, but it was a shocking one. You don’t think when you’re putting these songs together and you putting this stuff out that its going to reach and do what it do. You don’t think that–some people do, though. Some people go in with that. I ain’t saying I ain’t confident, but some people go in with all the confidence. But my thing is with music today, you don’t never know. Like, you don’t know what’s gonna be this and be that, so it’s hard to say. So I just kind of like, let it do it.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 23: Music artist Moneybagg Yo performs during 2022 Rolling Loud New York at Citi Field on September 23, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Have any singles surprised you with how successful they became?
Yeah, all of them except for “Wockesha.” I kind of knew that one was like–I was so passionate about the song, I kind of knew that song was going to be like, something special in some kind of way.
You’ve previously teased a country project with Morgan Wallen. How much progress has been made with that? If there has been any.
No, no, it just was an idea, a thought. Like, something that could happen.
Has he been receptive to the idea?
Yeah, he’s with whatever. Like, I’m one of his favorite artists.
I know it’s a bit of old news but you did some work with Kanye West a couple of years ago. What the biggest takeaway from being in the studio with him?
It was a good experience for me. I learned a lot and just saw how to do things, saw how stuff went, and just soaked up the game, and applied it to my situation. So shout out to Kanye. Unfortunately, what we did didn’t get used. But I understand like, as an artist, I understand it could be like that sometimes.
What was one thing that you learned from that session and started applying to your own sessions?
Just how to be creative. How to be creative with the songs, and start just making everything make sense. Like, starting from scratch, building the beats up. Already have the ideas on some of them and making the beats around them. Just different stuff.
I was recently watching Mannie Fresh explain how in the early days of Cash Money, they would take catchphrases and turn those into songs. I’ve noticed you have a similar approach to taking certain words or phrases and flipping them into hit records. How did Cash Money inspire your songwriting in that aspect? If they did at all.
I didn’t even know that they looked at it like that or they were doing it like that. To be honest, when I do it I just do it because–it’s gonna look like that, so it gonna be hard. But it’s just like, it’s a moment. I just feel like it’s just a moment in life to where it’s like, this is what’s going on right now. This is what I’m literally experiencing. I’m going through this or like, I’m dealing with this. It all circles back to like that term or that phrase, or whatever the case may be.
So I just feel like, use it. It makes sense, and that’s what’s going on in the world. So that’s more the more the key things is like, you gotta be relatable. That’s the only way your music is gonna get off. If they can’t relate to it, how they gonna play it? [laughs]
You’ve established yourself as a highly successful business person. On a business level, what would you like to tackle outside of music? I’m doing clothing right now. I got my Loaf Brand clothing. So, that’s in the process right now.
That’s high-end streetwear, right?
Yeah.
Any last words for the HotNewHipHop audience?
Stay tuned. I got a lot in store for you. A lot, a lot, a whole lot of stuff in store for you. Stay locked in. Follow me, I won’t misguide you.
This morning, President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president of the United States. In a video endorsement, the former president and first lady called on Americans to join them in electing Harris, offering their full-throated support and commitment to her campaign.
“We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office.”
– former President Obama
“It’s time for us to rally around you, your candidacy. This is not on you, it’s not just on you and Doug, it’s on all of us. … We’ve got to register, we’ve got to vote. … So, let’s all roll up our sleeves and make it happen.”
– former First Lady Michelle Obama
The endorsement coincides with the Harris for President campaign’s Weekend of Action, marking 100 days until Election Day. With over 170,000 volunteers and 2,300 events across battleground states, Team Harris aims to persuade voters about their fundamental choice this November. Harris advocates for a future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead. In contrast, the campaign views Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda as a step backward for America.
The Obamas’ endorsement amplifies the groundswell of support for Harris, which includes endorsements from labor unions, advocacy groups, and dozens of Democratic elected officials. These supporters are dedicating their robust organizing infrastructure to bolstering her campaign.
With this significant backing, Harris’s campaign continues to gain momentum as the election approaches.
Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris. We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States, and that she has our full support. At this critical moment for our country, we’re going to do everything we can to make sure she wins in… pic.twitter.com/0UIS0doIbA
Thursday night witnessed a historic moment in American politics as President Biden united with former Presidents Clinton and Obama at Radio City Music Hall in New York City for “An Evening with President Biden and Presidents Obama and Clinton.” The event was hailed as the most successful political fundraising event in U.S. history, raising a staggering $26+ million.
US President Joe Biden alongside his predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.pic.twitter.com/pcFqgbUI9A
More than 5,000 supporters filled the iconic theater for the sold-out occasion. Moderated by Stephen Colbert, the three presidents engaged in a discussion about the critical issues facing the nation in 2024.
President Clinton commended President Biden’s effectiveness in contrast to Donald Trump’s obstructionism, while President Obama highlighted the administration’s legislative successes, including healthcare reforms. President Biden also extended an invitation for a golf game to his predecessor, Donald Trump, provided Trump carries his own bag.
With a robust fundraising operation fueled by grassroots support, the event showcased the strength of a united coalition ready to support President Biden’s reelection bid. Notably, the funds raised at the event surpassed the entire February haul of the Trump campaign, underscoring Team Biden-Harris’s financial advantage as the 2024 election approaches.
During the event, President Obama spoke on President Biden’s record:
“Well, I think it’s worth adding — it’s not just the negative case against the presumptive nominee on the other side. It’s the positive case for somebody who’s done an outstanding job as president. Sometimes we forget where we started and where we are now. You’ve got record breaking job growth. You’ve got an unemployment rate that is as low as it has been — for African Americans, by the way, the lowest on record — ever. You’ve got extraordinary progress building off the work we did. First, Bill Clinton passing the Children’s Health Insurance Act, we passed the Affordable Care Act, Joe Biden takes the baton — he’s now expanded coverage. Made sure that seniors are seeing big discounts in their prescription drugs, capping insulin drug prices. Capping the price of insulin at 35 bucks when it used to cost them up to $400. You know, helping young people go to college. The record-setting investment in clean energy that’s going to transition us to the kind of future that our children and grandchildren deserve.”
President Clinton spoke on President Biden’s bipartisan record and Donald Trump killing the border deal:
“This is the big reason you should win. And that is that everything you said is true. But it only works if we all live under the same set of rules, if we all have an equal set of chances to make it, and we treat each other with respect. If we find our differences and we have our arguments…
That’s what’s at the heart of this. Joe Biden has bent over backwards to reach out to members of the other party to negotiate in good faith and to solve problems – including on the border. In the case of the border, his apparent opponent basically said, hey, to his own party, you can’t do that. Get off that bill. We need a problem not a solution at the border.”
President Clinton continued, on MAGA Republicans: “They’re good at branding and blaming, and we don’t like their solutions so much. He (President Biden) is good at finding solutions people are actually glad to embrace.”
Former president Barack Obama hit social media to celebrate his wife Michelle Obama. “This is what 60 looks like,” Obama wrote.
“Happy birthday to my better half — who happens to be one of the funniest, smartest, most beautiful people I know,” Obama wrote. “@MichelleObama, you make every day better. I can’t wait to see what this new decade brings you.”
You can see the post below.
This is what 60 looks like.
Happy birthday to my better half — who happens to be one of the funniest, smartest, most beautiful people I know. @MichelleObama, you make every day better. I can’t wait to see what this new decade brings you. pic.twitter.com/OwZlD3z9pz
Barack Obama is known for delivering his favorite tunes every year, but now he is giving a peak into his watch list. The 44th president of the United States of America has revealed his favorite films of 2023.
“Earlier this year, writers and actors went on strike to advocate for better working conditions and protections,” Obama wrote. “It led to important changes that will transform the industry for the better.
“Here are some films that reflect their hard work over the last year — including some like Rustin, American Symphony, and Leave the World Behind that we were proud to release through @HGMedia”
His production, Leave the World Behind, leads the way on his list. He also put Rustin and American Symphony in his top three.
Oppenheimer, American Fiction, Air, The Holdovers, and more are additional films included.
You can see the full list below.
Earlier this year, writers and actors went on strike to advocate for better working conditions and protections. It led to important changes that will transform the industry for the better.
Here are some films that reflect their hard work over the last year — including some like… pic.twitter.com/TMH9LeQgsT
Barack Obama is a cultural icon. The former President stays busy all year long with multiple recommendation lists for the people, including books he read, movies he watched, and songs he had on repeat. However, some have been skeptical about Obama’s wide range of reading, watching, and listening. Some speculate he doesn’t create his own playlist, that someone else listens to these songs and curates them. Not only are the selections so broad, but they also suggest a TON of listening.
Can Barack Obama consume this much content in a year? Believe him when he says: He does it all himself. Comedian Hasan Minaj interviewed the previous POTUS for half an hour on a number of topics, including his end-of-year lists. With emphasis, Obama definitively squashed the rumors of cultural fraud: “…[T]he fact that my lists are, you know, pretty incredible — people seem to think, well, he must’ve had some 20-year-old intern who was figuring out this latest cut. No, man! It’s on my iPad right now.”
Once you’ve done “the big job,” life can become what you want it to be, in a way. For Barack Obama, this means going to events, consuming a ton of new content, and accepting fun interview requests. Minaj gets deep and wide in the interview above, asking Obama about depression, doom-scrolling, and his take on Andrew Tate. With classic Obama wit and a grumbly, loving uncle demeanor, he brushes off any “controversy” that he doesn’t curate his own playlist. Last year’s list had all-time hits like Kendrick Lamar’s “The Heart Part 5” and Bad Bunny’s “Titi Me Pregunto,” as well as “Last Last” by Burna Boy and “Pull Up” by Koffee.
We might need to give Barack Obama more street cred. Impressively, he and his wife, Michelle Obama, wrote a letter to rapper Cordae following his Emmy win last year. Their daughters are part of the hip-hop scene as well. Malia Obama created a short film for Donald Glover’s (Childish Gambino’s) production company. Plus, he’s never shied away from being a true man of the people. Barack Obama’s track record should be enough for us to trust his tracklist.
There is a long-standing tradition in American politics. As president, you are meant to invite your predecessor back to the White House for the unveiling and hanging of their official Presidential Portrait. Once a staple of the Presidential experience, it was Jackie Kennedy who restarted the tradition in the 1960s.
The tradition of the current President helping unveil the portrait of the previous President started in earnest under President Carter. Carter invited President Ford back to the White House in 1978 to hang Ford’s portrait. The tradition continued from there, with the exception of Carter who requested that there be no ceremony. Bush I invited back Reagan, Clinton invited back Bush I, Bush II invited back Clinton, and Obama invited back Bush II. However, the trend stopped under Trump, who did not extend an invitation to the Obamas. Their portraits were instead unveiled in 2022 by President Biden.
Trump Never Invited The Obamas To The White House
Appearing on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, the former First Lady did not hold back. She cut Fallon off as he tried to lead into a question about being invited back under the Biden administration. “Wasn’t invited,” Obama quipped, smirking as the jab threw Fallon off before following up with an “oooh shade.” She then went on to clarify what she meant, “That’s tradition. You do your official portraits. The next president is supposed to invite you back to hang them. We were never invited back. So, these pictures had been done for a long, long time.”
Trump has had a…thorny relationship with his Presidential predecessor to say the least. Reports claim that Trump had the toilets replaced in the White House after the Obamas left. Furthermore, Trump was a very prominent voice in the “Birther movement”, the right-wing conspiracy that Obama was not a US citizen. Despite running against Hilary Clinton in 2016, Trump always positioned himself as an antidote to the Obama era. A president almost famous for his reckless abandonment of protocol, this latest claim of both shunning tradition and snubbing the Obamas is unsurprising. It is unclear when the official portraits of the Trumps will be completed.
Former President Barack Obama returned to the White House for the first time since leaving office in 2017 and received a welcoming ovation.
Obama was received by White House friends and guests after he discussed his Affordable Care Act at Biden’s health care event on Tuesday. Video surfaced on Twitter showing Obama surrounded by guests while Biden stands nearby. Vice President Kamala Harris introduced Obama to guests while Biden looked on.
“This is so sad,” the Republican National Committee captioned a video on Twitter.
“Literally no one wants to talk to Joe Biden,” the RNC captioned another short video clip that shows the president shrugging and glancing around the room as if searching for someone.
The two videos garnered thousands of comments. Many of the commenters expressed sadness for the current president.
In response to the viral video, Obama took to Twitter to praise his former vice president.
“Always great catching up with @POTUS. Thanks for all you’re doing to help even more Americans get access to quality, affordable health care,” he tweeted on Wednesday. Do you think people miss former president Obama?
Always great catching up with @POTUS. Thanks for all you’re doing to help even more Americans get access to quality, affordable health care. https://t.co/vDYBIxjIy9
(@Mollyploofkins) 
