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Barack Obama’s Year End Lists
The former President of the United States never misses a chance to entertain his fans and show his appreciation for the movies, books, and music that fascinate him. Thus, as a part of this custom, he shares year-end lists. The year of 2024 definitely was not an exception, as Barack Obama favorites reflect the cultural moments or works of art in the society that resonate with him. As he dominated the hip hop scene, it was only right for him to be mentioned among the President’s favorites.
Kendrick Lamar has established himself as a major force in the hip hop world and in the year 2024, he once again proved that he is on the top. With his work this year, he was received well with the critics and they have called his songs both revolutionary and intellectual. Lamar’s fold was irreplaceable, and publicity around him in this industry was integrated on the music in lots of other works. Considering how established he is, it was no shocker that he was going to be on Obama’s list to round the year off, the only mystery was; Out of all the hits he had, what would the former President opt for? Would it be the hard-hitting and combative ‘Not Like Us’, Or possibly the meme infused ‘tv off’ that created a stir on the internet?
Obama’s Unexpected Choice
Obama chose a different path and even to many people’s surprise, he did not follow on the obvious path. South Africa’s president did not choose to pick some of the more aggressive or more meme-worthy tracks instead he opted to Kendrick Lamar’s “Squabble Up” as one of his favorite songs for the year 2024. After a long wait and an unreal build up, the release went live and it spread like wildfire. The much-anticipated track “Squabble Up” by Kendrick Lamar where he samples Debbie Deb, undoubtedly lived up to its expectations. It allowed fans to have a more relaxed anthem which was different from the typical aggressive content that Kendrick is known for. If there was any doubt about ‘Squabble Up’s’ relevance in the society, its chart performance, including peaking at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks should put that to rest.
Speaking of public persona, one can see why Obama chose “Squabble Up” as the song of the week. Unlike “Squabble Up”, his other releases, like “Like That” and “Not Like Us” were dirty, gritty, aggressive and combative. “Squabble Up” however, had an entirely different tone. Given his personality which is chill and friendly, this song perfectly matched with Barack’s vibe. He has always projected a cool and collected persona which “Squabble Up” embodies as well. This is also a testament to Lamar’s range as an artist, being able to switch from hard hitter aggressive songs to “Squabble Up”, which is far more soothing for the ears.
The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar Debate
Not long ago, Barack Obama joined the discussion surrounding Kendrick Lamar and Drake, two of the most significant names in the hip hop industry. It has been over time one interesting discussion for many fans as both artists represent different sides of the hip hop structure and its progress over the years. As to whether Obama’s favoritism for one of the artists over the other is entirely made clear, his choice of the track ‘Squabble Up’ indicates that he was in favor of Lamar’s more diverse and introspective nature at the very least in the year 2024. The President’s selection underscores a greater appreciation of music by Lamar where he can target not only the young generations but people of all ages as well and his music also complements his hype further giving him the hype that he so desires.
Kendrick continues to expand the scope of his artistry, influencing the music industry along with the culture throughout his career. From the aggressive and combative songs to more smooth anthems such as ‘squabble up’, Lamar has proven the skeptics wrong about him not being able to connect with more aspects of life. This year for Lamar is described as the year of hip hop evolution, which was always his intent. As it has become a tradition, Barack Obama selects ‘squabble up’ as a fitting song for the end of the year, reinforcing the fact that his legacy is only growing stronger – together with the unique appeal of his music that this time captivated Barack as well.
Obama’s Praise for Kendrick Lamar
Barack Obama has never hidden the fact that he is a longtime supporter of Kendrick Lamar, someone he believes has plenty of artistic depth to praise. In the interview with DeepCut, Obama explained how Lamar is exceptional in the music business – it’s not just about what’s on show. “I do think that Kendrick has a unique status right now,” Obama remarked. “Not just because of this summer… It is not just that he is gifted, he is gifted, and he also is serious… He goes deep.” As Obama was saying, Lamar is quite absorbed in his art. He believes that it is not enough just to be talented; one must also strive to address important issues. This level of withholding and painstaking commitment to craftsmanship is one of the supremely decisive qualities that differentiate Lamar from so many other artists of the day.
While Barack Obama did not come out outright to endorse a winner in the Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s heated contest, he has made his preferences known in the past. In a YouTube interview in 2016, Obama enjoyed music from both artists but seemed to be more interested in Kendrick when asked who would win a contest. “Gotta go with Kendrick,” Obama said matter-of-factly. “I’m just saying, I think Drake is an outstanding entertainer, but Kendrick, his lyrics, his last album was outstanding.” This statement put into perspective how Obama was alluding to a scenario where he would be more likely to predict Kendrick would defeat the Jamaican-born Canadian artist in a rap battle. Although he appreciated Drake as an entertainer, Obama’s choice in this case was Lamar, demonstrating once again the ability of the former president to appreciate lyrics that are loaded with meaning.
A Mutual Admiration
Kendrick Lamar reciprocates the feeling of admiration that Barack Obama has for him. This was in year 2016 when he first met the former President of the United States. Their conversation, in particular, had a profound effect on the rapper. In an interview with Billboard, Lamar has famously talked about his initial reaction when Obama told him that one of his favorite albums is To Pimp a Butterfly, which is an album by Lamar released in 2015. “When [the President] said to my face what his favorite record was,” Lamar said, “I understood that, no matter how high-ranking you get in this world, you’re human.” This meeting was a key incident in the life of Lamar, who felt his art and the important messages in his music have been recognized.
The two men had mutual respect and this interaction helped solidify Lamar’s status as more than just a musician, but rather an artist whose work was appreciated by those in power such as Obama. The connection between Kendrick Lamar and Barack Obama is a clear illustration of the rapper’s influence and worth that extend beyond just the music industry. Obama does not just look up to Lamar because of his accomplishments and being an artist but also because he can compose music that tackles social issues and expressing oneself.
Lamar’s records, specially To Pimp a Butterfly, which confronts issues such as race, identity, and societal issues have become the most discussed and even won him admirers from some of the most famous figures in the world. As attested to by Obama’s comments and their shared time together, Lamar’s work creates resonance at a very personal level which unites the fields of politics and music. The ongoing process of connection is the voice of Lamar’s contribution to culture.
Drake’s Absence from Obama’s Year-End List
Described as a prominent person in the music world, the Canadian rapper and record producer Drake happened to be the one who did not get a mention on Barack Obama’s year-end music list in 2024. Although he has mentioned the two artists on different occasions in the past and his choices have been shifting towards more introverted and socially conscious music in the last few years, which is Lamar’s main area of strength as an artist. Although Drake already made it to his list, which is the Canadian artist’s remarkable productivity, this only stressed the kind of music Obama sides with, carrying both artistic and cultural significance. Lamar’s place on Obama’s year-end list speaks to the fact that he remains the master of hip-hop and can get the attention of listeners, including powerful figures like the former President.
