During the weekend of Presidential Inauguration celebrations, the words, “My President is black,” became more than a hot line taken from a hot song. The hook for Young Jeezy’s “My President” became the unofficial anthem for the entire weekend of festivities surrounding the 56th Presidential Inauguration. From parties, balls, and galas, to concerts and the Inauguration itself, the hip hop elite came to D.C. to celebrate a historical achievement, and in doing so, also became a part of it.
For hip hop artists and fans, the Inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama was as good of excuse as they were ever going to have to party. And so it began on Friday night with Jay-Z at D.C.’s megaclub, Love, for a kick-off event that put hip hop in the front and center of the weekend’s festivities. The Hip-Hop Caucus hosted it’s own party on Saturday night at Ibiza nightclub, where Mary J. Blige stopped by and Biz Markie hopped in the DJ booth to spin a couple records.
Sunday night, the party was in full effect back over at Love, where Young Jeezy and T.I. both performed for a star-studded audience. Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Akon, Bow Wow, Solange, Ashanti, Nelly, Wale and others were all in the house. The night ended with its biggest surprise when Jay took the stage and debuted his own verse to Jeezy’s “My President…” (click here to listen).
Young Jeezy and Jay-Z on stage at Love
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the parties only grew bigger. A performance by Common at Love, as well as a Jay-Z concert going on at the Warner Theatre, were two of the night’s most-talked about moments. But over at the Harman Center in Downtown D.C., hip hop was getting its grown and sexy at the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball presented by the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.T.I. and Young Jeezy both were in attendance in addition to Busta Rhymes, Russell Simmons, and LL Cool J. Busta tore down the place with a surprise live performance and was responsible for more than a few bow ties loosening up. For the rest of the night, it was DJ D-Nice’s job to keep the crowd rocking with hit after hit. It was a job well done.
And then of course there was Tuesday, which was the biggest party of them all. But before a DJ even spun a record, hip hop was in the house to witness history. Diddy and Jay (along with Beyoncé) were not only at the Inauguration, but also sitting in the same section as former Presidents and other dignitaries. Then later that night, at the Neighborhood Ball, Kanye West and Jay-Z both performed in honor of the 44th President. Common, meanwhile, did his thing over at the Midwest Region Ball at the Washington Convention Center.
Kanye West performs at the Neighborhood Ball
The unique thing about these last performances, and every celebration or performance throughout the weekend for that matter, was within a nation’s most progressive moment, the state of hip hop has moved beyond the streets, the blocks, and the clubs. By inviting artists such as Jay-Z and Common to perform at official Inaugural events, President Obama, whether intentional or not, showed American music isn’t necessarily Rock and Roll, Jazz, or even Country. It is now a music Chuck D once called the black CNN – a music once thought to be a fad and is now the soundtrack for a nation, performed by people who prefer to go by aliases rather than their government names. American music is hip hop and you better get used to it, because the President is black. And he likes himself some hip hop.
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