Obama Name-Checks Lil Wayne at Georgia Town Hall Meeting

Given the contents of Barack Obama's iPod, it comes as no surprise that the Democratic presidential nominee has a pretty good knowledge of music. That knowledge was put on display last night at a town hall meeting in Powder Springs, Georgia, as Obama name-checked chart-topping rapper Lil Wayne in a speech discussing the importance of staying in school. Addressing the subject of dropping out of high school to pursue a hip-hop or basketball career, Obama said "You are probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you are the next Lil Wayne, but probably not, in which case you need to stay in school." The crowd responded with a standing ovation, as they could all agree that Tha Carter III is a classic. Obama also had a message for all the wanna-be Kobe Bryants out there, saying "I know you think you are, but you're not. You are over-rated in your own mind. You will not play in the NBA." There have been countless cases thus far of rappers name-checking Obama; this marks the first time Obama has returned the favor. Meanwhile, John McCain still thinks we should ban 2 Live Crew.

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Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

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