MIAMI (AP) — Pitbull is famous for his party tracks. Now the Miami rapper is flexing his political commentary skills on Open Letter Freestyle, his version of Jay-Z’s Open Letter.
Pitbull raps about his love for Cuba (he is of Cuban ancestry) and his hope that Cuba will be free one day, as well as Jay-Z and wife Beyoncé’s recent trip to the island country.
Jay-Z’s Open Letter was inspired, at least in part, by conservative lawmakers’ uproar regarding his recent trip there. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is among those who have blasted Jay-Z for the trip, saying that Jay-Z should have met with oppressed people while in Cuba.
POLITICOS
Pitbull questions politicians attacking Jay-Z on Open Letter Freestyle. “Question of the night: Would they have messed with Mr. Carter if he was white?” Pitbull raps. Jay-Z’s given name is Shawn Carter.
Jay-Z released Open Letter after two Florida Republican lawmakers critical of the trip questioned whether the rapper’s visit to Havana with wife Beyoncé, which coincided with their fifth wedding anniversary, was officially licensed.
On the song, Jay-Z talks about his distaste for politicians and repeats the refrain, “Y’all gon’ learn today.” The 17-time Grammy winner raps: “Want to give me jail time and a fine? Fine, let me commit a real crime.” U.S. Treasury officials said the couple’s trip was licensed as an educational exchange after Cuban-American U.S. Reps Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart expressed concerns about the trip and wanted to know if it was licensed.
Jay-Z and Beyonce are avid supporters of President Barack Obama. Jay-Z raps in his song, “Obama said, ‘Chill, you gon’ get me impeached, you don’t need this (expletive) anyway, chill with me on the beach.”
‘BETTER THINGS’
While the rappers are taking advantage of the notoriety, the president made clear that neither the trip nor the controversy were ever on his radar. “This is not something the White House is involved with,” the president said last week on the Today show. “We’ve got better things to do.”
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