Barack Obama helps induct Jay Z into Songwriters Hall of Fame

On Thursday, the rapper, 47, became the first-ever hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The father-to-be was not in attendance at the New York City ceremony, and instead, Chairman/CEO of Warner/Chappell Music Jon Platt accepted the award on Jay’s behalf.

The highlight of his induction had to be the video speech given by former President Barack Obama.
Obama spoke highly of his friend and “first ballot Hall of Famer” in the speech. “I like to think Mr. Carter and I understand each other. Nobody who met us as younger men would have expected us to be where we are today,” he said.

“We know what it’s like not to have a father around, we know what it’s like not to come from much, and to know people who didn’t get the same breaks that we did,” the former commander-in-chief continued. “So we try to prop open those doors of opportunity so that it’s a little easier for those who come up behind us to succeed as well.”
 Source- Entertainment Weekly