Jay Z Lists Dozens of Rap Influences on Twitter, Including ‘Greatest Rapper of All Time,’ Barack Obama

Grammy winner becomes first rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

JAY Z
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Ahead of Jay Z’s induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday, the rapper fired up his Twitter for the first time in a while to rattle off a lengthy list of his rap influences.

In a confusing string of tweets with several starts, stops and technical difficulties — at one point he promises “I’m not drunk” — Jay Z listed dozens of rappers who have inspired him over the years, a mix of past legends and current stars. He also includes Barack Obama, who he named “the greatest rapper of all time.” And, of course, pregnant wife Beyonce, who he proclaimed “is a rapper too!”

The pseudo-acceptance speech comes as Jay Z was about to become the first-ever rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He also shared a video message from Obama in which the former president congratulates him on the achievement.

“I’d like to think Mr. Carter and I understand each other,” Obama said in the video. “Nobody who met us as younger men would have expected us to be where we are today … Jay and I are also fools for our daughters, although he’s going to have me beat once those two twins show up. And, let’s face it, we both have wives who are significantly more popular than we are.”

See all of Jay’s tweets below:

XXL has helpfully transcribed the full list of names: “Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, Chuck D, Ice Cube, Jaz-O, Eminem, André 3000, Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Kendrick Lamar, Chance The Rapper, Jay Electronica, Lauryn Hill, Nicki Minaj, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah, Common, Kanye, Drake, Meek Mill, Run-DMC, Grandmaster Caz, LL Cool J, 2 Chainz, Cam’ron, T.I., Q-Tip, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Scarface, De La Soul, Ice-T, Kool G Rap, Melle Mel, Kurupt, Lox, DMX, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def, Foxy Brown, Bo$$, Rick Ross, Quavo, Future, Travis Scott, Tee Grizzley (who Hov says has the best song out right now, probably meaning “First Day Out”), Wu-Tang Clan (he seems to remember once beating GZA in a battle), Busta Rhymes (who Hov beat in a battle as well), Treach, Young Thug, Wayne, Juvenile, B.G., Nipsey Hussle, Lil Kim, Slaughterhouse (yes, even Joe Budden, who he had a brief beef with), Wale, MC Eiht, Too Short, E-40, Mac Dre, Jeezy, 50 Cent, Big L, Showbiz and A.G., Nice and Smooth, Fat Joe, Big Pun, Digable Planets (especially Ishmael “Butterfly” Butler), Beanie Sigel, Young Chris, Freeway, State Property, Pusha T, Playboi Carti, the A$AP Mob, Sean Price, Mobb Deep, Kid Cudi, Tyler, The Creator, Earl Sweatshirt, Snoop Dogg, and “the greatest rapper of all time,” Barack Obama. He also added Slick Rick, Pimp C and Bun B to the list, as well as Fabolous and Mac Miller.”

Reid Nakamura

TV reporter • reid.nakamura@thewrap.com • Twitter: @reidnakamura

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