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Indian-American rapper Nicki Minaj, along with several other artists, met President Obama the week of April 11, to discuss a White House initiative aimed at reducing systemic discrimination against young black men and social justice issues.
“Met with President Obama today to discuss a few things that happen to be very dear to my ❤️. I am #MyBrothersKeeper,” Minaj said on her Instagram account. She posted a photo of Obama autographed by him, saying “To Nicki… proud of you … keep it up!”
Minaj was joined by other rappers and hip hop artists Janelle Monae, J Cole, Chance The Rapper, Alicia Keys, Busta Rhymes and Ludacris among others. A White House official who did not want their name revealed, told Buzzfeed the meeting was scheduled with these particular artists because they had raised the issues.
“Over the past few months, many of these artists have lent their voices and platforms to promoting these issues. Many of these artists have found ways to engage on the issues of criminal justice reform and empowering disadvantaged young people across the country,” the unnamed White House official said, according to the news site NMS.com.
The initiative “My Brother’s Keeper” was the focus of the round table discussion.
Janelle Monae has since tweeted that the meeting was “the start of something revolutionary.”
In an interview with Rolling Stone last December, Minaj said President Obama’s sympathy toward prisoners jailed on drug charges, “melted my heart” and that she was “blow away” by how the president spoke to the prisoners. “I thought it was so important when he went to prisons and spoke to people who got 20 and 30 and 40 and 50 years for drugs. There are women who are raped, people who are killed and [offenders] don’t even serve 20 years. I was blown away, watching the footage of him speaking to the prisoners,” Minaj is quoted saying. “I loved that he made them people again. Because we all make mistakes.”
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