'Hamilton' Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda Raps in the Rose Garden With Obama
Is Lin-Manuel Miranda first to freestyle with a president in the Rose Garden?
— -- President Obama ended a memorable day at the White House Monday, crossing off another item from his bucket list when he helped a Broadway star freestyle rap in the Rose Garden.
“This is some serious business right here,” Obama deadpans in the opening of a video posted on his Facebook page. “This is the Rose Garden right here. That must be a little nerve-racking. I hope I don’t drop these cards. You ready? We getting the cue? All right. Drop the beat.”
A Marine band drummer kicks up a beat on a kit placed on the Colonnade outside the Oval Office, while Obama shows Grammy-celebrated composer Lin-Manuel Miranda a series of cue cards with various D.C. buzzwords like Obamacare, Oval Office and Opportunity.
“He’s throwing up some words, I’m getting to say some freestyling that you never heard,” Miranda raps. “Constitution, the POTUS, I’m freestyling, you know this.”
The act continues before Miranda finishes strong.
“POTUS is holding up the signs I’m not done. This is the Oval Office, Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I’m there. It’s so much more intimidating than if it was square,” he observes. “Opportunity knocks, and I can’t stop. I’m here with the president and my pops. And yo the mic drops.”
The lyricist’s quick skills won high praise from the president.
“How good is that? You think that’s going viral?” Obama asked rhetorically. “That’s going viral.”
Wait for it... ???? #Bam4Ham
Posted by The White House on Monday, March 14, 2016
Wait for it... ???? #Bam4Ham