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Barack Obama drops a beat for a young Vietnamese rapper

Vietnam's "Queen of Hip-Hop" meets the President of the United States of America.

Barack Obama listens to a rap by Suboi

President Obama listens to a performance by Hanoi rapper Suboi in Vietnam. Source: Suboi

Barack Obama dropped a beat for Vietnam's "Queen of Hip-Hop" as she gave an impromptu performance for the US President during the final day of his three-day visit to the country.

During a question and answer session at a town hall in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday, Obama requested a few lines of verse from 26-year-old rapper Suboi.

"Before I answer your question, why don't you give me a little rap, let's see what you got," said Obama.

"Do you need like a little beat?" he added, and helpfully started beatboxing.

"Yes, I do actually," responded Suboi, who then rapped in Vietnamese, explaining afterwards the song was about "some people having a lot of money, having big houses, but actually are they really happy?".

"That was good. That's pretty good," said Obama.  

Suboi asked Obama his thoughts about the importance of the arts and promoting a nation's art and culture.

She told the President that in Vietnam, "they think rapping is not for women."

But her performance for Obama has certainly given her a profile a boost -  CNN quickly lined her up for an interview.

Suboi
Suboi gives the thumbs up while waiting for Barack Obama's question and answer session in Saigon. Source: Suboi

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2 min read

Published

By Alyssa Braithwaite



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