Michelle Obama Sampled on Anti-Obesity Rap Song, Not Officially Credited

August 13, 2013


Michelle Obama will briefly appear on a rap album, Songs for a Healthier America, dropping September 30th. A speech of hers is sampled for the intro to "Everybody," a Jordin Sparks, Doug E. Fresh and Dr. Oz (???) collab taken from the 19-track LP, being released jointly by Hip Hop Public Health and the Partnership for a Healthier America, with support from Obama's Let's Move! campaign. The project has gem titles like "U R What You Eat" and "Veggie Luv", and credits guests like Ashanti, Ariana Grande, Travis Barker and "salad bar"—but leaves Michelle out of the liner notes.

The plan is to make health-promoting videos like the one for "Everybody," above, for a bulk of the album's songs, and distribute those in schools in cities like New York, San Antonio, Philadelphia and DC. Let's Move! Executive Director Sam Kass says rap's a powerful tool for getting kids to live well because, "Cultural leaders… can give these messages to kids in a way that's not preachy… So many kids love hip-hop. It's such a core part of our culture… and particularly in the African-American community and the Latino community which is being disproportionately affected by those health issues."

Watch Beyonce in a 2011 Let's Move! video, "Move Your Body":

Watch Riff Raff and Lil Debbie's "Michelle Obama" video:

Michelle Obama Sampled on Anti-Obesity Rap Song, Not Officially Credited