It's 2007, and the iPhone has just debuted when someone from the future tells you that in just a few years a black U.S. president will sit next to a successful white rapper in the White House to talk about social issues.
Back then, you might have thought that person was describing a movie script rather than the real near future, but that scenario just played itself out on YouTube on Saturday, with President Barack Obama teaming up with Grammy-winning rapper Macklemore to talk about drug abuse.
Specifically, the two talk about the political class working to fund more programs for drug addiction treatment, with a special focus on opioids, which are often prescribed for pain, but sometimes lead to addiction. Macklemore also brings up his own history of drug addiction and recovery as a way to relate directly to those who might be watching and currently suffering from drug addiction.
"I know recovery isn’t easy or quick, but along with the 12-step program, treatment has saved my life," says Macklemore. "Recovery works – and we need our leaders in Washington to fund it and people to know how to find it."
The pairing might seem unlikely, but to the millions of Macklemore fans out there struggling with addiction, the rapper's appearance next to the commander in chief to deliver such a potent message from the White House will likely resonate -- and maybe even lead some to seek help.
Topics Music Barack Obama
