Yes Jay Z has somewhat mellowed a bit in his older age, as most rap artists do when they accumulate lots of money.
And I'm glad he's come to realize that some of his content is certainly as he described.. coming from an "animal".
However, we're talking about politics, where nothing dies. Bringing up things from 10 years ago, 20 years ago.. it's all fair game to represent the person at that time. Obama has made personal attacks on others in regards to their past... with no consideration for if they have "changed their ways", and rightfully so in the given context.
As a politician, Obama should know better than to be so outwardly supportive of Jay Z. And the media should know better than to not press the President on this issue. But, pretty much all of them voted for him.. so take from that what you may.
Just imagine, for a second, if GWB had an aggressive, vulgar country singer who even at one time in their career called women "b*tches", called gay men "f*ggots", and talked about killing police, black people, etc. to the White House. Imagine if Bush took selfies with the singer, and quoted the artist on campaign speeches?
Do you think you, or any liberal would give a damn if the singer had recently come around to realize that he was wrong?
Or would you simply quote this singer... without consideration.
I think if you're honest, you'll realize that you're really digging deep here to try convince yourself that this Jay Z connection to Obama isn't completely hypocritical to what our society stands for.. respect for women, being against racial and homosexual slurs, and not condoning and supporting violence.. with guns of all things!