When President Obama first came onto the scene as a serious presidential contender in 2007, he was [and still is] a god-send for droves of women around the world—tall, dark and handsome, indeed! The moment his wife was revealed and she looked like the women in my circle and I—curvy, sophisticated, tall, and beautiful, his vote was signed, sealed and delivered.

All of the women I know are hoping to find their own version of Barack Obama and equally looking to have just an iota of Michelle Obama’s style (I find myself channeling her style in every sheath dress in cardigan I wear). Every man I speak to about Mrs. Obama compliments her on being, “a strong Black woman” in the most flattering and admirable ways. They adore her physique (what is not to love about a woman who wears sexiness and class as an accessory in every outfit?), her intelligence and the way she compliments the President’s role and status in our country.  We all love the President’s “cool,” articulation, his taste in music, the way he loves his wife and children.  Hip-Hop loves the Obamas because they represent “boss” status and most importantly they represent real love. President and Mrs. Obama are living proof that marriage is the ultimate “upgrade.”

When I’m driving down the street listening to some of my favorite songs, I do my best to learn every word, especially if the singer’s technique is one that I would like to imitate. But then there are those songs that I’d rather not spoil by singing along—I just want to listen to the way the words are crafted and bask in the affinity I have to the thoughtfulness of carefully crafted lyrics. These songs make me chuckle on the inside [and on the outside, too] since I can only imagine how the studio session must have felt.  “That Could Be Us,” by rapper Maino featuring Robbie Nova speaks exactly to the Obama Effect.  In this song Maino speaks about being a better man by having a meaningful, long-standing relationship with a woman based on marriage.  After all, every couple he references has since become married and had children, too (check out the video below from http://www.VEVO.com by clicking on the link below.)!  As if the Obamas have taken a page from the advertisers of Sprite where “Image is everything,” they are reshaping what love means in Hip-Hop culture today.  Some of Hip-Hop’s most revered artists have challenged their own vows of never giving their hearts to a woman (Jay-Z / “Big Pimpin” circa 2000) and have encouraged others to join the married man’s club, also.  The image perpetuated by the Obamas that marriage is fun, beautiful and worth every day of the time it lasts has spilled over into the Hip-Hop culture in a major way.  In August of 2010, Producer / Rapper Swizz Beatz and singer Alicia Keys married. In April of 2008 Hip-Hop Mogul Jay-Z married singer Beyoncé.  Certainly there were marriages in Hip-Hop before the Obama’s but the topic of marriage is sweeter as its top image is as black as our President and First Lady.

Besides the ground-breaking records rappers have made about political issues when President Obama was elected, they are also making songs about President and Mrs. Obama’s relationship in love and marriage and how they would like to have one just like it.  Sure the statistics report that fewer people are getting married, and in the African American communities marriage appears to be a new-wave anomaly.  But, if the Obamas have anything to do with it, we can add marriage in our communities to the list of changes we can believe in under this administration.   Love is as much about the political process as voting and passing meaningful legislation. The Obamas get it and so does Hip-Hop. That is what I call the Obama Factor in Love and Relationships.

Maino–That Could Be Us