THEN
In an October 2010 report for FoxNews.com, reporter Jason Robinson interviewed the "rap legend" and told him, "your music is very positive. And you're known as the conscious rapper. How important is that to you, and how important do you think that is to our kids?"
NOW
Michelle Obama is under fire from conservative media outlets for inviting to the White House a rapper who once called for the burning of George W. Bush.
Common, whose real name is Lonnie Rashid Lynn Jr., will make an appearance at an event celebrating American poetry on Wednesday.
The backlash came quickly. Fox News called the Grammy-Award winning artist "vile," and right-leaning Matt Drudge featured the item prominently on his website under the headline "First Lady to host rapper who talks of killing cops, burning Bush."
And The Daily Caller, a website run by conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, posted a sampling of offensive Common lyrics.
"With that happening, why they messing with Saddam? Burn a Bush cos' for peace he no push no button. Killing over oil and grease, no weapons of destruction," Common says in "Letter To the Law," evidently referring to the former president. In another song, he reportedly urges the killing of police.
The First Lady's press office did not immediately return requests for comment.
Even former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin weighed in on the event, tweeting "Oh lovely, White House," followed by a link to the Daily Caller article.
Common is from the President's hometown of Chicago. In 2008, he appeared in a video called "Yes We Can," created in support of Obama's presidential campaign.
He received a Grammy in 2003 for Best R&B Song for "Love of My Life" with Erykah Badu. He was awarded a second Grammy for Best Rap Performance for "Southside," which featured Kanye West in 2007.
