Obama prefers Jay-Z over Kanye West

President Barack Obama has softened and shifted his stance on some issues, but on one topic, he stands firm: Kanye West is still a jackass. Obama, who famously called "808s & Heartbreak" rapper West "a jackass" after West hijacked Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the Video Music Awards, re-affirmed that opinion during an interview with the Atlantic.

Asked by the interviewer -- who will surely receive a Pulitzer for this -- whether he prefers West or his fellow rapper/recent collaborator Jay-Z, Obama answered, "Jay-Z ...lthough I do like Kanye. He's a Chicago guy, smart. He's very talented." Remembering Obama's post-VMAs comment -- which was captured on a live mic prior to an interview -- the reporter queried further,

"Even though you called him a jackass?" "He is a jackass," the leader of the free world replied. "But he's talented."