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In the Tony Awards' strangest moment, Hugh Jackman performed the opening patter song from The Music Man, "Rock Island," as a rap with LL Cool J and T.I. Questlove "came up with the beat" per Jackman. Reaction was, let's just say, varied:
Sorry, if you don't appreciate TI rapping Meredith Willson lyrics on national TV, you don't know me at all.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) June 9, 2014
I wish I'd survived that Music Man rap to see this acceptance speech
— Julie Klausner (@julieklausner) June 9, 2014
How many thinkpieces about whiteness, the state of hip hop and rapping "The Music Man" on the Tonys were pitched in the past 10 minutes?
— Michael Roston (@michaelroston) June 9, 2014
LL Cool J and T.I. are performing Rock Island from The Music Man and I no longer want to be associated with theater. Like at all.
— Caroline Moss (@socarolinesays) June 9, 2014Really, the whole thing is better seen than described so watch the video, below:
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