When Florida lawmakers get together to debate bills that need to be passed during a 60-day session, the last thing you expect them to do is argue over who knows the lyrics to Jay-Z’s “99 Problems.”

As Rep. Alan B. Williams (D-Tallahassee) and speaker Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) discussed an amendment regarding Florida evidence code, Williams chose to cite some of Hov lyrics but wasn’t aware that Cannon was — as the Washington Free Beacon put it — a “Roc-A-Fella Republican” and found himself corrected by the Winter Park Republican.

REP. ALAN B. WILLIAMS: I think one of the reasons why we’re supporting the amendment is because we got such a warm and fuzzy farewell from you to set the mood to support this amendment. To go even further, you think about a wise businessman. He even said he knows his rights. And Jay-Z…I think Jay-Z said it best and I’m going to quote for you. “I know my rights and you’re going to need a warrant for that.” And he even went further, “Aren’t you sharp as a tack, are you a lawyer or something?” Members, when you look at it, support this. If you support Jay-Z, support this amendment. Thank you.

SPEAKER DEAN CANNON: I must respectfully disagree with a correction, Rep. Williams. In the song, it was the officer who said, “Aren’t you sharp as a tack?” or something. “You should try for lawyer or something,” so I got you on that. It’s an unspoken rule, if you’re going to invoke Jay-Z, you must get the lyrics correct. I’m not sure Jay-Z would support this amendment.

The funny thing about it is they both got the lyrics wrong. As Cannon stated, it is the cop that asks the question. However, Williams was the one that had the actual lyrics correct.

Either way, it’s still funny to see this as a point of discussion.

Bookmark to: