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Hip-Hop and Politics: The US Presidential Elections
by DJ Daggash
The involvement of Hip-Hop in politics is no longer news. However, Hip-Hop’s involvement in the 2024 US Presidential elections appears to be the biggest after Jeezy of Atlanta and the legendary Nas proclaimed, "My president is Black!" during candidate Barack Obama's 2008 presidential run. The historic election of the first Black president went beyond politics. It birthed the election of the first hip-hop president. Hip-Hop culture became a vessel for social impact through politics.
Jay-Z campaigned for Obama in 2012 and was a frequent White House guest with Beyoncé, who sang the national anthem at Obama's second inauguration in 2013. They also stumped for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during her own historic 2016 run. As for Harris, she has the backing of a strikingly diverse group of hip-hop artists and producers, such as Eminem, Will.Iam, Questlove, Common, Fat Joe, J.Lo, MC Lyte, Cardi B, Beyoncé, Lil Nas X, Lil Jon, and Plies. Eminem introduced Obama in his hometown ,Detroit, at Harris’ campaign and Obama returned the favour by rapping “Lose Yourself” by the former. Trump seemed to prefer coming onstage to “Many Men” by 50Cent for some of his campaign after the attempted assassination. 50 Cent claimed to have turned down a $3m offer to perform at his campaign.
And, it’s not one sided. Recently, rapper and criminal justice reform advocate Meek Mill challenged Kamala Harris' record during her terms as district attorney of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011.
"I wanna ask Kamala Harris questions about her past as a DA, even if she had to be tough. All I hear is rumors of her," the 37-year-old rapper posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I would ask her 3 questions about black and brown men going to prison and her views and try to help her understand from a survival standpoint point she may have never had to encounter!"
The Facebook post that said Harris placed 1,500 Black men behind bars over marijuana charges as district attorney has been reportedly debunked. It is reported that Harris actually oversaw 1,956 felony marijuana convictions. Only 45 people were sent to state prison.
Nonetheless, the issue has emboldened some hip-hop artists' support for former president Donald Trump. Lil Pump, Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and Sheff Gare are some of the rappers who have publicly backed the Republican candidate. Sexyy Redd received backlash after she told podcast host Theo Von in October 2023 that some Black people embraced Trump "once he started getting Black people out of jail and giving people that free money."
"We love Trump," Sexyy Redd said. "We need him back in office. We need him back because, baby, them checks. Them stimulus checks. Trump, we miss you."
As documented in the Andscape film “Hip-Hop and the White House”, this unlikely political connection go way back to President Ronald Reagan's 1985 inaugural ball, where legendary actor Jimmy Stewart introduced a performance by the storied New York City Breakers crew. Ironically, it was Reagan's devastating policies targeting the Black and Latino community that accelerated Hip-Hop’s growth as the decade's most vital musical and cultural art form.
"Too Short, Ice-T, Toddy Tee, Public Enemy," Hip-Hop and the White House's executive producer and narrator Jeezy said. "Those are just a few rappers who reveal what Reagan's so-called war on drugs did to the places where hip-hop lived." In Nigeria, Tuface, Falz, Mi, and some other rappers have continuously stood up for social change through political activism and their lyrics.
One thing is clear, regardless of the outcome of the election: Hip-Hop culture matters in politics and in shaping government policies towards the youth demography in the US. Hip-Hop’s cousin, Afrobeats, has similar potential in Nigeria. We are watching.
References:
“Andscape: Kamala Harris Gets her Hip-Hop Close up”: https://andscape.com/features/
Washington Times-“Foul Mouthed Rappers Supporting Kamala Harris”:
https://www.washingtontimes.
XXL Magazine-Rappers Supporting Vice President Kamala Harris : https://www.xxlmag.com/
Pulse.ng-“Falz and 4 other Nigerian Celebrities Who are Political Activists:
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