From Sada Baby to Queen Latifah: Rappers and what they imply to Trump and Biden in 2024

Former President Obama picked Kendrick Lamar over Drake when requested in 2016 who would win in a rap battle. Since his presidency, rappers have had an elevated, if casual, platform in politics, making their very own preferences for president identified too. 

And in 2024, whereas notable rap artists lean in direction of President Biden, former President Donald Trump has additionally seen his assist develop, too, particularly amongst youthful rappers.

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris joined rapper Quavo, of the “Migos,” in Atlanta for a summit centered round gun violence prevention. Last Saturday, Detroit rapper Sada Baby was exterior the 180 Church in Detroit, encouraging individuals to vote for Trump. 

Trump and the rappers who again him

Some of the rappers supporting Trump have cult, regional followings, whereas others are charting on Billboard. They cite a wide range of causes for backing Trump: COVID-19 period stimulus checks, the Payment Protection Program, his pardons of rappers and a dissonance within the present political system. 

In 2020, Trump pardoned each Lil Wayne and Kodak Black on his means out of the White House in 2021. Kodak Black is amongst these within the “Black Americans for Trump” coalition this cycle.

New York City rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, fixtures of Brooklyn’s “drill” rap subgenre, spoke at a Trump rally within the Bronx in May. Both had been indicted on murder conspiracy charges in May 2023. 

Sada Baby, whose 2020 single “Whole Lotta Choppas” has over 55 million listens on Spotify, was considered one of three Detroit rappers, becoming a member of Peezy and Icewear Vezzo, to attend Mr. Trump’s roundtable final week with native Black group leaders.

“A whole lot of Democrats assume that [we’re] simply purported to vote blindly. I really feel like our votes must be labored for, I really feel like our mother and father blindly voted for generations, however I feel this era is now understanding that we now have to ask questions,” Vezzo, who mentioned he is leaning in direction of Mr. Trump for his vote, advised Fox News. 

St. Louis rapper Sexyy Red, who has two singles on Billboard’s “Hot 100” chart, cited COVID-19 stimulus checks as a part of why she helps the previous president. 

“Once he began getting Black individuals out of jail and giving people who free cash. Aww child, we love Trump… We want him again as a result of, child, them checks,” she mentioned on a podcast with comedian Theo Von in October 2023.

Mr. Trump’s previous campaigns have concerned rappers — considered one of his closing rallies in Michigan earlier than the 2020 election featured Florida rapper Lil Pump, who Trump mistakenly known as “Lil Pimp.” Ice Cube was an adviser in 2020 to Trump on a proposal to assist Black Americans. 

And whereas controversial rapper Kanye West ran his personal tumultuous third-party 2020 presidential marketing campaign to problem Trump – the previous president dined with West and white nationalist Nick Fuentes in 2022, and the 2 have identified one another for years. West endorsed Mr. Trump in February.

Janiyah Thomas, the Trump marketing campaign’s Black media director, mentioned Trump is assembly with rappers, pastors, and enterprise leaders and argued his engagement with rappers is “utterly natural.” 

“His message resonates with these artists and their audiences, largely in Black communities, who really feel ripped off by Joe Biden’s horrible financial and immigration insurance policies,” Thomas added.

In response to Trump’s pursuit of assist from rappers, Biden marketing campaign senior spokesperson Sarafina Chitika mentioned Trump has “spent his life and political profession disrespecting Black communities each likelihood he will get.”

“It’s why the very first thing he did after taking on the RNC was shut down its minority outreach facilities, and it is why his marketing campaign retains staging their so-called ‘outreach’ in white neighborhoods and in entrance of white audiences,” she added. “Our marketing campaign is on the bottom participating with our communities on the problems that matter.”

Trump’s previous assist from rap artists did not translate into decisive electoral features amongst Black or youthful voters – usually Democratic leaning teams – who make up the majority of rap listeners in response to a CBS News 2022 ballot. 

According to CBS News exit polls, Trump received 8% Black assist in 2016 and 12% in 2020. Among youthful voters, these between 18 and 29 years outdated, 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton (55%) and Mr. Biden (60%) nonetheless captured a majority of their assist. 

Biden marketing campaign leans into music competition canvassing, Black outreach occasions

But polls this 12 months additionally present Biden’s assist amongst Black and youthful voters barely softening. The Biden marketing campaign has responded with file investments of cash and time in voter outreach.

New York City rapper Fat Joe, an advocate for inexpensive healthcare, took half in a March panel with Harris about decriminalizing marijuana. Queen Latifah and Lizzo carried out at a New York City fundraiser for the marketing campaign in March. Singer John Legend, whose catalog options frequent collaborations with rappers, is backing Mr. Biden for a second time and known as Trump a “dyed-in-the-wool racist” in an MSNBC interview. 

The Biden marketing campaign notes it has been energetic in not simply courting rappers’ endorsements, however their audiences as effectively. 

The Biden marketing campaign advised CBS News it should have a presence on the “Essence Festival of Culture,” the most important Black tradition and music occasion within the U.S., and have paid media partnerships and conferences deliberate with Black celebrities and musicians on the upcoming BET awards in Los Angeles. 

The marketing campaign additionally had canvassers on the April “Dreamville Fest” in Raleigh, North Carolina, placed on by Grammy-nominated rapper J Cole, and had plans for R&B singer Usher’s “Lovers & Friends” competition in Las Vegas in May, although the competition was canceled as a result of climate.

“The Democratic get together has been very intentional and constant about their outreach and engagement [with Black voters],” mentioned Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright. “I acknowledge that actually there’s extra work to do as a result of when you find yourself probably the most decisive and constant [voting] bloc– the most important room in the home is the room for enchancment.”

In 2020, Mr. Biden was backed by Offset, one other Migos member, and Chicago rapper Common, who carried out at an Atlanta campaign rally. Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny additionally voiced campaign ads focusing on Latino voters in Florida, Arizona and Pennsylvania.

Skepticism about impression of Trump’s recognition with rappers

Political strategists, and political science professors who examine rap music do not imagine both candidate’s assist from artists will shift the race in a significant means. 

“We’re not monolithic in any means form or type,” Seawright mentioned of Black voters. “I do not suppose you will see some mass dash to Donald Trump as a result of you will have a number of artists who present up with him or make an look.”

Corey Miles, a Tulane University sociology professor who research the intersection of lure music, a rap subgenre created within the south, and incarceration, mentioned Trump has “at all times had a connection within the Black creativeness,” primarily from his days as a star businessman.

“I do not suppose it is any totally different than what we have type of at all times seen Black individuals do by way of our variety [in voting]. I simply suppose Trump is such a sensationalist individual, that when Black people assist him, it feels totally different or extra of an outlier than it truly is,” Miles mentioned. 

During a February speech on the Black Conservative Freedom Gala in Columbia, S.C., Trump urged Black voters assist him as a result of they view him as “being discriminated towards” following his indictments.  “They see what’s occurring to me occurs to them,” he added. 

Following the discharge of his Atlanta mugshot in August 2023, rapper Chief Keef posted a photoshopped image of Trump throwing up gang indicators and wrote, “I do know no matter deck he on[,] he good within the hood for certain[.] he finna run the jail.”

A majority, 85%, of Black voters surveyed in a June CBS News poll believed Trump obtained a good path in his hush cash funds case. A majority additionally thought-about it “very severe” and a “main issue” of their vote. 

“What’s loopy to me is from the start of time, America has at all times advised the right way to deal with a convicted felon. Now that he is a convicted felon you need the foundations to vary,” Florida artist Plies, a frequent critic of Mr. Trump, mentioned on his music “Convicted Felon.”

Tricia Rose, a Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University who has authored books about rap historical past and race, mentioned Trump has “manipulated that ID of what Black felony standing means for his personal functions.”

Rose famous a few of Trump’s disparaging comments about crime in predominantly Black cities and his name for the loss of life penalty of the “Central Park 5,” 5 minority youngsters wrongfully convicted of raping a girl in 1989.

“What he is accomplished is utilizing type of grotesque imagery — gold sneakers and so forth — to create a relationship to a constituency that he is been brutal about,” Rose mentioned, referencing the Trump marketing campaign’s sale of restricted version gold sneakers.

“It’s a really shrewd manipulation, that hopefully different younger MCs who’ve a distinct understanding, maybe a broader understanding, can soar in and problem this,” she added. 

The undecided and people to left of Biden

Other rappers stay undecided. 50 Cent, who was on Capitol Hill to speak about Black entrepreneurship, advised CBS News he is not sure who he’ll vote for this time. He switched his assist from Trump to Biden in 2020.

Cardi B, who backed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2020 and Mr. Biden within the basic election, said she will not vote in any respect as a result of disappointment with the economic system. 

Some artists have additionally been outspoken in regards to the Biden administration’s response to Israeli strikes in Gaza. Macklemore’s pro-Gaza single, “Hind’s Hall,” the place he explicitly states he won’t vote for Mr. Biden, has develop into an unofficial anthem for pro-Palestinian protests. 

Biden administration officers have supported sending extra navy assist to Israel, however has additionally been working in direction of a ceasefire in Gaza. 

“The blood is in your arms, Biden, we will see all of it. And **okay no, I’m not votin’ for you within the fall,” Macklemore raps.

Taurean Small and Shawna Mizelle contributed reporting to this story.