The headlines from the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago included news that legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor got bumped but country artists Mickey Guyton and Jason Isbell performed for attendees. It speaks to the power of music that politicians from both parties want to tap into.
Also debuting during the DNC, Beyonce singing in an ad supporting Kamala Harris. The internet might well crash should Taylor Swift give the slightest indication of jumping on the bandwagon.
At the Republican National Convention, of course, big name artists also played for the crowd in Milwaukee, capped by performances by Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood on its final night, which brings me to the latest effort on behalf of GOP nominee Donald Trump drawing on his affinity with the hip-hop community that goes back decades.
Rapper Kodak Black pardoned on Trump's last day in office
On paper, it may not appear that Trump and rapper Kodak Black have much in common.
Trump, 78, is the former president and is one of the world’s 500 wealthiest people, according to Bloomberg. Trump has always been rich.
Meanwhile, Black, 27, said when he was a teenager, he started robbing and stealing to provide for his family because he grew up without a father in the Golden Acres Projects in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Last week, Trump appeared in a rap track by Black and Fivio Foreign called “ONBOA47RD.”
Although Trump didn't rap on the track, excerpts from his inauguration speech and his speech at the RNC were included in the song.
The endorsem*nt song opens with a vocal from Trump’s inauguration speech, in which he declares, “I will fight for you with every breath in my body, and I will never, ever let you down.”
Later, Black states in a verse, “I didn’t even see so many Black people free during Obama days.”
This line strongly suggests that Trump has worked harder than President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama to free incarcerated Black people.
Later Black says, "They keep asking about Trump, but I don't speak on family business."
The rappers then include a line from Trump's Milwaukee at the RNC where he say, "I'm not supposed to be here today, but I'm here to announce a brand new plan to deliver more opportunity, more security, more fairness."
This was Trump's first speech following an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania just days before he accepted the GOP nomination for president.
So how does Trump know Kodak Black?
This question dates to Trump’s last full day in office, Jan. 20, 2021, when he issued 143 pardons. Black, whose legal name is Bill Kapri, still had three years left on a sentence for making false statements to buy firearms. Trump’s pardon freed Black, along with five-time Grammy award winner Lil Wayne, who was facing ten years for a gun charge.
Tech entrepreneur and reality TV star Ray J introduced Black to Trump at a dinner in March 2022.
While Black and Wayne's pardons were good news for hip-hop fans, others wondered if the moves were political ploys to cater to young Black voters, whom the Republican Party has struggled to reach over the years.
If that’s true, is “ONBOA47RD” payback for the pardon?
Trump also hinted that Black Americans are more accepting of him since he was convicted of 34 felony counts of various crimes earlier this year.
"I got indicted a second time and a third time and a fourth time, and a lot of people said that that's why the Black people like me because they have been hurt so badly and discriminated against. And they actually viewed me as I'm being discriminated against. It's been pretty amazing," Trump said at a Black Conservative gathering held in South Carolina in February.
Trump has been featured in rap songs for decades
Before Trump ventured into politics, rappers often mentioned him by name as a symbol of wealth, power, and greed.
I still remember how the rapper Young Joc once said in his hit song “It’s Goin’ Down” that “Boys in the hood call me Black Donald Trump.”
Other rappers talked about how they would stay at Trump’s lavish hotels. In 1991, when I was still in college, the rap group A Tribe Called Quest rapped, “Beeper’s going off like Don Trump gets checks. Keep my bases loaded like the New York Mets.”
Finding hope while friends faced loss.We feared for dad’s life after selling our dairy herd.
Hip-hop's focus on wealth and luxury created a platform for Trump. He has been referenced in over 50 rap songs by artists like Ice Cube, Nas, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, and 50 Cent, reflecting his influence and popularity in the hip-hop community.
The latest Trump song, featuring Kodak Black, was released when the race between Trump and Harris was very close. The song conveniently dropped just days before the start of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Will the song resonate with young people and encourage them to go to the polls to vote for Trump? I doubt it, but it may sway a few people to vote that way. In a close race, this could potentially make a difference.
Politicians know the cultural impact of hip-hop
I have always preferred conscious rap over gangsta and mumble rap. I'm 55 years old, and hip-hop has been around for 50 years and counting.
When rap started, I never would have dreamed it would have the influence it does today. Hip-hop and rap have shed light on important issues such as police brutality, the HIV crisis, poverty, homelessness, teen pregnancy, mass incarceration, sexual assault, and poor education.
Politicians understand hip-hop's impact and its importance to young minorities, a segment that both presidential candidates covet. Just imagine the effect of a Snoop Dogg or Jay-Z endorsem*nt on this campaign.
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To those who doubt the impact of hip-hop on this campaign, look at Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign rally in Atlanta, which featured rappers Megan Thee Stallion and Quavo. Megan rocked the stage in a stylish blue suit and tie as she endorsed Harris for president. After performing a few songs, she said, "I just want to start by saying Hotties For Harris!"
Trump quickly criticized the Harris campaign for pandering. "Trump would never pander to Black voters to gain their support, would he?" That's rich. Do you remember the flashy, limited-edition, high-top gold Trump shoes he promoted earlier this year? Some pundits said the shoes connected him with the Black community because Blacks love sneakers.
The Trump endorsem*nt rap is not bad, when you consider today's state of hip-hop. The beat is hard and the lines I could understand are not bad either. But it's just a song.
This election will be the most important of our lifetimes. Before you cast your vote, research the candidates, as some may be supporting them because they received a complimentary “Get out of jail free card.”
ReachJames E. Causeyatjcausey@jrn.com; follow him on X@jecausey.
