Rappers have probably never had more influence on American culture than they do now. Drake coins slang words that eventually become recognized by Webster, and Obama addresses Kanye West's presidential candidacy. Jeezy's "My President" became not just a hood anthem, but a nationally imperative hip hop track that is forever preserved alongside Obama's run into presidency. Rap music doesn't belong exclusively to the streets of the inner city anymore; it is one of the more influential components of our culture.
Because of rap's influence, every time a rapper comments on the upcoming presidential election, it's a pretty important tabloid. Lil B made headlines in just about every national news source when he decided to endorse Bernie Sanders. Just a couple days ago, Pharrell's name was attached to Hillary Clinton after he endorsed her. Of course, Donald Trump's name has been the subject of many rap lines as well, albeit mostly for his cash flow and NOT for his political ethos.
Following last night's democratic debate, we've decided to gather up some information as to what rappers have been saying about three of the major political candidates: Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, and Donald Trump.
Bernie Sanders
When Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders started to take his presidential run seriously, media publications still didn't think he stood a chance. Now that he's drawing record crowds, they're baffled, but the democratic socialist is resonating with tons of Americans as he strives to narrow the gap of financial difference between Americans.
Lil B's Bernie co-sign might be the most newsworthy, as just about every national publication picked up the story when the eccentric rapper backed Sanders in an August interview with CNN. Having previously endorsed Hillary, the rapper was one of the first high-profile artists to publicly make the switch. CNN quotes Lil B to say, "As much as I want to a woman leading the USA, right now it's all about Bernie ... he's the real he loves us."
Killer Mike went on record to endorse Bernie Sanders as well. After a strong run of socio-political tracks and letters, the Atlanta MC has become rap's de facto political voice, and when he took to Twitter to voice his support, he was met with a lot of likeminded positivity.
It's official I support @SenSanders! His call 4 the restoration of the voters rights act sealed the deal for me.
The support doesn't stop there. Big Boi was quoted saying, "I’m for Bernie Sanders because he’s with prison reform and things like that. But really I’m for…getting people out of poverty and people sentenced to these long unjust prison sentences out of jail, and the legalization of Marijuana."
With a campaign that is based largely on getting families out of poverty and ending for-profit prisons, we expect to see more support for Bernie Sanders from the hip hop world in coming months.
Hillary Clinton
Ever since Sander's rise to prominence, support for Hillary Clinton has quieted down considerably. However, if we go back to articles dated at the beginning of the summer, support for Clinton was rampant.
50 Cent told The Daily Beast, "It’s Hillary time," going on to say, "I also think Hillary was the president already once," which is a pretty common mindset for supporters who are referencing her first lady status while Bill was in office.
50 Cent and his longtime rival, Ja Rule, have political ideals in common, at least. Ja Rule said, "I’m a Democrat, so yeah, so I would vote Hillary." We wonder if Ja's opinion has changed after watching the debates last night.
West coast legend Snoop Dogg has also gone on the record to support Hillary, saying, "Just to have a woman speaking from a global perspective as far as representing America, I’d love to see that. So I’ll be voting Mrs. Clinton."
Eminem, who's worked with Snoop and 50 quite a bit over the years, has a different opinion, however. On Sway in the Morning a couple months ago, Em rapped, "hope this don’t get taken out of context but Hillary I promise to wipe my server clean if you face subpoenas." This of course refers to Clinton's e-mail controversy, which dug her into that trench most shady politicians dwell in.
Finally, as we saw recently, Pharrell gave Hillary his co-sign while on The Ellen Show. He said, "It's Hillary time. We need someone who is going to take it seriously. She does have a serious tone, but I feel like when things get done, it's by someone who is being serious about it."
Donald Trump
There's one question that looms about Donald Trump's presidential run: is this guy serious? We still aren't quite sure if Trump actually wants to be president or if he just wants to keep his name in the tabloids. At any rate, we're pretty terrified by the fact that he has support from a big portion of the country.
Some of that support, in some small way, is owed to the hip hop world. Of course, no one who supports an art-form that was created in the inner city by poverty-stricken blacks is going to support Trump's political agenda, but his pockets have earned him spots in multiple rap tracks.
Mac Miller's hit "Donald Trump" off 2011's Blue Slide Park might be the most obvious example of rap music boosting Trump's stock, but it's hardly the only example. Gucci Mane and Young Thug also have a track called "Donald Trump," and his name has been mentioned literally hundreds of times over the years. Here's some of our favorite examples...
Nelly on "Country Grammar"
"Now I'm knocking like Jehovah; let me in now, let me in now
Bill Gates, Donald Trump, let me in now
Spin now, I got money to lend my friends now
We in now, candy Benz, Kenwood and 10"s now
I win now, fucking lesbian twins now
Seeing now, through the pen I make my ends now"
Kanye West (who Donald Trump said he "loves") on "So Appalled"
"I'm so appalled, Spalding ball
Balding, Donald Trump taking dollars from y'all"
The Game on "El Chapo"
"Seen a nigga chopped up on a Tuesday
While the club goin' up on a Tuesday
This is goons day, I can have Guadalupe
Come through and knock Donald Trump out his tupee"
Beastie Boys on "Johnny Ryall"
"Donald Trump and Donald Tramp living in the men's Shelter
Wonderbread bag shoes and singing Helter Skelter
He asks for a dollar, you know what it's for
Man, bottle after bottle, he always needs more"
Jeezy on "Thug Motivation 101"
"Hands on, Jeezy really counted them checks
I'm Donald Trump in a white tee and white 1's
The conversation is money: nigga, you want some?"
Nonetheless, we haven't seen any rappers really speak out in support of Trump, despite giving him lyrical shout-outs over the years. Trump did express interest in running against Kanye West one day though, during a recent interview with Rolling Stone, while he also pumped up his own ego with claims that Kanye likes him. "He's said very nice things about me in the past... extremely positive things," Trump said. We're unsure if this actually means Ye will be voting for Trump though. He continued, "He's actually a different kind of person than people think. He's a nice guy. I hope to run against him someday."