It’s true. Hip-hop’s relationship with the White House and politics hasn’t been all fun and games.
VIDEO: Yeah…That Just Happened: Marco Rubio Quotes Wiz Khalifa & Jay-Z On Senate Floor
There was Tipper Gore’s crusade against rap music that started in the early 1990s with the Parents Music Resource Center initiative that pushed the music industry to label rap music with “explicit lyrics or content” stickers. Add every congressman and representative since those days that has stood in Washington D.C. to argue that rap music was the devil.
There was Kanye West’s rant after Hurricane Katrina where he denounced the way George W. Bush handled the natural disaster. You remember that of course…“George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
How about Sarah Palin’s nagging about FLOTUS Michelle Obama inviting Common to the White House for a performance.
Oh…then there was Ronald Reagan’s entire presidency…his conservative America sparked the entire political rap/gangsta rap age.
But don’t let ’em fool you! Behind closed doors all these politicians bump a little 2 Chainz, Tupac or Biggie now and then.
DETAILS: Say What?! Marco Rubio On His Love For Hip-Hop & Tupac!
So they can talk all they want…but “we don’t believe you, you need more people!” How do we know? Because here are the ones brave enough to come out and admit their love for hip-hop/rap music.
Bill Clinton Loves Weezy F. Baby
It might not come as a surprise, being that Clinton was considered our “first black president” by Toni Morrison. Not to mention he’s a beast at the saxophone and his scandals sound like a bad rap song. But he actually didn’t even like the music until about 2010 when his daughter Chelsea Clinton introduced him to Lil Wayne.
“My daughter introduced me to rap and hip hop music after I said some things she thought were not very smart,” he said, referring to him stereotyping rap artists. Now, he can’t get enough of the tight-pants wearin’, lock-swinging MC.
Bob Dole and George H.W. Bush Want EAZY!
Bet you didn’t see this one coming. Former senator Dole and former president Bush knew all about N.W.A founder and rapper Eazy-E’s gangsta rap ways, but that didn’t stop them from inviting him to an exclusive luncheon in 1991 hosted by the president. Yep, that happened. Eazy even donated $2,500 to the Republican Party…which no doubt made them love him more. Rhymes, music, money and lavish meals? Sounds like the makings of a dope album to me.
Marco Rubio Knows All The Classics, Including Public Enemy
A politician who is a rap analyst as well? I don’t think rap has been mentioned this much in the White House and on the Senate floor since the early 1990s when all politicians thought it was the demise of this country! But Marco Rubio (R-Fl), the alleged “Republican Savior,” is either trying to relate to the GOP’s untapped audience, or he really does just love rap music. During a senate hearing this week, the senator quoted Wiz Khalifa and Jay-Z, saying they were modern day poets.
Want more? He’s also been quoted saying that Public Enemy made a huge impact, he loves Tupac and Eminem, Nicki Minaj is not a rapper, and Kanye West’s rap isn’t “pure rap music.” Who does he think he is? Michael Eric Dyson!?
Eric Cantor’s iPod Looks Like Yours and Mine
Yep, it’s true. Eric Cantor (R-VA) has a confession: “I like that Wiz Khalifa stuff.” Ok, he did call it “stuff” which was a little…weird. But he did mention that he listens to Jay-Z and Lil Wayne too!
Obama IS Hip-Hop!
Ok, I might have taken it too far. But seriously, where would Obama be without hip-hop? He couldn’t separate himself from it if he wanted to. But he doesn’t have to, because he listens to it all. Jay-Z (who is definitely his homie…no, like in real life). Ludacris. Pharrell. Pit Bull and Flo Rida. Even Jeezy. And he might have called Kanye West an “asshole,” but on any given day you can catch the president brushing the dirt off his shoulder.
I think it’s safe to say that hip-hop and politics love-hate relationship is here to stay. All you politicians can’t stay closeted rap fans for long!
Take it from these guys above…the truth shall set you free.
