Political Responsibility of Hip Hop Heavyweights

Snoop Dogg and Donald Trump arrive at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in New York City on March 9, 2011. 

AP Photo/Charles Sykes

Let’s get something out of the way from the very beginning: the re-election of Donald Trump was any number of not-so-flattering adjectives (upsetting, disappointing, concerning, troublesome, worrisome, scary, etc.)--to put it completely mildly. His first few days in office, he signed a number of executive orders that are highly controversial. It’s no surprise that one of the primary concerns is his attack on affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies–along with the quick response by a slew of major companies that ended their DEI efforts as soon as (or even before) the order was signed. The eagerness to get rid of DEI sends a clear message that there is no interest in supporting the advancement of the most marginalized groups in this country. While the stance of the President and big business isn’t new or surprising at all, what is seemingly more disappointing is how many in the hip hop community–especially some of its most prominent figures–appear to not be bothered by, or even siding with, those who are promoting these ideologies and agendas.

The most recent headlines about artists like Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Nelly performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration resulted in a lot of backlash towards these artists. For the reasons stated earlier, the sentiment is that these artists (and others like them in the hip hop community) either agree with these orders/policies–which can do significant harm to the very communities they claim to represent. Either that or, even if they don’t agree with those policies in particular, they see themselves benefitting enough from other promises made by the Orange Man that they are willing to turn a blind eye to said policies. In either case, the optics are that major hip hop artists are partaking in the celebration of somebody who is intentionally weaponizing the highest political seat in our country against the people these rappers say they belong to. When you consider that hip hop’s origins are rooted in speaking up for, and sharing the story of, those who are most marginalized–specifically, Black youth from lower socioeconomic backgrounds–it is easy to understand why people would be so disappointed by these artists.

Reflecting on hip hop’s history also invites an examination of the complex political responsibility that hip hop has today. Beyond the individual politics of any of these artists or their motives for standing next to Trump, it is important to acknowledge that political leaders have now demonstrated that hip hop’s approval is required in order for them to have success on a national level. We all know that hip hop rallying behind Obama played a huge role in his election. We saw how Trump cozied up to Kanye to spread his “MAGA” messaging, as well as trying to ingratiate himself with rappers by pardoning big names like Lil Wayne and Kodak Black right before he left office in 2020. Ten years ago, who would have thought that The Breakfast Club would be a required stop on the campaign trail for almost any Democratic presidential candidate? And despite the outcome of the most recent election, it was clear that Vice President Harris not only had the support of hip hop heavy weights during her 2024 campaign, but that they were prominently featured to help her secure voters. All of these examples make it evidently clear that both sides of the political spectrum are vying for the support and influence of hip hop artists.

It’s actually fascinating to consider how crucial hip hop’s role is in the political landscape today. It has only existed for a little over 50 years. For at least its first 15-20 years, it was the outcast (too easy to make that pun) and the rebel that mainstream America was scared to embrace. Yet, the last 25-30 years has seen it shift and grow so quickly that it is no longer asking to be heard, but rather is being asked to speak for those seeking the powerful and influential positions possible. In some ways, you could argue that this is what hip hop wanted all along; to be able to have access to political figures and people in positions of authority to help change the overall conditions that so many rappers and hip hop community members come from (I mean, Jim Jones essentially argued this exact point). The White House and other political spaces are no longer distant and seemingly out of reach. More than having access, politicians need hip hop to get there themselves!

Although all of that sounds nice, it’s an incomplete analysis. While it’s true that politicians recognize they need hip hop in order to achieve their own agenda, they use it for just that: their agenda. And as we saw at the beginning of this article, that agenda rarely is about true reform and structural change that will benefit the hip hop community. The result is that the most popular and esteemed hip hop artists get reduced to puppets and tokens who achieve some minimal, personal gain, but even less–if any–communal benefit. This is especially sad when you consider that hip hop–at its best–serves as the voice of the unheard and ignored. The artists who are most celebrated are typically recognized as embodying some of the most authentic depictions of those communities. Yet, by the time they access the spaces and people that they were once ignored by, their reality–and the perception of it–has been so warped that they may still perform as someone who is marginalized, but act in accordance with the elite status they have obtained. Thus, the most imitated culture and popular music genre in the world ends up in a situation where it is desperately needed by outsiders to establish and maintain [political] power, but unable to secure enough of that same power to make any significant, positive change for the most marginalized within its own community.

I should add here that there is a difference between meeting with the President and endorsing or co-signing the President (or any political figure). During Trump’s first presidential campaign, there were many people who went to speak with him and/or his representatives. Even then, we had a pretty good sense of who he was, but meeting and talking to presidents on behalf of the people is nothing new. To try to get a better sense of what somebody’s agenda truly is, trying to help them understand your needs and concerns, attempting to find some common ground, or even working together to pass legislation that will benefit those who are marginalized is all important work. Having said that, collaborating with a person of influence—perhaps reluctantly—in order to make as much possible change as you can is drastically different from siding with, celebrating, or seemingly championing someone who is explicitly doing harm to your community (not to mention the masses). All the rappers referenced earlier were doing the latter.

Let me be clear about something. None of what I have said is to personally attack any person mentioned in this article or anybody it might reflect. What I’ve outlined is exactly how the systems of oppression and marginalization are designed to work. That said, I do believe it is important for us to name what is happening so that we can notice the patterns and address the issue. In the grand scheme of things, hip hop (as a collective body) is still relatively new to this status of wealth and power. Like with anything, it is easy to just be happy to be in the mix when you have had to fight so hard to gain access. The access alone can feel like the victory. I also imagine that the initial introduction to these unfamiliar spaces and people can lead to many new ideas, understandings, temptations, etc. that easily lead to manipulation, missteps, and/or decisions that are counter to what someone may otherwise believe they represent. However, now that we have several examples of how folks have been manipulated, it’s time to learn from these past mistakes. 

Whether they like it or not, successful hip hop artists can no longer view their public engagement with, and/or endorsements of, political figures as simply a matter of personal choice. If they claim to represent hip hop publicly in other areas of their lives, then politics can be no different. Politicians are using individuals within hip hop, as well as its platforms, to their own benefit. This alone means that artists must be mindful of how their public actions can sway the course of politics, and ultimately, the potential ramifications resulting from their decisions. It also means that they can be taken to task by the general hip hop public if they claim to represent hip hop, but are not moving in accordance with the will of the general body. Even as I type this, I acknowledge that this may be an unfair burden for artists to have to bear. Yet, in my opinion, it is the reality that we–and especially they (the artists and other prominent hip hop figures)--must accept. In doing so, we may end up with not only a better hip hop culture, but a better country.