Donald J. Trump has had a long, somewhat complicated relationship with hip-hop, one that goes back to the ‘90s when he was a symbol of wealth, swagger, and unbridled capitalism. He was an aspirational figure to most rappers; he regularly partied with the likes of now-disgraced moguls like Diddy or Russell Simmons and was mentioned on a number of iconic rap records, from Raekwon’s “Incarcerated Scarfaces” to Nelly’s “Country Grammar.” Then, in 2015, he became a lightning rod presidential candidate, running on an extreme platform that included a muslim ban and building a wall on the border to keep Mexican immigrants out of the country. By the time he won the 2016 presidential election, only one major rapper gave him full throated support: Kanye West, who infamously visited Trump in New York City a month after the election, discussing issues such as prison reform and American manufacturing.
Over the years, more rappers started to support Trump, even if one can logically question what some of the motives were. Outside of Kanye—Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, and Lil Pump were the most fervent Trump supporters in the lead up to the 2020 election. It ended up being a savvy move for Wayne and Black, who were both pardoned right before Trump left the presidency in 2021.
We are in very different times now. In 2024, Trump has had more success with rappers than any presidential candidate since Barack Obama in 2008. It’s also telling what kind of rappers are backing Trump: support is coming from figures in hip-hop who have notable fan bases but aren’t necessarily superstars. This coincides with Trump’s improved polling numbers among black male voters, bolstered by his focus on the migrant situation in various cities and inflation.
Trump’s anti-establishment persona, historically aligned with hip-hop culture, has contributed to his appeal, as well as a general fatigue with Joe Biden, who was the nominee before he stepped aside this weekend. He is also credited for the 2020 stimulus checks intended to alleviate COVID-19 economic pressures. (Ironically, those stimulus checks helped over-heat the economy, leading to inflation.)
Here is a running list of rappers and figures in hip-hop who have co-signed Trump in the 2024 election.
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