The American (as well as Canadian)
media is diligently making certain not to miss a second of the recent surge of
presidential candidates battling it amongst one another with the most predictable
tools used in every political race to the White House, including stale jargon,
a sale of hope and optimism, and most recently, the annoying hoax up republican
sleeves: the so-called concern and dedication to the “fight against
terror”. We here at Defsounds have been following the
locomotion of a charismatic black senator, the woman who uses tears (a female
power-tool) oh so eloquently to gain sympathy votes, and the old man who can
barely stand on his two feet yet being a war vet that he is apparently
overshadows his ignorant and foolish statements like the one where he promises
to provide universal health care while lowering taxes – both economically and
logically not practical, but hey, how many republican supporters actually
caught on to such nonsense?
As we juggle the latest news
reports on elections with the most recent album reviews and monitoring of the
up-and-coming artists, we thought to ourselves, what would happen if a rapper
was elected to the White House? According
to RIAA’s Consumer Profile of 2006 hip-hop is the second most popular genre galloping
in after rock. Are we then, crazy to
even entertain an idea that would place hip-hop’s rock stars in the forefront
of the world’s largest popularity contest, the presidential race?
Let’s set aside the pre-requisite
for political experience because truthfully, rappers do not have any. But please, let that not be the end-all of
our inquisition. For George W. Bush,
with all his political “experience”, served the U.S. as a president for not
only one – but two terms in office, not due to political experience soaked in
ethics and leadership, but mainly due to the fact that he a) made the rich even
richer and b) sold the entire war to his own citizens that’s based on fabricated
‘evidence’ and fear. So, political practice
is of course preferred in a candidate but we here at Defsounds find that the
right intentions mixed with colossal popularity can sure go a long way (think
Angelina Jolie and her endless lobbying for UNHCR).
The rapper who continues to overshadow
his counterparts in album sales is the late Tupac Shakur, his lyrics pushing
somewhere around 36 million units in total.
No matter how popular though, Pac cannot run for presidency. So, the second in command would probably be
Jigga man himself, who is not only the most popular rapper, but also arguably,
the best one at that (sorry Wayne,
time to get serious). Remaining
open-minded to our idea, one is bound to notice why Jay-Z can make a suitable
candidate for the popularity contest (aside from the 25 million records sold). First, he was not raised among the American
elites who in turn make up a very small percentage of the population. Shawn Carter came from the economic and
social struggle that unfortunately encompasses a large number of American
citizens; in itself that would allow him to relate to the people he is leading,
much more than perhaps, any previous nominee could. Social services such as welfare and health
care, as well as public services such as education, are more likely be in the
forefront of Jay-Z’s policy rather than let’s say, an invasion. For what person who has grown up around death
and violence would eagerly lead a country into more death and suffering? Vibing off of that, how much torment and loss
has Bush experienced in his own life when he decided to invade Iraq (not to
mention Afghanistan), causing a humanitarian crisis that has resulted in close
to a million dead bodies so far? Probably
not much.
Another potential candidate, at
least according to popularity, is Eminem.
His Marshall Mathers LP sold
over 10 million copies, earning Slim RIAA’s Diamond Certification, an honorary
not often seen in the hip-hop genre. Granted,
most purchasers of Eminem’s music are likely under the legal voting age, but so
what? Kids can influence parents, and I’m willing to bet that a Hillary/Eminem
debate would sway many people away from the teary-eyed creature who attempts to
use bigotry and racism in order to swing voters away from any candidate who
isn’t Christian and white. An advocate of free speech and never the one to hold
back his tongue, Em just may be the dude to endure a debate without holding
punches all the while pulling the presidential platform away from jargon and
rhetoric, and closer to honesty and reality.
And what about Nas? The man who brought us Illmatic prior to inciting much debate with both his last album, Hip Hop is Dead, and his equally
controversial succession, N*****. The amount of controversy Nas brings to the
game may be just enough to elect him for president, and if he gains sufficient
votes for a nomination, why not consider Mr. Jones a serious candidate? Just as Jigga has his beautiful B, Nas has
Kelis, which allows him to openly parade his appeared values for marriage and
family as his wife attempts to draw in the female voters (granted, the naked
pictures of Kelis would not go over too well with Evangelical, Baptist or
Catholic Christians, a population that makes up 70 % of America’s faith). But irrespective of Kelis’s eccentric
behavior, Nas can make it up with his critical, and many times disapproving, outlook
on society. As the 2008 elections trot closer
toward the finish line, we here at Defsounds would like to ask you to entertain
the idea of a presidential rap race.
Like all levels of politics, a popularity contest in hip-hop is not much
different then a popularity contest in a presidential campaign (maybe minus the
tattoos and chains). The level of
success depends on management, PR staff and the support of the media itself as
much as the passion, dedication and actual understanding of one’s craft. For MC’ing and political rhetoric are skills
in their own merit, ones we can dissect and analyze, criticize and scrutinize,
all the while secretly championing for our own leaders and saviors to win the
election or the Grammy because when they do so, somehow in the most irrational
yet emotional manner, we feel that we’ve won too.
COMMENTS
Feeling dat we won to would never happen, because unless u forgot they always put us last.I think they want to ban hip-hop.1
sad how some of you cant take out like 5-10 mins of your boring ass life to read a few paragraphs...? SMH....
I like it i would personally vote of common....!
1) jay would have trouble with the whole drug dealer thing!
2) Em, haha.Em would just go wild! shit would be mad funny!
3) Nas? hah....kelis would def fuck it up for him!
get off the net and pick up a damn book. reading is fundamental.
That was eloquently put but far-fetched, we can only dream of such of a world, look how long it took someone like Barrack to get just his foot in the door. However, I've got to say even though I prefer Nas I think Jay would make a better president, he's more level headed.
I dont know what to say...i mean jays the best choice probably ....but i just dont see how it would work
shit...what up with Common, Diddy,KRS1,kanye they all got a better chance of being prez
jigga man has got my vote...if he ever in a couple of years down the line decide to run 4 president....not just cuz he is the greatest rapper ever, but 4 the fact that he helps people alot (i mean the nigga went to africa and gave back to the motherland) also b'cuz he is focused
just imagine a rapper in the white house???? shit would be so crazy, they would be shooting videos, hoes will be all over the place, parties nd shit like that lool
Be easy Marshall will rip any rapper alive ill put my life on that brah
RAKIM FOR PRESIDENT!
KRS VICE, AND GET PREMO AS SENATOR!!
but then again, im canadian..why should i care?
Jay Would Make The Best President Hes Got the best Business mind, maybe even 50 or Diddy Could Work. Dont Suppose It Matters The Idea Of A Rapper President Is About As Crazy and Far Fetched As Having A Retard In Office
Actually Hold On
We Do!
The reason he aint mention KRS, common and diddy is because even though they are good leaders, they aint however top contestants in raps popularity contest. And KANYE? im just gonna assume that was some kind of joke. lol. I think jiggas a beast, he has major influence over a lot of artists, and also helped to mold the rap game into what it is today, Even though its someone else turn to take over and mold the rap game to a brand new chapter, Jay should still be the over see'r due to well over a decade of work that he put into this. Keep it thorough day piffers.
-Zikki
Quite frankly, I'd rather leave the running of the nation to the politicans....jigga 4 president? nooooo lol ( no diss to jay)
A hustler would never let the economy get in recession?
Is may point valid!!!
the president doesnt control the economy.....that would be communism
if were considering how the article just broke down the president's job descriptions Jay would make an appropriate candidate.
he doens't have the best leadership qualities for say but he has the relatability to the voting public and let's be real...
Jay's always been able to construct a heavy team around him that helps enable the power moves he makes
Jay has always said that "he makes everyone around him rich" thats good nuf for me.
Nas would be a good one too, but America aint ready for Real Talk yet. Dude tooooo intelligent and deep for most Americans to understand. Most voters like to be brainwashed by the canidadtes themselves you see.
Em is just too out there....HE IS TOP 5 Mc, but hed be better suited for like Dept of Defence.
But really, Common would be the illest President.
"Em is just too out there....HE IS TOP 5 Mc, but hed be better suited for like Dept of Defence."
lol, we'd bomb everything.
My votes on Jay... His grind is sick..
www.bloodcuzinz.com
Jay or Nas possibly Em... but imagine Dr.Dre or Snoop, weed in one hand ho's for bodyguards! Damn America be straight pimpin! Dre n Snoop get the police to confiscate weed bring it straight to the Black house then pop a po po and smoke that stick sh*t
hell ya!!
sticky**
Jigga for President, lol, he's my favorite but like, America would fail as a country cuzz everyone would be getting handouts, thered be no more STRUGGGLE, though it is a good thing, fck it!....Intresting read.
how the fuck was this article funny.....there was nothing funny about it, so i kno 4 a fact you did not read the article or maybe you read somthin totally different to what i saw
am guessing your among a couple of the dumb niggaz on defsounds who could not take out just a couple of minutes of their time 2 read it...and you just came on here to leave a comment just for the sake of it
get a life nigga....PS, you can start by getting that dumb picture of the nigga out of your avatar
^^ lmao he went sick.
Nas: He's my favorite rapper but homie is too damn radical to be the president. LOL. Nas would fuck around and put who ever that made more that $80,000 annually in jail. Then he would give their money to the less fortunate. I'm not mad at that at all but the people who actually make that much that work their ass off for that, deserve it (doctors, lawyers, etc...)
Eminem: Let's be serious, Eminem would fuck around and cause World War III. LOL.
Jay-Z: Jay-Z is the best choice for Pres out of the three. That's not really saying much though. But I don't know how Jay would make this country better. He's too focused on himself getting richer...that he might forget about the people.
Like you brought up earlier I think Pac would of made one hell of a president. He was smart, politically inclined, he knew the struggle, but like Nas he would of went crazy and deported or jailed the rich. LOL
So in the end rappers wouldn't really make good presidents. They should stick to rapping and leave politics to politicians. With that said VOTE BARRACK!!!!!!!!
I would say NAS, Jay-Z cant even handle being the president of def jam errybody complainin about him I cant imagine him being the president of the U.S
i think it is really somthin that we have 2 seriouly consider. these politians have to cater to the hip hop generation 2 some degree. but if i have 2 pick a canidate, i would have 2 pick jigga, only because he seems 2 be able 2 mingle wit corporate america and the hip hop america.
my pick would be krs cause he smart as a motherfucka.
Wow who drew that NaS picture? Dude got mad skills ae.
man yall nuts...no 1 mention will smith??? i kno he aint exactly the greatest of all time, but he is a rapper...and the man would make the best prez....family man...america seen him grow into a star...charismatic....n plus there are two song every1 in america know....happy birthday and the fresh prince theme
No way...
WORD.. its gotta be WILL SMITH!!!
No down south reps... Def Sounds dont know shit.... Up North biased.......
Namne one Mc from down south thatd be a good president....I got time.....C'mon now, think yall.....No not HIM....Not him either.....Scarface could do it. but he wont.....Not GAYNE!!!....Maybe Luda or Andre 3 stacks....Well thats about it...and no DS aint North biased...DS just knows that down south rappers aint fit to be president.
We know Birdman steals(cough cough), so Dept of Treasury is a no go for him. Oh how could i forget about Gucci Man?? Easy...who's Gucci Manne again?? I already forgot him. Like i stated... COMMON for President!!! Him and Will Smith would actually get me to vote.
Hypothetically, I would vote for Luke as President. He would probably enlist the assistance of Too Short as his VP. KRS could be the head of Education. Hmm, Attorney General would be Chuck D. Em would be press secretary.
t.i. for secretary of defense. he already got access to all the weaponry.
Yeh, we could pass him off as a Napolean impersonator
personally i would think CHAMILLIONAIRE would be a great candidate. he is always on top of his political game, doesn't curse in his rhymes, and avoids the negativity in the world that most rappers fall into
what about david banner, he said fuck al sharpton, that alone would get him the white vote.
Nice article! Of course, I don't take the notion seriously, but it was an interesting read. Obama's success has everyone saying, "What if...," and "It could...," instead of," It'll never happen. Good for American culture and society in general.
yeah, i think its more resonable to believe that someone influenced by the hip hop culture will be president rather than an actual rapper.
Very interesting! I would give it up to Nas. I think that J will have a power trip, although he can relate & has immaculate album sales, at the end of the day it will on be business & not about our society in whole.
CO-SIGN. BUT THE COUNTRY IS HIGH AS SHIT IF THAT HAPPENS WITH ANY RAPPER. OH YEAH MOMMY YOU BAD AS SHIT LET A NIGGA IN YOU OVAL OFFICE!! SPEAK SOME MORE.
3 of the best rappers ever you cant go wrong with none of these dudes,besides 2pac these are the only other 3mc's that can hold the #1 spot.
my vote is master p for prez and eminem for secretary of defence smoke some bud and blow some niggas up iz all good
my vote would be dr. dre for pres...hes a perfectionist and wouldnt act without thinkin rationallly...
Fuck Jay, Fuck Nas, Fuck Em. (No disrespect to their amazing music) Politically? Jay wouldn't have a clue, Hes a business man.. Not a politican. Nas? Maybe, But I think his outlook would be bias to the Black Community. Eminem? lmfao hell no.. He'd probably kill off all women, WE CANT HAVE THAT! My opinion, Would be someone not on this list.. Immortal Technique.
Fuck Jay, Fuck Nas, Fuck Em. (No disrespect to their amazing music) Politically? Jay wouldn't have a clue, Hes a business man.. Not a politican. Nas? Maybe, But I think his outlook would be bias to the Black Community. Eminem? lmfao hell no.. He'd probably kill off all women, WE CANT HAVE THAT! My opinion, Would be someone not on this list.. Immortal Technique.