Music
Barack Obama Theorizes Why So Many Rappers Supported Donald Trump
Getty Image There are parallels between Donald Trump and rappers that make the mogul seem more attractive to the artists that rallied behind him. …
During the recent election, many hip-hop fans were disappointed to find that some of the genre’s biggest stars chose to support Donald Trump in spite of his policies. Lil Wayne, Lil Pump, and more posted to social media openly professing their preference for Trump over his opposition Joe Biden, while others like 50 Cent joked that they liked Trump’s tax policy more than Biden’s. In a recent interview with The Atlantic, former president Barack Obama tries to explain why Trump’s presentation tended to resonate with this particular demographic.
“I have to remind myself that if you listen to rap music, it’s all about the bling, the women, the money,” he says. “A lot of rap videos are using the same measures of what it means to be successful as Donald Trump is. Everything is gold-plated. That insinuates itself and seeps into the culture.”
Indeed, there’s a lot of rap music that is explicitly about the topics mentioned above (and just as much that isn’t), while even some of the most progressive-minded minded rappers across the genre’s 40-year history have engaged at least a few of these tropes in their efforts to make their music and videos palatable to the widest variety of fans. Rappers in the 90s and 2000s often name-checked Trump to associate themselves with the perception of wealth and those constant cameos were a driving force in Kanye West’s 2016 decision to meet with Trump despite the then candidate’s divisive rhetoric. In Obama’s mind, this is symptomatic of growing materialism in the broader American culture, which makes someone like Trump seem more attractive than they really are.
“America has always had a caste system — rich and poor, not just racially but economically — but it wasn’t in your face most of the time when I was growing up,” he explains. “Then you start seeing Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, that sense that either you’ve got it or you’re a loser. And Donald Trump epitomizes that cultural movement that is deeply ingrained now in American culture.”
He does point out his optimistic view of the future, however, expressing his hope in a younger generation who values different standards for success. “When you look at the younger generation, Malia and Sasha’s generation, you see that more clearly,” he adds. “It’s more often articulated, what they want out of life. They’re much less likely to have a need to be on Wall Street by such-and-such date. That is not how they seem to be defining themselves quite as much. That makes me more optimistic.”
Artist Spotlight
Kovei ignites a rallying cry with the mighty latest release “Mercy”
Kovei is back with the hard-hitting hip-hop statement “Mercy,” a fusion of bold storytelling and a strong sense of purpose. The Los Angeles-based South Asian American rapper and producer delivers a track steeped in resistance, unity, and community strength, while also embracing rich desi musical influences that make the record its own.
The song starts with an Desi-influenced flute melody that immediately grabs the ear, before a punchy kick drum kicks in to establish its commanding vibe. Kovei’s confident delivery drives each verse with surgical precision, balancing lyrical intensity with ease of flow. Lines like “Mercy, we don’t play fair” set the fearless tone. “we the big dogs, big boss, BET TV famous” reinforces the triumphant spirit, but the song never loses sight of its deeper message.
Nihar and Shivan’s standout appearances add additional depth to the record, reinforcing the communal theme of the song while augmenting Kovei’s vision. Each artist’s contribution doesn’t feel like a separate feature, but instead contributes to one unified performance that raises the track’s anthemic quality.
This release is further enhanced by an official music video directed by Darsh Thakker and produced by Chaotic Neutral Studios. The visual presentation, in addition to the single, takes the song’s bold identity to another level but simultaneously highlights its message of resilience and solidarity.
Artist Spotlight
C’batch delivers love, reflections and new beginning through “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)” (EP)
C’batch’s latest EP, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ is a soulful exploration of the never-ending cycle that is love. It’s a release that combines intimacy with looking ahead, blending emotion with cinematic ambition. The EP embraces the ambiguity that follows, instead of providing a clean resolution to heartbreak.
This EP is a sneak peek of C’batch’s upcoming album, “The Vault 4 – Cinematic,” set for release on July 10, 2026, that will go deeper into the emotional universe. The project begins with “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),” a nicely balanced, measured balance of strength and openness that captures the emotional tension between self-protection and hope for another chance. “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) (2)” gives the same emotional struggle from a more reflective perspective, letting the feelings settle with more maturity and quiet conviction.
“Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)1a“ tells a different story, with similar emotions reinterpreted with musical shifts, adding to the experience but still resonating with the core message of the EP. The release is completed with the cinematic version of “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) Cinematic Version 2,“ a sweeping song with cinematic textures that turns the title track into an immersive sound and offers a glimpse of the creative direction behind “The Vault 4 – Cinematic.“
Another point of connection in C’batch’s expanding catalog, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ also supplies the creative inspiration for the two companion versions of “Fluorescent Buzz (You Got Me Falling)“ on the EP of the same name. These releases represent an artist consciously creating a connected musical universe that is growing in emotional depth, storytelling, and cinematic production.
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