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.”

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Artist Spotlight

Toscode unveils soft melodies that speak the language of real love on “WHAT KIND OF LOVE”

Toscode’s latest release, “WHAT KIND OF LOVE” is a pure love song with a soft romantic vibe, driven by the desire for something real to last forever. The song has a soft musical note, with the violin warming the arrangement and cool shakers and percussion driving the rhythm. All of these together form an intimate foundation for a song of the heart.

The romantic message is most apparent in the lyrics, “there’s nothing I can’t do for you, I’m so into you.” The core message of the song is not complex but rather a devotion to love and the willingness to sacrifice everything for a special person. That straightforwardness gives the song an accessible emotional quality, particularly for those who have known the feeling of being deeply in love and wishing that connection would last.

“WHAT KIND OF LOVE” feels like a sincere love declaration, with the soft violin, percussion, and romantic lyrics blending smoothly. It’s a track from Toscode’s Untitled EP, a warm introduction to the project’s emotional side. The best thing about the song is its simplicity. It’s about love and commitment and the hope of finding something real enough to last. It’s sweet, loving, and centered on a feeling that many listeners can identify with.

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Artist Spotlight

Ninjahtiger brings survival instinct and savage rap energy with “Apex Predators”

“Apex Predators” is a hard-hitting hip-hop/gangster rap collab from Ninjahtiger & Jahlnt. Raw street lyricism, jungle imagery, and the instinct to survive power the track. The song’s confrontational tone is set from the very first bar of “From the wild you can’t domesticate”, linking its lyrical ideas to the image of unruled environments.

The track is about resilience, surviving the elements, and quieting the noise with fierce flows and sharp delivery. The record’s cinematic feel creates tension, a feeling of moving through a world that takes strength and resolve to get by. Thanks to the gangster rap foundation, the delivery is direct and uncompromising while the song has a strong thematic identity with its jungle and survival imagery.

“Apex Predators” works because it’s all about endurance and endurance. Jahlnt and Ninjaht come at the track aggressively, using the language of the wild to drive home ideas of refusal to be ruled and keeping on the move. The result is a high-energy rap release that feels built on tension, resilience, and raw expression. From the first bar, the collaboration has a strong personality, with its aggressive delivery, fierce flows, street lyricism, and cinematic atmosphere.

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