Here Are 7 Rappers Keeping It Real About President Trump’s Inauguration
Unless your Azealia Banks, hip-hop generally doesn't like President-elect Donald Trump. When Trump won the 2016 presidential election, rappers across the U.S. were overwhelmingly disappointed. Before Election Day, the likes of Chance The Rapper, Jay Z, Pusha T and more were pushing for Hillary Clinton to win, even performing at her fundraisers and rallies.
One of the most polarizing topics in the news right now is Trump's inauguration tomorrow (Jan. 20) and the artists performing at the event. Since his election in November, Trump's team has been struggling to book A-List performers for inauguration events. Whether it's the fear of backlash from fans or just disdain for Trump, the crème de la crème of the music world have been publicly declining invitations sent to them by the Trump administration. While the confirmed performers include Chrisette Michele, Toby Keith, 3 Doors Down and many more, hip-hop is noticeably absent.
Kanye West, who met up with Trump for a quick meeting earlier this month, was rumored to perform, but Tom Barrack, Trump’s longtime friend and the chair of his Presidential Inaugural Committee, said that the rapper was not asked to perform at the inauguration.
“We haven’t asked him,” Barrack said. “He’s been great. He considers himself a friend of the president-elect. But it’s not the venue. The venue we have for entertainment is filled out. It’s perfect. It’s going to be typically and traditionally American. Kanye is a great guy we just haven’t asked him to perform. We move on with our agenda.”
For the most part, hip-hop isn't too fond of one confirmed performer, Chrisette Michele, accepting Trump's offer. Questlove offered to pay the singer to skip her inauguration performance.
There was also a rumor that R. Kelly would perform at the event, but Kells quickly shot down that thought. “Despite the rumors circulating online, R. Kelly will not be performing at this year’s inauguration ceremony," he posted on Twitter. "Any reports stating otherwise are simply untrue.” For good measure, the “Ignition” artist added the caption, “End. Of. Story.”
With all of the recent talk about the inauguration, T.I. wrote an open letter to the world about the recent meetings between Trump and Black celebrities like Kanye West and Steve Harvey. “Attn. Be clear…. There IS an agenda behind all these meetings. I shall explain in detail. Be aware. Be alert. Or Be Bamboozled!!!!,” he wrote as the caption to his Instagram video detailing his thoughts.
For the last few months, more and more rappers have chimed in about Inauguration day. Check out what rappers are saying about Trump's big day.
- 1
2 Chainz Turns Down Invitation to Perform
Donald Trump reached out to 2 Chainz to perform at the inauguration but the Atlanta rapper declined the invitation.
Tity Boi revealed the news in video on Instagram. Posted up in the back of a Maybach, he started, “So I usually just leave a lot of shit to myself. I wanted to go to The White House. I never got invited. I seen all them beautiful pics of everybody going to all these parties. I just wanted to say what’s up to Barack. We all came from a troubled past, but I seen him give people some really big chances.”
He continued, “But anyway it didn’t happen, and I’m cool with that. But then Trump calls management. And I know they only doing this ’cause they can’t get nobody else. They want me to perform for the inauguration. I had to say nah. No matter how much money it was. I probably won’t be going to The White House no time soon."
- 2
Snoop Dogg Blasts Any “Uncle Tom” Who Performs
A few days after President Obama delivered his farewell address, Snoop Dogg went on Instagram to ask who will be the first Black musician to accept President-elect Trump's invitation to perform at the inauguration.
“So ain’t nobody gonna perform for Donald Trump, huh?” he says in the above video. “Which one of you jiggaboo ass niggas gonna be the first one to do it? I’m waitin.’ I’m gonna roast the fuck out of you uncle tom ass niggas for doin’ it. Which one of you niggas gonna do it first?”
- 3
YG Says He’d Perform "FDT" for $4 Million
YG hopped on Twitter to say that he's willing to perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration, but there are some stipulations.
The Bompton rapper revealed that there's a big price to pay to get him to show up at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. “I’ll perform ‘Fuck Donald Trump’ at his inauguration for $4,000,000,” he tweeted.
Fans even started a GoFundMe page in order to raise the $4 million.
- 4
Ice-T Jokingly Turns Down Performance Offer
Ice-T went on Twitter to jokingly turn down an invitation to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
“I just got call to perform at the Inauguration…. I didn’t pick up and Blocked the number,” Ice-T says in his tweet. But it turns out the rapper was joking. "Jokes people... I got Jokes!" he tweeted.
- 5
Riff Raff Says He Would Perform for $50,000
Riff Raff recently revealed that he would be okay with performing at Trump’s inaugural ball for $50,000.
“Well, I love money. And I’m in America. And I was born in America. And I love money. So why wouldn’t I?” said Riff when asked if he would grace the stage at Trump’s inaugural festivities if called upon. “I’ve had enough money taken away from me by the Government, why shouldn’t I perform?” he added. “Give me $50K, and I’m good.”
The Neon Icon creator further expanded on his reasoning, and a possible bright side to Trump presidency saying, “I’ve had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes…close to a million dollars in taxes. Somebody told me Donald Trump is going to lower the taxes from 40 percent to 15 percent. That’s 300,000 to 400,000 in my bank account personally. That’s a Lambo a year…money that I’ve been giving away to whoever it is. I don’t care if it’s pack of Starbursts that’s running for President.”
- 6
Azealia Banks Would Love to Perform
Azealia Banks is a big supporter of President-elect Donald Trump. She shared on Facebook her desire to perform at the upcoming ceremony.
“Saw the entertainment line for the inauguration it made me very upset,” Banks wrote. “This is an EPIC moment in modern history and it should def be celebrated in style. I would love to perform at the inauguration.”
In a since-deleted Instagram post, Banks discussed her ideas for the ceremony, which include the participation of far-right personality Milo Yiannopoulos.
“The inauguration line up is so trash,” she wrote. “I should have been performing the big big beat at the inauguration. Who are any of these people associated with it? And who the hell authorized this shit? This election was waaaaay too lit for there to be such a lack-luster celebration. Me and Milo should be hosting it and turning that party into the teen choice awards.”
Yiannopoulos seemed to like the idea. He and Banks traded brief comments of support on the latter’s original Facebook post.
- 7
Chuck D Thinks the Inauguration Should Be Protested
Chuck D denounced any notion or rumor that he was supportive of comedian Steve Harvey’s much-maligned meeting with President-elect Donald Trump. The Public Enemy member clarified what he meant since there was no actual quotes in the piece written by TMZ, who originally reported the news. The rapper emphasized that he wants to see Trump’s inauguration protested. He also said Harvey’s meeting was not as big of a deal as some made it out to be.
“@tmz not exactly what I said but it aint like im goin to DC,” Chuck D wrote on Twitter. “Inauguration should be protested but SteveHarvey aint a issue on this nex 4yr BS.”
The legendary MC also expressed his appreciation for all the artists speaking out against Trump. He specifically highlighted the actions of T.I. as being commendable.
“I said this for the past 2 months @Tip barking is necessary, We BACK it up with some BITE,” he wrote. “Its what rappers do , bring noise & WE support.”