You know what’s hip? Rap music and politics! Wait, no it’s not? Well, nobody tell GOP and presidential candidate Ben Carson, who’s campaign released an ‘inspiring’ hip hop song in an attempt to relate to young black voters.
“Reaching them on a level they appreciate and follow and see if we can attract their consciousness about the election,” Carson campaign spokesman Doug Watts told ABC News. “They need to get involved and express their voice through their vote.”
That’s about the least hip thing ever said.
Anyway, the track titled “freedom” isn’t a banger, unfortunately, as the 60-second spot featuring rapper Aspiring Mogul feels like it was made by a politician, and not to appeal to a younger generation. Listen to it yourself.
The track, which features a smooth jazz flute, is half-spoken word and half-rapped. Here’s some of the genius lyrics (transcribed by Politico) “Heal… (vote, vote) … inspire … (vote, vote) … revive … (vote, vote) … Ben Carson 2016, vote and support Ben Carson, for our next president, it’d be awesome.”
According to the ABC report, Carson paid $150,000 for the radio spot. Ludacris.
Carson is already backtracking on the ad, telling Politico it was his campaign who thought the rap would be a good idea.
“Well there are people in the campaign who felt that was a good way to do things, and you know, they’re entitled to their opinions,” he said. “I support them in doing that, but I probably would have taken a little different approach.”
If you want to listen to an inspiring political ad, go no further than 2008’s “Yes We Can,” which is great, because Carson’s version is laughably bad.
