'Politics as Usual' freestyle on
Gangsta Grillz: The Preview praises Democratic nominee.
By Shaheem Reid
Ludacris Photo: MTV News
Ludacris is down with "Barack O'Drama" and is supportive of
Barack Obama, but the presidential candidate's camp isn't too excited about the lyrics in "Politics as Usual," a freestyle on the mixtape
Gangsta Grillz: The Preview.
Luda teamed up with DJ Drama for the CD, which recently hit the streets. Among the tracks featuring Cris' lyrical calisthenics is an ode to the Atlanta MC's choice for commander in chief. "Get out and vote or the end will be near," Luda warns over the beat from Young Buck's "Get Buck." "The world is ready for change because Obama is here!"
But those aren't the lyrics that have displeased the Obama team. On the song, 'Cris expresses other thoughts on the political climate, calling
Hillary Clinton "irrelevant" and insinuating that Jesse Jackson's apology to Obama for some recent
crude statements wasn't genuine. Like many of his peers, he also complains about President George W. Bush's "poor" job while in office. "
McCain don't belong in
any chair unless he's paralyzed/ Yeah I said it, 'cause Bush is mentally handicapped," Luda raps.
On Wednesday (July 30), Obama's press representative responded to the freestyle, saying, "As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism and degrading images that he doesn't want his daughters or any children exposed to. This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual, he should be ashamed of these lyrics."
Obama may not support all rap lyrics, but he has gotten overwhelming support from the hip-hop community. If you ask any rapper out there, he or she is likely to tell you "Barack in '08" or give the candidate other props.
Nas recently put
a song called "Black President" on
The N---r Tape mixtape and
Untitled album, while Young Jeezy has
a record called "My President Is Black" coming out on his September 2 release,
The Recession. Unlike some of his hip-hop brethren, Luda has actually had the opportunity to spend time with Obama.
"I'd known about him for a long time," 'Cris recently told MTV while filming a segment for
Mixtape Monday in Atlanta. "I heard about his skills when he was doing his thing in Chicago. I definitely heard some rumors that he was going to run. But I just wanted to feel his vibe, man. He's real down-to-earth, his energy is great. He's just an honest dude, and he's all about change. I'm all for change. I'm just pro-Obama. I don't think there's anybody better who can be put in that office right now besides that man."
Ludacris' camp says a response to the Obama camp's statement is forthcoming.
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