Top 10 Obama Rap Songs

Top 10 Obama Rap Songs

Barack Obama was elected the 44thPresident of the United States on November 4th, 2008 — and millions rejoiced in the streets. In the months leading up to the election, many hip-hop artists made a hobby out of finding words that rhyme with “Obama.” Here’s a countdown of the 10 best Obama rap tributes. Forget Obama Girl, this is Obama Rap.

10. Juelz Santana & Lil Wayne – “Black Republicans”

© Universal

Lyrical Endorsement: “I’m feeling like a black Republican, nah I can’t call it/More like a black Democrat runnin’ them out of office/Young Barack-a Obama, I’m all for it”

In case you’re wondering how a song called “Black Republicans” can pass as an endorsement for a black Democrat, it’s because Juelz Santana and Lil Wayne jacked the original track from Nas’ Hip-Hop Is Dead LP. Santana gave a Diplomatic shout out to Obama over the beat to Nas’ “Black Republican.”

9. Jay-Z & Mary J Blige – “You’re All Welcome”

© Nick Laham/Getty

Lyrical Endorsement: “It’s Ms. No More Drama and Barack Obama of rhymers/Feel honored.”

Nothing like getting a lyrical endorsement from one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. Interestingly, Obama once said that he listens to Jay-Z and Beyonce.

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8. Jadakiss – “Why (Remix)” (Feat. Common, Styles P & Nas)

© Geffen

Lyrical Endorsement: “Why is Bush acting like he trying to get Osama?/Why don’t we impeach him and elect Obama?” – Common

Common endorsed Obama’s presidential candidacy years before the Illinois senator even formed a presidential exploratory committee. This 2004 remix marked the first time Obama was ever namedropped in a rap song. Maybe the Windy City MC knew something we didn’t.

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7. 6th Sense – “Ignite the People (Like Obama)”

© Rawkus

Lyrical Endorsement: “Did you ever think you’d see a white rapper endorse a black president.”

Inspired by another song on this list, (“The People”) 6th Sense’s “Ignite the People (Like Obama)” took the web world by storm a week before the Pennsylvania primary. It didn’t help deliver the PA to Obama in the primary, but it affirmed his color-blind support base.

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6. Common – “The People”

© Geffen

Lyrical Endorsement: “Standing in front of the judge with no honor/My raps unite the people like Obama.” – Common

No hip-hop artist has been more supportive of Barack Obama’s candidacy than Chicago’s own Common. Comm’s Grammy-nominated single “The People” was one of many tracks in which he vocalized his support of Obama’s candidacy.

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5. Jin – “Open Letter to Obama”

© myspace.com

Lyrical Endorsement: “Red states, blue states, that’s kinda late/In your eyes, it’s only the United States”

Jin penned this heartfelt anthem for his presidential choice after learning about Obama. He didn’t stop there though; he took it a step further by setting up a campaign fund for Obama, so that a portion of proceeds from the song would go to the senator’s camp. The move landed him on Obama’s Myspace friends list. Imagine that.

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4. Kidz in the Hall – “Work to Do (Remix)” (Feat. Talib Kweli & Bun B)

© Jeff Custo/Getty Images

Lyrical Endorsement: “Critics say we can’t, but Barack says we can.” – Naledge

Naledge and Double-O signaled their support for Barack Obama by reworking their song “Work to Do” to include lyrics of support for their home state senator. They later recruited Bun B and Talib Kweli for a remix.

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3. Ti$a – “Obamaway”

© Babygrande

Lyrical Endorsement: “This is real and not for play, I’m a vote Obamaway.”

Ti$a of the hip-hop crew Sa-Ra took a fun approach to his own Obama song. The video for “Obamaway” features cameos by Kanye West, Consequence, Jay-Z, and rocker Travis Barker.

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2. Joel Ortiz – “Letter to Obama” (Feat. Dante Hawkins)

© Koch

Lyrical Endorsement: “It’s time for a change and the change is Obama.”

Unlike Luda’s “Politics,” whose incendiary lyrics forced Obama’s camp to condemn the song, Joel Ortiz’s “Letter to Obama” is 100% cuss-free. Ortiz takes a different approach by telling a gloomy story about dire living conditions in the ‘hood, with hopes that an Obama presidency would aim to improve such conditions.

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1. Nas – “Black President”

© Scott Gries/Getty

Lyrical Endorsement: “On the positive side, I think Obama provides hope and challenges the minds of all races and color to erase the hate.”

Nas’ “Black President” best captures the sentiment behind Barack Obama’s presidential bid. In line with Obama’s message of hope and optimism, Nas takes 2Pac’s skepticism (“Although it seems heaven sent, we ain’t ready to see a black president”) and transforms it into a powerful assertion of progress in America’s political arena. It’s by far the best Obama tribute by a rap artist.