Track of the Week: Ludacris “Politics As Usual”
A couple weeks back, Immortal Technique pointed out in an Al Jazeera interview how the media makes Barack Obama go through what he referred to as “Toby Moments,” where they force Obama to publicly denounce his supporters. Well, it is happening again today, as the Obama campaign has criticized Ludacris for the track Politics as Usual off the “Gangsta Grillz: The Preview” mixtape.
After listening to the song, I can’t really figure out why. Maybe because he called Hillary a bitch? Maybe because he called Bush a horrible president? Or maybe because everything he said is true? In any case, in support of Ludacris I have decided to name Politics as Usual this week’s hip-hop track of the week. Click below to listen:
And follow along with the lyrics after the break – just to see how rediculous Obama’s newest “Toby Moment” really is.
[Ludacris]
I’m back on it like I just signed my record deal/
Yeah the best is here/
The Bentley Coup paint is dripping wet – it got sex appeal/
Never should have hated – you never should’ve doubted him/
With a slot in the president’s iPod Obama shouted him/
Said I handled his biz and I’m one of his favorite rappers/
Will give Luda a special pardon if I’m ever in the slammer/
Better yet put me in office, make me your vice president/
Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant/
Now Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?/
If you said it then you meant it, how you want it – head or gut?/
And all you other politicians trying to hate on my man/
Watch us win a majority vote in every state on my man/
You can’t stop what’s ’bout to happen, we ’bout to make history/
The first black president is destined and it’s meant to be/
The threats ain’t fazing us, the nooses or the jokes/
Get off your ass, black people, it’s time to get out and vote/
Paint the White House black and I’m sure that’s got ‘em terrified/
McCain don’t belong in any chair unless he’s paralyzed/
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped/
Ball up all of his speeches and I throw em like candy wrap/
‘Cause what you talking I hear nothing even relevant/
And you the worst of all 43 presidents/
Get out and vote or the end will be near/
The world is ready for change because Obama is here/
Jay-Izzle wrote:
Yup – another Toby Moment. Why does Obama have to denounce some rapper who supports him – especially when he speaks the truth? Hillary did hate on him, Jesse is a punk ass for his comments, and Bush is this country’s worst president ever! So Luda used the word ‘bitch’ – get over it!
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 7:38 am | Permalink
BeatRoot wrote:
I can see why obama would be against this track his points were just offensive to alot of different groups.. Bush is an idiot no one in their right mind would disagree but the term “mentally handicapped” is offensive for alot of people and hoping a political candidate is paralyzed is highly offensive too. I understand his heart and his beliefs are in the right place, but it lacks a certain understanding of how to make a track with meaning which doesn’t have to be offensive.
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 8:00 am | Permalink
Nathaniel wrote:
okay, so maybe the McCain remark was a bit harsh – especially toward a war hero. but other than that, i think people are making much too big a deal of this.
Hillary predicted an assassination, McCain compared Obama to Paris Hilton, and Jesse Jackson used the same word he has spent his whole life trying to stop people from saying – and Ludacris is a villian for calling all of these people out because of those actions?
You can’t blame Obama because some of his supporters are a little overzealous.
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 10:14 am | Permalink
BeatRoot wrote:
Nathaniel, your right but to condone the terms used in the song would in some regards be political suicide.
If these artist and surpporters want to help (which they should) do it in a more constructive manner, not one which could hurt the campaign.
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 10:41 am | Permalink
BeatRoot wrote:
sorry not to condone **even**
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 10:42 am | Permalink
kats wrote:
Obama is already going to have a hard enough time getting elected in a racist country…he’s doing so well (besides the fact that he dominates) because he seems “safe” to lots of white voters…same voters who would easily be scared off if they start to see Obama aligned with rappers…so since we all want what’s best here, my advice to all rappers is to cool it, wait til he actually gets elected, and then talk as much shit as possible after that. Let’s not forget how fucked up this country really is…
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 10:52 am | Permalink
Fisch wrote:
Maybe a lot of it is a bit harsh, but he has that right. Freedom of speech is a wonderful thing.
The problem is, we once again are seeing Obama being forced to distance himself from a supporter. A supporter. Not somebody in his “cabinet”.
What are we going to hear next? FOX News doing one of their sidewalk ambushes on Obama’s mailman if he says something that others disagree with?
The point is that Luda is not a policy advisor to Obama. He is a hip hop artist that is supporting a candidate.
Remember last month when McCain’s senior advisor, Charlie Black, said that McCain would benefit politically if another terrorist attack were to take place before the election? Well, that calls for a denouncement and distancing from that person – which McCain did (albeit the dagger was already thrown – hit and run).
But Luda is not a senior advisor. He is not an advisor at any level. He is nothing more than a hip hop artist and supporter. And therefore, Obama has no obligation to “denounce” his comments in anyway.
When things are going this good, the opponents will always try to nit pick anything and make a story about it.
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 10:53 am | Permalink
dan wrote:
Jay-Izzle Buchanan is the worst president ever
Obama has to do whatever it takes to become president
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 11:03 am | Permalink
FunkMaster wrote:
He plays it safe with his image…
always has.
People come at his lack of knowledge abroad, but all over the world people are raving about him because he comprehensibly speaks the truth and is an obvious leader of men.
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 6:59 pm | Permalink
Crystal wrote:
Some of you guys need to really turn your brain on. If you would actually find information for yourself instead of believing everything you heard, you would understand that these lyrics are completely off-base and offensive.
Posted on 31-Jul-08 at 8:34 pm | Permalink
Jay-Izzle wrote:
what exactly is off-base and offensive about them, Crystal? how you going to try to make that point without at least one example?
Posted on 01-Aug-08 at 6:16 am | Permalink
Rodney Ailes wrote:
No, No, my Brother. This was not a Toby moment. This was a Nat Turner moment by Ludacris. Remember when Nat was asked what went wrong with the slavery revolt. He said to many slaves were getting out of hand. They were suppose to kill the slave owners and keep building. Instead they took time to rape the women, steal what they could not carry and stop’d the main plan. By that time the Army showed up. We must be patient, Obama is not there yet and we are bragging as if he is. if you scare away the white folks who are for Obama, and enough of us don’t get out and vote. We will have wasted the best time in history to put a brother in office. Ludacris is a rap genius. Write something positive that makes a brother sign up and show up. Remember the story of the old Bull and the young bull? The young Bull saw the cows and said “Lets run down there and screw some cows.”
The old bull said ” Son, lets walk and screw them all”. Also we should not forget where was Jesse before we were born. Taking the same chances as all the black men and women who went trough shit for our rights. It is not hard for Jesse to be worried about black people, no matter who is running. He just was dumb enough to forget as long as your by a mike, they gonna try and get you. We cannot forget what the Clintons and other whites did for us after the first Bush. If Bill had kept it in his pants, he would have and may still be one of the best Pres. in our time. All Hillary tried to do get universel health care for everybody. We just let Fox Cable trick us into hatting our own Dem. Remember what Bill tried to do to Ludacris. Fox hyped all this negative shit on Hillary. Want to hear of a 16yr. plan?. Until Obama decided to run. I saw it as Hillary, who has taking so much shit from the Republicans, she knew what time it was, and was going to push for the people for 8 yrs. With Obama learning as a V.P. or on “the Board.” Then Obama comes in and goes for the next 8yrs. as President. 16yrs. of no Bush’s waiting in the wings. No Jeb Bush or his son. So what we need is another Rap. joint with all the greats rapping to the everyone to get out and vote. But we have to remember how Quincy did it. “Leave your egos at the door.” Then when Obama wins the rap just keeps on coming. Don’t destroy your own. The Republicans will be there saying “good, lets just wait until they kill each other”…. You know the rest. Remember, the only thing Bush has not gotten away with is the Draft, and under “the hanging Judge, from Texas.” McCain may not be far behind.
Posted on 01-Aug-08 at 10:15 pm | Permalink
jordan wrote:
Even though we will be making history, if obama makes it… There shouldn’t be a person talking about it until after it’s done… As you get wiser you realize that people don’t tell everything, just to keep a peace… People just need to learn to not say everything…
Posted on 02-Aug-08 at 4:00 pm | Permalink
James Hadley wrote:
If Obama didn’t mean to make the Presidential race about race then Ludacris just did with this song. I never did like hip-hop rap mainly because of the references to “niggaz” and referring to ladies as “bitchas” just to name the tamest of the words used in rap. I probably will not see what the response to this is just wanted to voice my opinion. I agree with whoever says that Obama has denounced the rap because he has to because of the bad press he is getting and because as would be “President” he needs to act like a gentleman (rap music is anything but gentlemanly). As for the election I am voting for McCain, why? It isn’t about race its about morals and political veiwpoints Obama hasn’t got the right veiwpoints. I could care less about the color of skin all that is is Mellinin.
Posted on 04-Aug-08 at 3:24 am | Permalink
Mz. Kelley wrote:
As mentioned earlier these are Ludacris’ words. The problem arises when people start attaching and assuming one person’s views apply to all. Ludacris has the right to free speech he just didn’t choose the right time or words to speak. Most of us understand what he meant but he just left it open to the people who would distort his feelings even worse. I hope we can get past this negative press for Obama so the real issues can be at the forefront of nightly news. I make it a point to listen and understand all that the candidates are saying and race is not an issue, I voted when we had no black candidate and I had to base my decision on more than skin color. For all of us that will show up and vote,we understand the importance of having the right person in the White House,it just makes it just that much more exciting to see one of our own so close to making history. This should be a lesson to those in the industry that want to voice political views in a public way. It’s alright to have an opinion just know others have one too, and the way you express yourselves is what makes the difference.
Posted on 04-Aug-08 at 11:21 am | Permalink
James Hadley wrote:
I ended up looking at the responses and I probably will still. Issues, yes that is the real reasons why we should vote for or against a canidate. Here is a few reasons why my vote will be for McCain, not that McCain is perfect he is not but he is the closest PC with my veiws. Rather than look at McCains I will look at the differences in the veiws I have with Obama.
Abortion, Obama has said that he will start allowing the late term abortion method called Partial Birth abortion. This is a method (sorry for the candor with which I will describe this it is exactly what they do) that begins by inducing labor then stopping the birth process midway. A needle is then inserted through the birthcanal and into the head of the unborn baby (by this time in a pregnancy any “fetus” born would live for the most part). The brain of the unborn baby is sucked out and the rest of the baby is delivered as a still born. Again if that upsets someone reading this then accept my apologies but this method started during the Clinton years and was stopped since Bush Jr came into office (by his order). Another Obama veiw that I cannot see is his veiw and promise to Gay and Lesbian groups. I oppose giving more rights to Gay and Lesbian groups it is going to end up just like affirmative action where businesses (including religious groups that oppose the gay lifestyle) are required to hire a certain amount of gay or lesbians. Also with the states like California and Mass going haywire over gay marriages that also has to be looked at. The war in Iraq, irregardless of whether we should have started it or not we are into it and we need to finish it and not do another Vietnam and pull out letting the nation of Iraq fall into utter chaos. Same thing with Afghanistan. Lastly off shore drilling, Obama’s fix is ludacris he is quoted as saying that by us inflating our tires and getting tuneups we will be saving just as much as we would be getting from the off shore drilling. How absurd. Of course now he is backing off from that and now supports limited drilling. I agree with alternative fuels but right now the hybrid cars are out of my price range most of them are running into the $30,000 price range. I could go on with universal health care and other problems that an Obama presidency would create but enough is enough. Oh Yeah one more thing, Ms Pelosi, Mr Kerry and Mr. Obama want us to not be able to contact them and voice our opinions on issues in Congress. That is a direct violation of the Constitution that states we have the right to petition Congress. Do we really want a President that would support changing our rights as citizens of the United States? Not me.
Posted on 04-Aug-08 at 1:01 pm | Permalink
BallotVox » Blog Archive » Ludacris’s Endorsement Backfires wrote:
[...] presumably thought he returned the favor with Politics As Usual, his endorsement of Barack. The lyrics, though, which call Hillary Clinton a bitch, ask Jesse Jackson whether he wants it “head or [...]
Posted on 05-Aug-08 at 10:25 am | Permalink
Man of The People wrote:
I usually dont respond to Yahoo blogs..but this was one that I could not let get pass me with out a comment. I first heard this track on one of the local radio stations here in the DC/MD area and fell in love instantly. I was brought up and raised on Hip Hop and always love it when an artist showcases his talent with new artistic material. Yeah..everyone is talking about how this man should have kept quiet but we have got to realize one thing. Ludacris is a grown man and we are in America. Freedom of Speech gives this man the right to say what he wants. Also, he is a rap artist and this is what they do…they tell stories about things going on in this society. Good or Bad!
In no way should Barrack have to apoligize for what someone else says. Since he became a serious contender people have tried to attach him to everyone that says something “the majority of America” doesn’t like. In my opinion, it sounds like someone has a guilty conscious! Especially when these people have only made true statements!!
The last point that I want to make is this….why is it every time that an outspoken black man makes a comment is he looked down upon. Have we not earned our right to express our views and opinions just like every other race of people. The year is 2008 and people are tired of shutting up because it may upset someone….Every year some “White American” uses the N word or other derrogatory term against “Black Americans” and the only thing they are required to do is issue a public apology. The press talks about it for a few days and then its back to business….Wake up people…Open your mind…and Start thinking for Yourselves….The fact that this man made this song should not have anything to do with what type of President Barrack Obama will be.
What else does a “Black Man” have to do to prove that he is a worthy citizen?
Man of The People
Posted on 05-Aug-08 at 5:43 pm | Permalink
smanns wrote:
It sucks, but Ladacris fucked up. I agree that Ludacris has the right to make the song, but should he have made it at the moment? No. This song will not help Obama win the campaign. And if I was a person with Ludacris’ power I would be making positive songs. Negativity is not what the country needs.
Posted on 03-Sep-08 at 10:32 pm | Permalink