Joe Biden Launches Battle Rap Ad in an Attempt to Get Black Votes

The four-minute ad features Ultimate Rap League artists DNA and Charlie Clips.

Joe Biden’s campaign is pulling out all the stops in an attempt to capture the attention of Black voters. On Tuesday, an ad arrived titled the Ultimate Rap League Biden Get Out The Vote Battle Rap featuring DNA and Charlie Clips.

Things kick off on a lukewarm note at the beginning of the clip as the two rappers appear as friends. DNA starts the ad when he walks up and asks Charlie Clips why he hasn’t responded to his recent texts. 

What follows is a robust conversation in the style of a rap battle as DNA presents all the reasons Charlie Clips and others should vote. It’s a bit off-putting, but the discussion addresses jobless African Americans, HBCU funding, police violence, and more. 

After going back and forth a bit with DNA, Charlie Clips says, “So, you think because you brought me here that I'm just supposed to confide in Biden?/What about the innocent Blacks that get snatched out of their car just for riding?/We don't even ask for much/All we do is ask for respect/Before they did what they did to George Floyd/This country had they foot on our necks/Now, do you understand why I'm upset?" 

Alleging that voters want more respect amid the ongoing unrest this year has presented was necessary. But, it doesn’t quite have the effect that Biden’s campaign might have been going for. It came across as dry, and we're thinking this was probably supposed to be the climax of the ad.

DNA’s response to Charlie Clips thoughts included, "I feel you/’Cause every time we throw the system a uppercut, all they give us in return is low blows/But Biden and Harris got a plan to outlaw the chokehold/It's inspiring/Donald Trump is The Apprentice/But now it's our turn to do the firing." This response was OK, especially when previously DNA shared Biden’s plan if he’s elected is to also attribute $70 billion to HBCUs. 

In total, the ad was a lackluster attempt at gaining support from Black voters. As of today, we’re three weeks out from the presidential election. Hopefully, Joe Biden and Kamla Harris have something else in the arsenal because this wasn’t it.

Watch the entire ad below.