Yesterday, rapper Waka Flocka Flame announced in a video on RollingStone.com that he would be running for President in 2016. We’re not sure how we feel about his main campaign points, but we’re interested to see how this plays out for him. While we wait, read our list of 8 rappers that should be President!
1. 2 Chainz
2 Chainz is a star. Not only are his verses on point, it has been said that he graduated from Arizona State University with a 4.0 GPA. That’s right, kids. 2 Chainz had a better GPA than you. He’s a great basketball player, so he would be at the forefront on health initiatives, and would probably keep the lovely and talented Michelle Obama around to continue with the Let’s Move campaign. Formerly known as “Titi Boi”, 2 Chainz changed his name to make himself more family friendly. He can hold his own in a debate, and has two adorable daughters. Plus, he’d look awesome on money.
2. Childish Gambino
You may know this multitalented artist by his given name, Donald Glover. He attended NYU’s Tisch School, and is known for his awesome writing skills that range from rhymes to sitcom scripts. Glover grew up in a middle class household, and would likely find ways to promote income equality. He is used to a very demanding schedule and acting in multiple roles, and could handle the pressure of leading this great nation well.
3. Kanye West
This seems a little too obvious, right? Kanye would LOVE to be President of the United States (and the world… and the universe). He dropped out of school to pursue music, but has since proven himself to be a very business-minded individual. He would capture and retain the world’s attention, because that’s what Kanye does best. He is philanthropic, and in the past has worked to help battle dropout and illiteracy rates, something that he could continue doing as President. Plus, we’d be interested to see what Kim would do as First Lady.
4. Nicki Minaj
Hear me out on this one. While Onika’s artistic choices are provocative, her messages of female empowerment are very strong. As one of the highest paid rappers in the game, she often references the inequalities between herself and her male counterparts. You can bet that President Minaj would ensure that the wage gap would disappear, ensuring that women and men get equal pay for equal work. She has publicly spoken about her abortion as a teenager, and would work to make sure that women can make their own reproductive choices. We’d love to see her signature style turn presidential!
5. Eminem
Marshall Mathers has made a huge footprint on American culture over the past decade with his raw observations on life in our roughest neighborhoods. A high school dropout, Eminem has a less formal education than most on this list. As President, Eminem would work with young people in bad neighborhoods to ensure that they have a bright future. He is a very transparent artist, and a lot of Americans look for transparency when selecting a politician to back.
6. Pitbull
Mr. Worldwide? More like Mr. President! Pitbull puts an insane amount of effort into everything he does, and maintains a relatively mainstream image. Born to Cuban parents, we’d be interested to see his actions toward immigration reform. Pitbull cares greatly about his community, and even helped to build a charter school in Miami. Pitbull likes to collaborate, and would probably be great at handling foreign affairs.
7. Queen Latifah
This philanthropic woman is considered one of hip-hop’s pioneer feminists. You might know her as a Cover Girl spokesmodel, talk show host, or star of movie-musical adaptations, but she is more than just a performer. After her brother died in 1992, she set up a scholarship foundation for needy young people. Queen Latifah would likely work to make college more affordable for students.
8. Beyoncé
Ok, so she’s not technically a rapper. But she’s Beyoncé, and we couldn’t leave her off this list.