Near the end of a rally in the Bronx on Thursday that his campaign held to bolster and highlight his support among black and Hispanic voters, former President Donald J. Trump called out two hip-hop artists accused of taking part in violent acts became gang wars, fueled in part by their music.
Rappers Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow were among several guests invited to express their support for Mr Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. After they did, Mr. Trump expressed his gratitude and then praised Sheff G’s sparkling, jeweled grill. “I like these teeth. “I want to find out where you’ve been – that’s how I got my teeth,” he said. “I want this to happen to me.”
But Mr. Trump – who earlier in his speech vowed to restore the rule of law in New York City, denounced urban crime and expressed his loyalty to the police – did not address the charge the two men face: conspiracy charges Murder and gun possession.
Presidential candidates typically try to distance themselves from people accused of violent crimes. But the joint appearance, which was clipped and shared on social media by the Trump campaign and many in the hip-hop media ecosystem, was not a one-off event but rather one in a series of Mr. Trump’s blunt and sometimes clumsy overtures to us black voters and especially black men.
In his appeal to black voters to break with President Biden and the Democrats, Trump emphasizes that Biden’s handling of issues like immigration and the economy is disproportionately hurting them.
But he also repeatedly spread stereotypes about black Americans. The former president, who has been impeached four times and is on trial for crimes in Manhattan, told a group of black Republicans earlier this year that the criminal charges against him were a key reason blacks liked him. He has also suggested that his popularity increased among black people when his Atlanta mugshot was released because they could identify with it.
Earlier this year, Mr. Trump attended a sneaker-focused convention in Philadelphia, where he hawked gold Trump-branded sneakers to a younger and more diverse audience than is typical at his usual rallies.
Stefanie Brown James, co-founder of Collective PAC, an organization dedicated to electing black officials, said Mr. Trump was preoccupied with antiquated stereotypes and pushed the idea that the vast majority of black people, particularly black men, which have some kind of criminal record.
“We don’t consider going through the court system a badge of honor in our community,” she said. “And I think he holds it up like it’s a badge of honor.”
But overall, Mr. Trump has had some success in his efforts to reach more diverse communities: polls show him doing better with black voters than any other Republican presidential candidate in decades.
Democrats have also worked hard to shore up black support. On Thursday, the Biden campaign released a new ad portraying Mr. Trump as a racist, specifically highlighting how he stoked anger over the Central Park Five case decades ago.
In a statement, Jasmine Harris, the Biden campaign’s black media director, accused Mr. Trump of being “the poster child of modern racism.” She criticized his attempts to win the favor of black voters as offensive and hollow, saying: “He believes that crazy rap concerts, free chicken and his own mugshot are the key to winning our votes.”
“President Biden knows he must earn, not ask for, the support of every American,” she added.
But attendees at the Bronx rally, which included black and Hispanic voters, suggested that Mr. Biden still had work to do.
Jamaal Kennedy, 35, a rap artist from the Bronx, echoed Mr. Trump’s message that he has done more to improve the economic prospects of black people than Mr. Biden or Barack Obama, the nation’s first black president.
He added that Mr. Trump’s brashness was part of his appeal. “He has no filter,” Kennedy said, although he noted, “I think that’s one reason a lot of people don’t like him.”
Mr. Trump did not explain why he called Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow to the stage, whose real names are Michael Williams and Tegan Chambers. Their appearance came at a moment typical of his rallies, in which he recognizes key figures in those present.
Both men are pioneers of Brooklyn’s drill rap scene, a hyperlocal, combative style of modern gangster rap with a hard-hitting sound and themes that often involve gun violence.
Although drill music, as it is known, has moved toward the mainstream, its rise has not always been celebrated: In 2019, Mr. Williams was removed from the lineup of a rap festival after New York police said He and other artists “have been linked to recent violence across the city” and pose a security risk.
Last year, Mr. Williams and Mr. Chambers were among 32 people indicted in a 140-count indictment that accused the men of using profits from their music to finance two Brooklyn gangs, the 8 Trey Crips and 9 Ways to have. Both men had previously been in prison for weapons possession.
Prosecutors in the ongoing case said that in his videos, Mr. Williams gave money, contracts and appearances to those who committed acts of violence on his behalf.
Sleepy Hallow was released on bail last year. In April, Sheff G was also released on bail after waiting 14 months for trial. “They counted me out,” he wrote in all caps on Instagram. “They thought I was done.”
Asked whether Mr. Trump was aware of the allegations against both rappers and how he viewed them given his tough stance on crime, a spokesman, Steven Cheung, referred to comments Mr. Williams made on stage.
“You will always whisper your successes and shout your failures,” Mr. Williams said. “Trump will declare victory for all of us.” Representatives for both rappers declined to comment.
Mr. Trump’s association with hip-hop stars dates back to the 1990s, when he was frequently seen with rap impresarios in New York clubs and his name was often used in song lyrics as a shorthand for financial success.
As president, Mr. Trump deepened those relationships, appearing alongside Kanye West and also counting hip-hop personalities among his recent pardons and reparations, including for rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, who were charged with gun possession.
Still, Trump’s appearance with two men accused of ordering gang killings highlighted the underlying tension that has characterized his campaign. Even if a criminal case is brought against him, Trump repeatedly calls for stricter police work, which he believes could combat murders and physical injuries.
On Thursday, he promised again to protect police officers from lawsuits so they could take more aggressive action against crime. Mr. Trump has portrayed these protections — which already largely exist — as a boon for communities of color. “Remember that Black, Hispanic and Asian people need this protection and security more than anyone else,” he said.
While the optics and message may not have matched, the rappers’ appearance was not unusual for Mr. Trump, as he had no qualms about appearing alongside other defendants, including many political allies. He welcomes those who will be prosecuted for their role in the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
And earlier this week, joining him in court in Manhattan was Chuck Zito, a former leader of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang who spent years in prison on drug charges.
Hurubie Meko and Chris Cameron contributed reporting.
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2024-05-25 00:45:00
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