Ludacris New Track Sparks Obama Controversy

Posted on July 31, 2008

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Ludacris has continued to show his support towards Barack Obama, this time by dropping a track on a new mix-tape, entitled Gangsta Grillz: The Preview. Despite Luda's best intentions and adamant support for the candidate, Obama blasted a few of the rapper's lines as "outrageously offensive" relating to lines where Luda verbally attacks Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Republican Sen. John McCain and President Bush. Obama and his entire campaign were not happy with this kind of support, despite the endorsement shown by Luda. The track in question is "Politics as usual", as Luda raps that "bitch is irrelevant," referring to Hillary, says Bush is "mentally handicapped," and later says McCain doesn't belong in "any chair unless he's paralyzed."

Luda extended his verbal assaults outside of the political ring and has a go at Rev. Jesse Jackson who has recently apologized for making condescending comments about Obama. Obama and his campaigners issued a statement regarding the track, stating that Ludacris "should be ashamed of these lyrics."

"As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn't want his daughters or any children exposed to," campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in a statement. "This song is not only outrageously offensive to Sen. Clinton, Rev. Jackson, Sen. McCain and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics."

Ludacris has been a strong supporter of Obama since the start of his campaign whilst Obama shared a mutual respect, naming Luda as one of the "great talents and great businessmen" in hip-hop, during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. The two met privately in 2006, just prior to his announcement that he would be contending for president. Luda also prompts black people to vote in the election, suggesting that "the world is ready for a change."