St. Louis rap star Nelly has responded to the backlash for his participation in the Inauguration festivities for the reelection of Donald Trump.
On the Saturday before his performance at the Liberty Inaugural Ball on Monday, Nelly discussed his decision to take the gig despite Trump’s storied history of racism.
“I’m not political,” Nelly said during a live streamed conversation with Houston hip hop legend Willie D. Saturday night. “I’m not out here trying to tell anybody who they should vote for.”
Nelly performed during the Liberty Inaugural Ball, and was initially announced as a “surprise musical guest” alongside Jason Aldean and the Village People.
“This is not me telling you, ‘Yo, you should vote for this candidate.’ I think you should do your homework and figure out what best helps you and the people who you love and you provide for because I’m clueless on a lot of things when it gets down to it,” Nelly continued. “But what I will say is that, I respect the office. This isn’t politics. The politics, for me, is over. He won! He’s the president. He’s the commander in chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world.”
Nelly was one of several hip hop artists to take part in Trump’s inauguration. Snoop Dogg – who condemned artists considering performing for Trump’s first inauguration in a newly resurfaced video – Rick Ross and Soulja Boy.
Okay Nelly performing for Trump might have been a business decision. Are you aware of Trump’s racist tropes. You are a sellout.
Great. As a Black American, I am glad to see more folks make a stand for the USA and not get side swipe by skin color.
I love that response, it was very mature, and it was factual and truthful. The truth of the matter is he. Respects the office. That’s it like he said the man won, he’s in there now. And yes, this is one of the greatest countries on earth. I thought he hit the nail on the head that response.
Yes he may have won and the office itself should be respected but trump himself doesn’t respect it himself if he did January 6th wouldn’t of happened,as far as Nelly is concerned it was a business decision,you do what you have to do