Hip-Hop has infiltrated the US Congress. On October 21 Republican Congressman Bill Posey ended his floor speech with “Let’s Go Brandon”—a censored version of an anti-Biden chant that has gone viral in part because of Greensboro rapper Bryson Gray. House Representative Posey’s dig at President Biden is closely tied to his opposition to Biden’s Build Back Better economic agenda—an initiative designed to help create jobs in America, according to Space Coast Daily and The White House. “Based on the false promise that he would unify America, President Biden got into the Oval Office,” the congressman said. “And my friends on the other side of the aisle gained a razor-thin majority in the House and Senate.” The republican congressman continued to admonish President Biden and his initiative, concluding his speech with “put America back where you found it and leave it the hell alone. Let’s go, Brandon!” What makes Congressman Posey saying “Let’s Go Brandon” so controversial is because of what the catchphrase—and song title of rapper Bryson Gray’s latest hit— now represents.
Gray’s rap song “Let’s Go Brandon” expresses many anti-Biden sentiments and includes much medical misinformation, according to Yahoo News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeLO8yVrVx4The misinformation in Gray’s song was so excessive that it sparked action from YouTube, resulting in YouTube removing Gray’s video from their platform on October 21. Upset by the removal of his video from YouTube, Gray took to Twitter to vent his disbelief that same day.”YouTube has banned ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ song from YouTube due to ‘medical information,’ Gray posted on Twitter. “What medical misinformation is in the song? Whoa.” Although Gray’s video was removed, it was re-uploaded by another YouTube user on October 21.
Gray’s “Let’s Go Brandon” is the second version of it’s kind, deriving inspiration from Las Vegas rapper Loza Alexander’s song by the same name. Alexander’s “Let’s Go Brandon” song, which includes the chant “f**k Joe Biden in it’s background production, has become the go-to anthem for those displeased with President Biden’s leadership. Shortly after the release of his song, Alexander skyrocketed to the number one spot on iTunes hip-hop chart, according to KLAS 8 News Now.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr_F_XQrukM&t=91sWearing a “Make Music Great Again” hat in his music video for “Let’s Go Brandon,” a play off of “Make America Great Again,” Alexander gave his reasons for being anti-Biden through his rap.
Alexander also incorporated the viral NASCAR meme—origin of the “Let’s Go Brandon” mantra—as the background in his music video.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9UjgITXUJ4In the popular NASCAR meme video, during a post-interview with NASCAR driver Brandon Brown after he won the 2021 Talladega Xfinity Series, fans kept chanting “f**k Joe Biden,” prompting the interviewer to rephrase what the crowd were saying as “Let’s Go Brandon.” Most likely to refocus viewers attention back to Brandon Brown, and away from the loud “f**k Joe Biden” chant in the background of the on-camera interview. While republican rappers may be having their moment right now, non-republican rappers had the same moment during Donald Trump’s presidency. Back in 2016, shortly after Donald Trump was elected into office, Compton rapper YG released an anti-Trump single titled “FDT (F**k Donald Trump).” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkZ5e94QnWk