Rappers Fat Joe and E-40 will join Biden at post-debate rally
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Fat Joe at a Hollywood premiere in February. Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Rappers Fat Joe and E-40 will join President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at a post-debate campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday, the campaign announced Thursday.
Why it matters: As Biden and Trump court Black voters ahead of November, both candidates have turned to rappers as surrogates.
- Fat Joe, a Grammy-nominated artist, has previously appeared with the Biden campaign, including attending a panel in March with Vice President Kamala Harris on decriminalizing marijuana.
- A Biden campaign official said in a statement that Fat Joe and E-40 are "legends of the music industry, who understand the importance of utilizing their platforms to ensure their fan base understands the stakes of this election."
- The other side: Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, whom Trump pardoned during his final hours in office, are both outspoken supporters of the former president.
Driving the news: The rally, scheduled for noon ET in Raleigh, will come just hours after Biden takes the stage with former President Trump for their high-stakes presidential debate, the first of the 2024 campaign.
- The Biden campaign has been working to shore up support among Black voters, a voting bloc that was key to his 2020 victory, but may be less enthusiastic about him this cycle.
- The campaign has invested heavily in winning over these voters, particularly in swing states, including by launching the Black Voters for Biden-Harris coalition.
What they're saying: "From day one, the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign has been strategic, thoughtful and genuine in our outreach efforts to the diverse coalition that makes up the backbone of the democratic party," the Biden campaign official said.
- "The Biden-Harris campaign will continue to welcome celebrities and influencers from across the entertainment spectrum in the fight to save Democracy from Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans."
Go deeper: Scoop: Biden seizes debate limelight for "Project 2025" push
