Tyler, The Creator Urges His Followers to Vote in 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Admitting this year will be his first time voting.
Tyler, The Creator wants all of his fans to vote in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, urging his followers on Instagram to show up at the polls in record numbers come November 3. “If you are young, and your f*ckin’ back don’t hurt, go to them polls and cast a f*cking vote,” Tyler said. While he didn’t make a public endorsement or even mention candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump by name, you can read between the lines to figure out who the GRAMMY Award-winning musician is voting for.
Tyler also revealed that this year will be his first time voting in an election. During the two-minute video, he addresses the false claims of voter fraud manufactured by the Trump administration and reveals which issues matter to him most. “The sh*t that I actually give a f*ck about is more art in schools and more music classes in schools. Them changing the curriculum… they’ve had the same curriculum since 1442.” Donald Trump recently announced his ‘Patriotic Education Commission’ meant to champion a “pro-American curriculum” aimed at disbanding critical race theory in schools like The New York Times‘ Pulitzer Prize-winning “1619 Project.”
Tyler addressed the apathy of young voters, who have traditionally had low turnout. According to Forbes, the 48.4% of 18-29 year olds who showed up to vote in 2008 was the highest percentage since 1984. 20% of that age group voted in 2014, 46% in 2016 and 36% in 2018.
Other musicians to get involved in the election include Billie Eilish, who performed at the 2020 Democratic National Convention and slammed Donald Trump along the way. Run The Jewels are set to perform their politically-charged album RTJ4 on Adult Swim to encourage voter registration. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Kanye West continues his run for President with the aid of the Trump administration as a possible spoiler candidate in an effort to garner votes away from Joe Biden. The rapper could also face an election fraud investigation.
You can read Tyler’s full statement below alongside his recent post to Twitter and Instagram.
“Look, I know I’m the last person y’all should ever take advice from, but I’m reiterating what everyone else is saying. Please, please, if you are young and f*ckin’ back don’t hurt, go to them polls and cast a f*cking vote. And I didn’t give a f*ck about none of this sh*t just like a lot of y’all — this is actually gonna be my first time voting but I see the light. And I know a lot of you are gonna be like, ‘Eh, my vote doesn’t matter and they’re gonna pick who they want.’ Yeah you weird a** n*gga, keep that up. Y’all was posting black squares and protesting from y’all phone, and rights this and cancelling everybody — n*gga pull up. Y’all wanna new DA, pull up. Y’all want all these f*cking rights and sh*t then pull up.
The sh*t that I actually give a f*ck about is more art in schools and more music classes in schools. Them changing the curriculum… they’ve had the same curriculum since 1442, judging everybody on the same sh*t. I have female friends who need certain things and I like being able to f*ck on and marry whoever the f*ck I want at any given moment. And if we wanna keep some of those options, then we have to start somewhere. And I’m not a f*cking encyclopedia on this sh*t but I know goddamn one thing that — if you want any of that, then you n*ggas gotta pull up. Actually go to the polls ’cause some of that mail-in sh*t, they’re gonna try and call fraud. So if you can go to the polls, and I know them lines gonna be long and it’s gonna be hot, but please do that.”
— Tyler, The Creator (@tylerthecreator) September 28, 2020
In related news, read HYPEBEAST’s feature “Taylor Swift and Kanye West’s Divergent Political Paths Show How Self-Serving Activism Can Be,” where we reassess the importance of a celebrity’s co-sign or criticism during the most polarizing presidential election in U.S. history.
Most importantly, REGISTER TO VOTE.
