The Week In Review - DJ Trump

DJ Trump’s newly released music video, "Grab 'Em", juxtaposes Donald J. Trump's rhetoric, set to Gangsta rap samples, against a rapid collage of historical footage from more than 150 documentaries to present two opposing portraits of America. Using recordings of Trump’s speeches, “Grab ‘Em” is a parodic yet uncomfortable song as so much of Trump’s rhetoric fits unapologetically into the Gangsta rap genre. However, the music video cuts against the divisive lyrics by presenting a comprehensive look at the history of America, from its music to its protests, from its national parks to its labor force. “Grab ‘Em” is a quilt of footage that shows what has always made America great despite any rhetoric of divisiveness.

The song uses samples of Gangsta rap classics, including those by Coolio, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg, as a commentary on the narcissism and self-aggrandizement common in Trump's rhetoric. The lyrics from one sample, "Imma beat dat p***y up" ("Wait (The Whisper Song)" by Ying Yang Twins), directly alludes to Trump's own "Grab them by the p***y" comment. The song also uses samples from politically oriented rap and rock, such as The Coup and Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.”. In the chorus, behind chants of “U.S.A.”, the national anthem is sampled against the de facto anthem of the Confederate states, “Dixie Land.” The many musical references aim to both anchor and jolt the song’s coherence from the lyrics.

On YouTube at https://youtu.be/EIBMZZgeBq0