Gavin Newsom Archives - New Hip Hop News

Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California, and Kendrick Lamar is the King of Compton. Newsom is aware of the iconography and the popularity that Lamar wields. Especially after he managed to defeat Toronto superstar Drake in a battle. Unsurprisingly, Gavin Newsom decided to utilize the Lamar aura during his appearance at the Democratic National Convention. The Governor gave an impassioned speech in support of Presidential nominee Kamala Harris. During Newsom’s speech, Lamar’s smash single “Not Like Us” can be heard playing in the background.

The juxtaposition of Lamar’s anthem with Newsom’s rhetoric is jarring, to say the least. The Governor is flanked by Nancy Pelosi while pontificating on the rise of Kamala Harris. All the while, Lamar’s disrespect anthem rings off. It’s somewhat comical. Gavin Newsom praises Harris’ handling of economic, social and racial justice, as well as her time as attorney general. “I saw that star get even brighter,” he asserted. “As attorney general of California, as a United States Senator, and as Vice President.” The practice of utilizing hip-hop to bolster political speeches is nothing new, of course. Earlier in the roll call, Georgia brought out Lil Jon to perform a medley of his biggest hits.

Gavin Newsom Has Repeatedly Referenced K. Dot

Gavin Newsom has a long history of praising and aligning himself with Kendrick Lamar. At least, when it comes to the music. He quoted the Compton rapper when he was elected Governor of California back in 2018. “You know, that great California poet by the name of Kendrick Lamar,” he said during his victory speech. “He once said, ‘Be humble.’” The line, of course, being a reference to Dot’s smash 2017 single “Humble.” More recently, Gavin Newsom used Lamar as an example of the talent that comes from the Golden State. He noted that California is a place where musical artists as disparate as Kendrick Lamar and Metallica can find success during a June 2024 speech.

Kendrick Lamar has not reciprocated the love. The Compton rapper has not commented on Gavin Newsom or Kamala Harris. Despite this reluctance to endorse a political figure, politicians continue to line up to award Lamar. California State Senator Isadore Hall III awarded Lamar the mantle of district “Generational Icon” in 2015. The award was meant to signify the massive impact that the rapper has made on the West Coast and Compton in particular.

The post Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Plays During Gavin Newsom’s DNC Speech appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

California has officially become the first state to limit the use of lyrics as evidence in criminal trials as Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB2799 — aka The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act — into law after it passed the state senate late last month.

The Decriminalizing Artistic Expression Act is one of several so-called “Rap On Trial” laws introduced at both the state and federal levels by activists seeking to end the use of lyrics against artists, a practice that some refer to as racist due to their frequent application in criminal trials involving rappers. The practice has come under greater scrutiny this year as high-profile cases against rappers like YoungBoy Never Broke Again and Gunna and Young Thug hinged on instances of the rappers lyrics that supposedly tied them to criminal activities. The prosecutors in the latter have received criticism as the main counts against them stemmed from them shouting out YSL on their records.

Artists like E-40, Killer Mike, Meek Mill, Too Short, Ty Dolla Sign, Tyga, and YG attended a virtual signing ceremony today, where Songwriters of North America co-founder Dina LaPolt said, “For too long, prosecutors in California have used rap lyrics as a convenient way to inject racial bias and confusion into the criminal justice process. This legislation sets up important guardrails that will help courts hold prosecutors accountable and prevent them from criminalizing Black and Brown artistic expression. Thank you, Gov. Newsom, for setting the standard. We hope Congress will pass similar legislation, as this is a nationwide problem.”

The bill’s signing represents a huge step forward for proponents of similar bills in states like New York, which passed its own “Rap On Trial” bill through the state senate in May but saw it stall out in the State Assembly.