Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross and Soulja Boy perform at Crypto Ball despite history of anti-trump sentiments

The trio performed at the Crypto Ball in honour of Trump's presidency attracting backlash for 'hypocrisy'.

Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy took the stage at the sold-out Crypto Ball to perform for the audience on Friday night. The rappers have come under the public, especially the Black community's scrutiny after performing at an event that celebrates Donald Trump's victory in the elections last year despite speaking negatively about him in the past.

The Crypto Ball is a black-tie event hosted by David Sacks of the crypto community, who was recently named the “AI and Crypto Czar” by President-elect, Donald Trump. Although there were reports of Snoo performing prior to the event, after last night's festivities, images and videos show him including Rick Ross and Soulja Boy performing too. The trio has now come under fire for what social media users consider a gesture to support Trump.

 

 

 

 

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In 2016 Snoop publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton for the presidency. After Trump’s victory, he called out Black artists who performed at Trump’s inauguration, labelling them as “jigaboos” and “Uncle Toms.”

 

 

 

 

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However, ever since Trump granted clemency to Michael “Harry-O” Harris, co-founder of Death Row Records, Snoop publicly thanked the president for the gesture, and his criticism of the former president mellowed.

 

Meanwhile, Rick Ross spoke against Trump in 2021 in an interview with Club Shay Shay, explaining his lyrics “I'm happy that Donald Trump became the president / Because we gotta destroy it, before we elevate". Ross elaborated that people need to realise how bad Trump's presidency was to appreciate Obama, the first black president of the US. He also revealed that Trump had his album Black Dollar "pulled from the shelves at Walmart" because the rapper referenced him in a song

 

Soulja Boy on the other hand had a lot to say to Kanye West on The Breakfast Club in 2019, criticising the Yeezy founder for supporting Donald Trump. After blasting the rapper for his fashion line and comparing himself to Walt Disney, Soulja Boy slammed Kanye for his political views.

“You up here supporting Trump and s—,” he began. “You supporting Trump, bruh? What the f— wrong with you, bruh. That s— not right, bruh. I have sat back long enough and I’m not holding my tongue no more, bruh.", adding that he should "put on for the black community".

The backlash from netizens was intense as they accused the rappers of being 'sell-outs' of their community for money.

 

Many other artists have faced similar outrage for performing at Trump's inauguration, who takes office as the 47th president of the US on Monday, January 20 in Washington D.C.