Since the death of George Floyd and throughout the country’s police brutality protests and continued police violence, several hip hop celebrities have used their platforms to turn their followers’ attention to the importance of voting, especially in local and state elections.
On Tuesday (June 2), Rihanna used her Instagram account to do just that, while also observing Blackout Tuesday by pausing her Fenty sales for the day.
“VOTE. Ya ain’t got sh*t else to do man! Get yo ass off the couch and go vote!!!” she wrote, alongside a post that reminded her followers of states that were holding primary elections on Tuesday (June 2) — including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Iowa, Montana, New Mexico and Washington, D.C.
“I don’t wanna hear another excuse!!” the post continued. “Stop believing that your vote and voice don’t matter! This the illest way to protest…vote for the change you want!!!”
However, one fan wasn’t convinced and instead commented, “Voting ain’t gon change sh*t.”
The ANTI singer clapped back at the Instagram user, responding, “Sick of hearing this! Ya know what ain’t gon change sh*t? Not doing sh*t!!!!”
Rihanna isn’t the only artist encouraging her fans to vote amidst the ongoing protests. Last week, Cardi B expressed the same sentiment on Instagram.
“I also wanna say this, another way for the people to take power — I don’t wanna make everything political, but it is what it is — it’s by voting,” she said. “And when I say voting, I’m not only talking about the president. We can vote for mayors, we can vote for judges and we can vote for district attorneys.”
“The people who are voting for these people are most likely cops. Most likely rednecks. That’s why every single time that some fu*k sh*t like this happen, it goes to their favor,” Cardi continued. “These people have the power, these judges, these DAs, these attorneys, they have the power to prosecute these cops when they do fu*k sh*t like this. That’s why we have to vote. We have to be aware when these elections are going on. We have to be aware and inform ourselves of these people that are in power… [and] have power where you live at.”
Likewise, during a recent interview with Complex, Terrace Martin said “a lot of us are paying the price” by not voting.
“I know people are scared their voice won’t be heard, but we need to fu*king vote. Every time I go, it be me and about 50 other white people in line,” he told the outlet. “Our people need to vote. It’s important. Look at this sh*t, man. Motherfu*kers ain’t voting and bi*ch ass motherfu*kers are in office, because we’re not showing up.”
See RiRi’s post below.