This presidential race has been a musical one.



It started with the Barack Roll late this summer. Then John McCain chose Sarah Palin, and that decision gave us one of the best Saturday Night Live skits in years when Amy Poehler did her Palin rap. Can you say Ayers?

Now, there’s one day left. One day before all the campaigning and madness ends. So it’s finally time to decide. And what better way to give a quick summary of each candidate and his stances on the issues than with music. Hip-hop music.



Here are the five rap songs that best define Obama and McCain.

John McCain

1.“My Block” by Scarface – McCain has definitely been around the block. A congressman for more than 20 years, he can tell you vivid stories about his past, just like Scarface did in this song.

2. “Trapped” by 2Pac – For 5 ½ years, McCain was a Vietnam prisoner of war. He broke several bones, nearly died in the hospital then had guards point guns at him every day as he sat in solitary confinement for more than two years. Yep, McCain knows a lot more about being “trapped” than 2Pac.

3. “Still Fly” by Big Tymers – McCain is 72, but he and his supporters think he can still kick it. The economy is down with a Republican in the White House, but it doesn’t matter. He’s not going to spend big money to fix it; his voting record shows he’s against excessive spending. To him, the country isn’t such bad shape. It needs some fixes but is still pretty fly.

4. “Welcome Back” by Mase – The McCain critics will pump this one loud on Tuesday night if he wins the election. Welcome back to the woeful era of George W. Bush they will say.

5. “Ghetto Cowboy” by Mo Thugs – This one fits McCain perfectly. He has (or at least used to have) the reputation of a Maverick, a gunslinger who’d vote however he wanted, screw the Republican party. More than that, McCain is a fiery guy, a war hawk from Arizona who could’ve dueled it out with the best of them in the old west.

Barack Obama

1. “Hopeful” by Twista and Faith Evans – He’s the Democrats’ last hope. Gore couldn’t do it on the electoral college level. Kerry couldn’t beat one of the least popular presidents ever. Obama is the sign of hope for a party that’s won the election just twice since 1976.

2. “Takeover” by Jay-Z – Obama doesn’t want anyone to remember Bush. He wants the last eight years gone from everyone’s memory once he’s in the middle of his term. Like Jay-Z toward Nas and Mobb Deep, he’s not clowning around.

3. “Bling Bling” by B.G. featuring the Hot Boys – He’s not going to throw away money on Rovers and yachts, but he’ll spend. Obama’s economic stimulus package should include spending to create programs that will create jobs. Oh, and he’ll lend to small businesses and states.

4. “Mesmerized” by Ja Rule and Ashanti – Some fear that Obama could be inexperienced. He’s only been in the senate since 2004. Might he be mesmerized if he becomes president? There’s another similarity here. Ja Rule is known throughout hip-hop circles as the softest rapper in the business. Obama wants out of Iraq and has no military background. Some call that soft.

5. “Whatever You Like” by T.I. – Obama is promising change. He’s promising a better, different America. We know T.I. can back up his promises of riches and wealth (although he is going to prison soon). If Obama gets elected, hopefully his promises come true and he can gives us everything we like.