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So About That New Ben Shapiro Rap Song

Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool

I'm rarely a fan of rap. While I've got a few songs I truly like, I've always been more of a synth-wave, alt-rock, and indie-rock fan. I listen to bands like Lord Huron, Manchester Orchestra, or The Midnight. But that doesn't mean that rap doesn't have its place in the cultural tapestry. In fact, it's one of the most popular forms of music in the world. It's a form of versatile expression. 

Case in point, even Ben Shapiro can take advantage of the genre...and he did. 

As my colleague Ben Kew wrote in his article about this, Shapiro's rap song he did in collaboration with rapper Tom MacDonald skyrocketed to the top of the Apple iTunes chart, not a small feat. The song has gotten attention from established mainstream rappers such as Nicki Minaj. Moreover, it's a clear sign that conservatives can, in fact, break into mainstream entertainment.

But before we get too excited, let's get some facts straight. For one, part of the reason the song blew up is because it's Ben Shapiro rapping and I don't know who isn't going to be curious enough to want to see that. It's Shapiro's fame and infamy at play here. 

That's not to say this song is bad. I personally get a kick out of it and I love the message of not caring if woke scolds are offended. There's definitely a cringe element to the song, mostly coming from Shapiro, but it's oddly part of the song's charm.

But I wanted to bring attention to the song itself, namely that it's something of a protest song that actually works. 

Normally, I roll my eyes at these kinds of things but what's interesting is that this isn't the first protest song to top the charts. The honor for the first one goes to Oliver Anthony with "Rich Men North of Richmond." That song became so prolific that it reached everyone no matter what race or ideology they had. 

( Watch: Oliver Anthony's 'Rich Men North of Richmond' Causes Deep Emotional Impact in All Types of People)

So what does this tell us? 

For one, there's something definitely wrong with what's happening in today's society that seems to resonate with people, and moreover, the things going wrong are happening from the left. Quite a few people seem to be bitter and angry at the elite of our society if the love of Anthony's song is any indication, and that there's quite a bit of spite to be had for the left if the love of Shapiro's song tells us anything. 

I've written quite a bit about spite as of late. There does seem to be a lot of it floating around lately and there shouldn't be any surprise as to why. The left has gotten to a point where it's become overly brave. It's been pushing itself on people in almost every aspect of life and it's created a lot of bitter people who want to strike back in any way possible. 

In 2024, you might see spite drive a lot of the votes toward the Republican Party, particularly Donald Trump. 

(READ: That the Democrats Are Surprised at How Disliked They Are Says a Lot About Them)

But moreover, it appears the people are hungry for something else. A different message instead of the one they've been beaten over the head with for the past couple of decades. Something that pushes back against the message of modernity and nonsense. 

Conservatives can and should start sounding off in the arts and start doing it yesterday. The culture is now seemingly willing to turn, all conservatives have to do is put in the effort to be artistic in order for it to happen. 

This doesn't mean releasing full-on propaganda like Shapiro did. Again, Shapiro enjoys a name and personality that makes hearing a rap from him something of a novelty that everyone wants to hear regardless of who which side of the aisle they fall on. 

But they should start telling their own stories and allowing their message to come out naturally through talented storytelling. The demand is there, we just need to provide the supply. 

We don't even need to go all out with studios and expensive fundraising ventures. More and more conservative artists are coming forward who have skills utilizing programs that make it easy to create something professional-looking. They're out there, they just need your support. 

Shapiro's song was something no one saw coming and the same could be said with Anthony's. It's indicative of a tide that wants to turn. So let's make it turn. 

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