Plies questions how some Black voters became convinced voting doesn’t matter ahead of midterms: ‘The goal is to keep us from getting excited’

The rapper reflects on Barack Obama’s campaigns, Kamala Harris and efforts he believes have discouraged Black voters from participating in elections.
Over the last decade and change, Plies has emerged as one of the more astute celebrities when it comes to speaking about politics. Never ashamed to highlight his support for the likes of Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, the “Shawty” rapper had a moment of reflection while on a flight, questioning how conservatives convinced Black Americans that voting doesn’t matter, saying enthusiasm among Black voters can affect elections.
In an Instagram video uploaded on Sunday, the Florida rapper used most of the four minutes questioning why muting Black excitement for voting became a strong political tactic that some Black voters fell for.
“How did these motherf-ckers convince us that this sh-t don’t matter?” he asked, arguing that political opponents had studied the impact of Black voter enthusiasm and wanted to prevent that excitement from returning.
Plies pointed to Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns as an example. He suggested that Obama’s electoral success made political opponents determined to discourage Black voters in later elections. He also described redistricting and voting restrictions as preparations for the possibility of renewed Black voter participation. The video offers his interpretation of those political motives, rather than evidence establishing a coordinated plan.
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Turning to Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign, Plies criticized attacks on her racial identity. He argued that questioning whether Harris was Black was intended to undermine enthusiasm for her candidacy, and said some people accepted the message.
He also argued that Obama’s association with Joe Biden helped build enough excitement to defeat Donald Trump in 2020. Reflecting on Trump’s victories against Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Harris in 2024, Plies said he believed the country was not ready to elect either woman. Those were his assessments of the election outcomes.
Plies said he does not tell others how to vote. For himself, he explained, choosing a candidate is less about expecting personal benefits and more about assessing who he believes would do the least harm to his community.
“I’m going to play this motherf-cking game that they created because there’s real consequences with it,” he said. “I’m voting for who not gon’ hurt my people the worst.”
The rapper ended by returning to his original question about political disengagement. His comments follow a recent political exchange about Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon and come as new polling on engagement highlights debates over redistricting and voting access ahead of the November midterms, where Black voter enthusiasm, voting rights and political participation remain prominent issues.