Warnock, Ossoff appeal to young voters at hip-hop focused DeKalb rally

Do the names J.I.D., Tokyo Jetz, Shelley FKA DRAM and BRS Kash ring a bell? If not, Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock’s latest campaign event wasn’t for you.

These hip hop artists performed at Monday’s drive-in rally at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia. Another indication that the target population was the younger set: the mistress of ceremonies was Reginae Carter, daughter of hip hop legend Lil Wayne and a reality show star.

Throughout the event, the artists and other speakers encouraged audience members to cast their ballots in the Jan. 5 runoffs to support the Democratic candidates and flip the U.S. Senate blue. Early voting ends in DeKalb County on Dec. 31.

“No revolution ever takes place without young people,” New Birth Pastor Jamal Bryant said in opening remarks.

The artists each talked about the importance of voting between performances of their hits. BRS Kash, whose latest single is sexually explicit, switched up the lyrics to fit the theme of the day.

“Let’s all go to the poll, it’s about time to catch the vote,” he crooned. “Vote babyyyy.”

Shortly after the AJC reported on the concert, Republicans took to Twitter to criticize BRS Kash’s inclusion on the program. They surfaced questionable posts the 27-year-old rapper made on social media, including a screenshot of what appeared to be a post from 2012 that referenced sexual assault.

“This is who Georgia Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff had headline their event today,” National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Nathan Brand said. “Will they denounce this disgusting individual?”

Ossoff and Warnock supporters countered by saying Kash’s tweets paled in comparison to comments from President Donald Trump, such as his “grab her by the” vagina hot mic remarks. Their campaigns did not immediately respond.

Young voters are a key demographic for Democrats hoping to expand their base in Georgia. But they often are less reliable than older voters and can be harder to motivate. Events like this are designed to generate interest and encourage early voting ahead of the Jan. 5 runoffs.

About 250 cars circled the main stage for the afternoon rally that included speeches by Ossoff, Warnock and Daniel Blackman, a Democratic in the runoff for a Public Service Commission seat. Elected officials from DeKalb County and the city of Stonecrest also fired up the crowd.

A person in a unicorn costume walked around with a sign advertising free rides to the polls, a people snapped pictures in front of a painting of Stacey Abrams.

Rapper Tokyo Jetz said she had already voted early for Warnock and Ossoff in part because she wanted a better future for her young son, who she pointed to in the crowd. When she spotted fans singing along with her, she told them to keep that same energy when it came to the runoffs.

“Make sure you walk away from here knowing who you’re voting for,” she said.