Ice-T says rap got Obama elected

Ice-T shares a theory on hip-hop and politics. | AP Close

If it weren’t for rap music, President Obama wouldn’t be in the White House, according to Ice-T.

"[Rap] put Barack Obama in the presidency,” the hip-hop star and actor said on the “Today” show on Wednesday. “If it wasn't for rap, white people wouldn't have been so open to vote for somebody like Barack Obama.”

Host Kathie Lee Gifford suggested that maybe people supported Obama because "they thought he was a good candidate and not because he was black."

“Well that had to happen after their eyes were opened up, and hip-hop was what brought us together,” Ice-T, who’s releasing a documentary about rap this week, said. “Hip-hop's what took down a lot of those boundaries. Music did that."

(h/t TV Guide)