Washington (CNN) California rapper Brandon McCartney, known by his professional name Lil B The Based God, released a track last year expressing his love and respect for Bill Clinton.

And in his ode to the former President, titled "B---- I'm Bill Clinton," he raps a sort of endorsement for Hillary Clinton even before her 2016 presidential bid was announced: "Shout-outs to Hillary Clinton. You gonna win that presidency."

But last month, Lil B took that endorsement back, and in a series of passionate tweets, he publicly endorsed Bernie Sanders, saying, "As much as I want to a woman leading the USA, right now it's all about Bernie ... he's the real he loves us."

Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid on April 12 through a video message on social media. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is considered the front-runner among possible Democratic candidates."Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid. "I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid. "I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has made a name for himself in the Senate, solidifying his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on the GOP's establishment. He announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination in a speech on March 23."These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant."

Businessman Donald Trump announced June 16 at his Trump Tower in New York City that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. This ends more than two decades of flirting with the idea of running for the White House."So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement.

The 25-year-old rapper is a former member of the San Francisco rap crew The Pack, who were best known during the mid 2000s for their Billboard-charting hit "Vans." He is outspoken about racial inequality, the criminal justice system and poverty in both his freestyle lyrics and as a motivational speaker, and he has given lectures at universities including MIT UCLA and NYU

In an interview with CNN, Lil B explained why he switched his allegiance from Clinton to Sanders, his take on the black vote in the 2016 race and the "Black Lives Matter" movement.

As much as I want to a woman leading the USA, right now it's all about Bernie @BernieSanders @SenSanders he's the real he loves us - Lil B — Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) July 15, 2015

On why he dropped Clinton for Sanders

"No one's really been saying anything about Hillary Clinton besides that she's a woman and running for office," Lil B said. "To me, it's kind of like the same thing when Obama was running, but the difference is Obama seemed to have a more down-to-earth personality."

Lil B said he was excited by the prospect of the first woman president and had planned to vote for her, and liked her husband.

But he said what he learned about Clinton and Sanders' backgrounds changed his mind.

I herd Bernie @BernieSanders @SenSanders marched against segregation in the 60s which was not long ago! I love that brave dude! - Lil B — Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) July 15, 2015

"Once the people started telling me about Bernie Sanders and comparing what he was doing back in his younger days and what she was doing, it made me kind of look at her different -- not really respect her as much as I thought," adding that "she was doing some other stuff for some Republican," citing Clinton's support for Sen. Barry Goldwater's failed 1964 presidential campaign as a "Goldwater girl."

"She didn't have any part in trying to march against segregation. She was just a follower," Lil B said.

And when Sanders followed him on Twitter, the rapper's admiration for the Vermont senator grew because to Lil B, who candidates follow on social media tells him about who they feel they should be listening to.

I don't no Bernie sanders but I want to say I love him and his family I hope he represents honesty and love @BernieSanders - Lil B — Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) July 10, 2015

How do these political people running for government not follow one black person over Twitter? But Bernie @BernieSanders follows me - Lil B — Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) July 15, 2015

Shouts out to Bernie sanders @BernieSanders he's not a paid off politician who was bought off by some private companies stay real - Lil B — Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) July 23, 2015

The streets and the hood is showing love to Bernie @BernieSanders @SenSanders and sayin he got good morals and he follows Lil B LOVE - Lil B — Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) July 15, 2015

check if your fav congress people or senators or mayors or anyone who works with government follow black people on Twitter! Need 2 ! - Lil B — Lil B From The Pack (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) July 15, 2015

When asked whether he vote for Clinton, who received a wave of endorsements from rappers over the last year, in an general election, Lil B said "I want to feel her out ... I always look at where people started and I want to know what she has to say about that."

The Clinton campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

On the black vote and #BlackLivesMatter

After the recent deaths of several young black men and women at the hands of police officers, civil rights and criminal justice reform are high on the rapper's priority list this election cycle. He released several tracks addressing racial inequality, including "I Can't Breathe," in reference to the choking death of Eric Garner last summer in New York.

Recording artist Lil B performs onstage during day 1 of the 2015 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Club on April 10, 2015 in Indio, California.

And for "Black Lives Matter," a national movement that was initiated after George Zimmerman's acquittal in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in 2013, activists are pressing candidates on their plans for tackling racial injustice. Many remain unimpressed and disappointed by both parties.

When asked what candidates need to do to court black voters, Lil B said that if they are not connected to the community, they will not succeed.

"To win African-American voters you have to feel them," and a lot of these candidates "don't understand what that means."

"I wish people grew up in the hood and grew up with adversity and seen s---," he said.

He added that black-on-black crime is "real," but asks "What about the dirty landlords ... the dirty bankers ... the police that are dirty or the dirty court system? With black-on-black crime, most of the times, that comes from poor black people that's trying to get out. They're misguided," he said.

On Sanders' run-ins with #BlackLivesMatter demonstrators

When asked about Sanders' tense interaction with "Black Lives Matter" demonstrators, who interrupted a town hall for liberal activists last month, the rapper said that while he did not watch the interaction, the movement should give Sanders a chance.

JUST WATCHED Democratic presidential candidates under pressure at liberal event Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Democratic presidential candidates under pressure at liberal event 03:11

"It might be uncomfortable for him to talk about the issues but he has a leg to stand on," Lil B said. "I mean, if he was marching for civil rights back then, he was protesting against segregation ... and all the youth, the black youth, should be able to hear him out."

But the rapper added that candidates have to be able to take the heat.

"Of course, with age differences ... he might feel a little weird talking to younger people that might look different ... or might feel a little different," he said of Sanders.

Sanders had another run in with #BlackLivesMatter protesters Sunday, in which about a dozen demonstrators took the stage and grabbed the microphone from the Senator.

Bernie Sanders' first event in Seattle was shut down by Black Lives Matter protestors. Here is the moment they took the stage. A photo posted by @danmericacnn on Aug 8, 2015 at 4:23pm PDT

Sanders stood a few feet off stage and his aides said that he had no intention of leaving during the protests, but when the mic was not handed back to Sanders, organizers effectively shut down the event.

"I think he handled it very classy," Lil B said. "There's some times when these people, they feel the need to speak and they feel like there's an urgency ... I think Bernie let them speak and its the admirable thing to do ... He didn't have security escort them off stage. That's another plus side for Bernie."

Lil B's advice to 2016 candidates

While addressing a largely black audience at the National Urban League conference in Miami last month, Democratic presidential candidates Clinton, Sanders and former Maryland Governor O'Malley seemed to have learned from past troubles, as they each called for racial justice by invoking the three key words: "black lives matter."

But Lil B said that candidates should not only be addressing people at conferences, but should also be talking to people like him.

"I really do represent a lot of people, the poor people ... people who barely got $20 to their name ... the middle class, the teenagers ... people who aren't paying attention but they still have questions and have voting power," he said.

And his advice to candidates who are trying to connect with a diverse group of Americans? "You gotta rock with the people."