DNC

20 Aug 2024

Common Performs At Democratic National Convention 2024, DJ Cassidy Passes The Votes

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2024 Democratic National Convention: Day 2

Source: Kevin Dietsch / Getty

You know you can’t have a Democratic presidential campaign without Common‘s involvement. On Tuesday (August 20), the Chicago MC performed at the United Center to open the second night of the Democratic National Convention in his hometown.

The “Chi-City” rapper hit the stage with Grammy Award-winning Gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds to perform “Fortunate.” The song appears on The Auditorium Vol. 1, Common’s recently released, critically acclaimed collaborative album with producer Pete Rock.

Also schedule to perform is iconic Soul singer Patti LaBelle.

The keynote speakers for the evening are scheduled to by Dem royalty and former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.

And in another example of Hip-Hop’s presence at the DNC, DJ Cassidy brought his Pass The Mic theme by provided the music to the roll call vote. Can we say a DNC roll call vote has never been this entertaining.

Actually, Lil Jon came out to perform during Georgie’s roll call vote, so it’s official.

20 Aug 2024

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Jabs At Donald Trump During Epic DNC Speech, Xitter Reacts

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The Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday (August 19) in Chicago, and the early returns suggest that things are off to a roaring start. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered one of the more fiery speeches of the evening, aiming at Donald Trump and his record of busting unions while also praising Vice President Kamala Harris.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among several Democratic Party stars to deliver standout speeches, including former First Lady and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Sen. Raphael Warnock, and a spirited showing from President Joe Biden.

Ocasio-Cortez’s speech opened with how just six years prior, she was working as a waitress in New York City after graduating from Boston College. During that time, Ocasio-Cortez worked alongside her mother to fight foreclosure on their home.

As the speech rolled on, Ocasio-Cortez aimed her attention at Donald Trump, attacking the former president on rumored financial cronyism among other digs.

“Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends,” Ocasio-Cortez said during the speech to loud applause.

She added, “And I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed, trampling on our way of life.”

Ocasio-Cortez also used her speech to graciously praise President Biden for his leadership and framed Vice President Harris and her running mate, Gov. Tim Walz as champions for the middle class. This too also garnered heavy applause from the attendees at the United Center.

On X, formerly Twitter, the reactions to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s speech at the Democratic National Convention have been plentiful. We’ve got them listed down below.

A video of the speech is posted below, courtesy of PBS NewsHour.

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Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / Getty

20 Aug 2024

Senator Raphael Warnock Blasts Trump In Fiery DNC Speech, Xitter Applauds

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2024 Democratic National Convention

Source: Bill Clark / Getty

Senator Raphael Warnock delivered a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention, drawing praise for his message of unity & defeating Donald Trump from social media users.
The first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois was jam-packed with numerous speakers, with Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock giving a rousing speech that hammered Donald Trump over his hawking of $60 “patriotic” Bibles. “Yes, I saw him,” Warnock said to the crowd at the United Center. “I saw him holding the Bible and endorsing a Bible as if it needed his endorsement.” The “God Bless The USA” Bibles referenced were named after the country singer Lee Greenwood’s song. Greenwood is an ardent supporter of former president Trump. “He should try reading it!” Warnock shouted. “It says do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God. He should try reading it. It says love your neighbor as yourself, it says in as much as you’ve done to the least of these, you have done also unto me.”

The reverend of Atlanta’s venerated Ebenezer Baptist Church didn’t stop there. “I choose the American covenant e pluribus unum, out of many one, I choose January 5 [the day he was elected in 2021], I choose a nation that provides a path for ordinary people and give every child a chance,” Warnock told the crowd. He would also touch on the current crisis in Gaza with the Israelis and Palestinians with empathy, closing with: “I need my neighbor’s children to be okay so that my children will be okay. I need all of my neighbor’s children to be okay … the poor children of Israel and the poor children of Gaza … those in Ukraine … I need American children on both sides of the track to be ok”

Senator Warnock’s speech was well-received across social media. One user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote that the speech “Felt like a Martin Luther King Jr. moment”. The senator addressed the impact of his speech in an interview on Tuesday morning (August 20). “As a pastor, as a person of faith, I take great offense with the way in which he is weaponizing the symbols of our great country and also the symbols of the faith, towards this kind of hate,” he said during his appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

Check out the reactions to Senator Warnock’s speech below.

1. Omar Jimenez

2. Jim Stewartson

3. Tyler Huckabee

4. Heyjaeee

6. Abraham Great

7. Finessa Trilliams

19 Aug 2024

Watch Mickey Guyton & Jason Isbell Perform at Night 1 of DNC 2024

It was a music-packed first night at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, with Jason Isbell, Mickey Guyton and James Taylor all performing at Chicago’s United Center in support of presidential hopeful Kamala Harris.

Isbell and Guyton both made their DNC debuts on Monday night (Aug. 19), while Taylor was playing his fifth straight convention in support of the Democratic Party. In an interview with CNN ahead of Monday’s performance, Guyton explained the importance of supporting Harris in her bid for the presidency. “For me, this is beyond a genre of music,” the country singer reflected. “This is about humanity. This is about the culture. This is about our country and I feel honored to be able to witness history.”

Watch the trio of performances below (we will add Taylor’s performance video once it’s live):

Jason Isbell

Jason Isbell performs on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024.

Jason Isbell performs on the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024.

ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images

Six-time Grammy-winning Americana singer/songwriter Jason Isbell took the stage to perform “Something More Than Free,” which is the title track from his 2015 album. The poignant song speaks to the working man’s dilemma of toiling so hard for an unclear reward. “My back is numb, my hands are freezing/ What I’m working for is something more than free.”

Mickey Guyton

Grammy-nominated country artist Mickey Guyton played her song “All American,” which she co-wrote with Victoria Banks for her 2021 album Remember Her Name. The unifying chorus was a perfect fit for the DNC: “Ain’t we all, ain’t we all all American?”

James Taylor

James Taylor rehearses during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

James Taylor rehearses during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

James Taylor is set to finish the night with his 1971 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “You’ve Got a Friend” (his lone chart-topper), marking his fifth consecutive DNC performance.

19 Aug 2024

James Taylor, Mickey Guyton Join Jason Isbell as Democratic National Convention Opening Day Performers

The Democratic National Convention takes over Chicago’s United Center starting on Monday night (Aug. 19), and Mickey Guyton and James Taylor have joined the opening day performer lineup, Billboard has confirmed.

Guyton and Taylor will join previously confirmed performer Jason Isbell, who is set to deliver a rendition of his 2015 hit, “Something More Than Free,” the title track off his Grammy-winning fifth studio album. The DNC’s first night’s theme is “For the People.” The Hollywood Reporter first reported the lineup.

Kerry Washington, Mindy Kaling, Tony Goldwyn and Ana Navarro are this year’s DNC hosts, each scheduled to deliver opening remarks and make appearances throughout the week. Additional performers are to be announced.

Vice President Kamala Harris‘ presidential nomination will be celebrated this week in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention. Harris has also chosen Minnesota governor Tim Walz to run alongside her as her selected VP. Harris was swapped in for President Joe Biden last month and since then, surveys have shown that while Trump was previously winning in several key battleground states, the polls are now shifting slightly in Harris’ favor, per New York Times/Siena College.

Biden is also scheduled to speak on the opening night of the DNC, which begins at 9 p.m. ET. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Ashley Biden, Hillary Clinton, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Senator Raphael G. Warnock and more are also set to make remarks.

19 Aug 2024

Jason Isbell to Perform at Democratic National Convention’s Opening Night

Jason Isbell will be taking the stage on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention on Monday night (Aug. 19), Billboard can confirm.

The star will be performing his 2015 hit, “Something More Than Free,” the title track off his Grammy-winning fifth studio album. “I don’t think on why I’m here or where it hurts/ I’m just lucky to have the work/ Sunday morning I’m too tired to go to church/ But I thank God for the work,” he sings on the working people’s anthem.

Isbell is also no stranger to condemning Donald Trump. Most recently, in June, he posted the advice to fans: “All I ask is that you consider voting for a presidential candidate who can legally travel to Canada and the UK.”

Vice President Kamala Harris‘ presidential nomination will be celebrated this week in Chicago during the Democratic National Convention. Harris has also chosen Minnesota governor Tim Walz to run alongside her as her selected VP. Harris was swapped in for President Joe Biden last month and since then, surveys have shown that while Trump was previously winning in several key battleground states, the polls are now shifting slightly in Harris’ favor, per New York Times/Siena College.

Biden is also scheduled to speak on the opening night of the DNC, which begins at 9 p.m. ET.