THE RAPPER EVERLAST has became the latest musician to voice anger at Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump’s use of a song, demanding that he stop playing Jump Around at rallies.
In a series of acerbic social media posts late yesterday, Everlast said that his lawyers had informed Trump that he does not have the right to play the 1992 hit by his former band House of Pain.
“I would love to meet you and smack that comb-over right off your scalp,” he wrote on Instagram in one of his less profane statements, describing Trump as “ignorant” and “racist”.
Everlast, whose real name is Erik Schrody, also took to Trump’s favorite medium, Twitter, to lash out at the candidate’s defenders.
Since the song’s initial success, Jump Around has become a staple in US pop culture and is frequently played to excite crowds at sporting events.
Trump’s rallies have been repeatedly marred by violence, with supporters of the right-wing populist angered by protesters.
Everlast is only the latest artist to butt heads with Trump, who has stirred controversy by describing Mexican immigrants as rapists and urging a ban on entry by all foreign Muslims.
Neil Young and R.E.M. – both known for their left-wing politics – earlier voiced outrage when Trump played their respective hits Rockin’ in the Free World and It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).
British superstar Adele has also asked Trump not to use her music, although she made a more polite request, saying that she has not given permission to any candidate.
Everlast was one of the early successful white rappers and House of Pain was associated with Irish American culture, with the video for “Jump Around” shot at New York’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
After going solo, Everlast has branched out musically into a blues rock sound and has converted to Islam.
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