And Finally Artist News

Everlast aims to “smack Donald Trump’s comb over right off his scalp” after House Of Pain song use

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 5 April 2016

Another musician has noticed Donald Trump using their music at his rallies. Is that musician happy about it? Have yourself a quick guess before we move on.

Former House Of Pain member Everlast posted on Instagram over night: “I’ve been informed Donald Trump is using ‘Jump Around’ at his rallies. Stop playing my song you ignorant racist piece of shit – lawyers are already on it. I don’t want your money, no amount you offer will get the license. I would love to meet you and smack that comb over right off your scalp, you scumbag!”

He added on Twitter: “Hey @realDonaldTrump stop using my song ‘Jump Around’ at your rallies you piece of shit. Cease and desist is coming, you scumbag”.

Subsequently speaking to Billboard, the rapper said that he had first become aware that Trump was using his former group’s 1992 track when he saw a news report online.

“This guy is supposedly this really good businessman, which is the biggest load of shit ever”, he said. “The smartest businessman in the world should know that you have to license this music if it makes an appearance on TV with you, and they’re making appearances on TV – so you’re a moron. And the reason he doesn’t ask anybody – a lot of people have asked him to cease and desist – [is] because every fucking person would say, ‘no, fuck you’, except for whatever right-wing country artist wants to give him the song, and I don’t even think there’s many of them”.

While it’s true that various musicians have taken exception to Trump’s use of their music at his rallies, few have had much luck going down the legal route. The performance of songs at the presidential contender’s events will usually be covered by blanket licences from ASCAP and BMI, usually held by the venues. Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler thought he’d found a legal position on the matter, but it was never tested in court, because Trump backed down.

As for the news report, it wouldn’t be Trump’s responsibility to secure a licence for CNN’s TV broadcast, though it’s likely that that would be covered by the fair use exception for news reporting anyway. So arguably a licence isn’t required, regardless.

Still, the choice of track might seem like an odd one. But Everlast thinks it’s no coincidence that Trump’s team chose a song by a white hip hop group. He said: “That’s hip hop, man. That is black culture. What the fuck do you think you’re doing with it? He’s a fucking racist piece of shit. That’s what he’s trying to do: One of the most well-known white hip-hop groups… they’re not stupid, the people around him. They’re trying to create these inroads to people’s demographic cubbyholes, so they can be like, ‘Yeah, we’re down with hip hop. Yeah, we’re fucking cool'”.

Elaborating further on his Instagram post, he continued: “Fuck that dude. I’ll smack that fucker’s comb over right off his fucking scalp. Like, for real, if I met Donald Trump, I’d punch him in his fucking face. And that’s not a joke. Even if he did become president – watch out, Donald Trump, because I will punch you in your fucking face if I ever meet you. Secret Service had better just fucking be on it. Don’t let me anywhere within a block. This is horrible”.

As well as Everlast and Tyler, artists including REM, Neil Young and Adele have all distanced themselves from Trump after their music was used during his campaign to become president of the United States. He does have Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider on side though.

Trump has also been bad-mouthed by several other hip hop acts recently, including Rae Sremmurd, who cut short a performance of their track ‘Up Like Trump’ at SXSW to denounce the wannabe politician. Meanwhile, according to TMZ, rappers Nipsey Hussle and YG yesterday had a video shoot for their new track ‘Fuck Donald Trump’ shut down by police.