Listen to Ben Carson's cringeworthy new rap ad

Ben Carson at a Distinguished Speakers Series event in Colorado.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

published 5 November 2015

In an earnest attempt to appeal to young black voters, Republican presidential contender Ben Carson has released a rap-focused radio ad that will run for two weeks in cities like Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, and Memphis, Tennessee. Thankfully, the retired neurosurgeon isn't the one doing the rapping — the ad's rhymes come courtesy of rapper Aspiring Mogul, who calls himself "The Black Republican."

Ben Carson does make a vocal appearance via stilted, monotone sound clips from his stump speeches, however, sounding a bit like a dorky dad who learned Alicia Keys' part in "Empire State of Mind" after watching it performed on Glee... five years ago.

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Lauren Hansen produces The Weekâ€™s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.