PHOTO | ASHLEIGH FIELDS

Grammy-nominated rapper DaBaby toured Charlotte polling sites Tuesday as part of the "Vote Baby Vote initiative to encourage voters of color to cast ballots.

A young Black man is stereotypically not the person most people expect to see encouraging them to vote.

However, Charlotte native and Grammy-nominated recording artist Da Baby spent Election Day working to change that narrative. The rapper used his platform to enthuse voters in his hometown under the initiative “Vote Baby Vote” in partnership with the organization #NoCap 2020.

“To partner with DaBaby on this initiative is huge for Charlotte. If there were ever a moment when young Black folks needed to vote and get engaged, this is that moment,” said Jonah Vincent, director of #NoCap2020.

Da Baby traveled to six polling sites in communities of color to encourage young adults to create change, starting at the ballot box. Those who traveled with him included radio personality No Limit Larry, television host Ally Lynn and Black college students from across the state. An entourage of students from North Carolina A&T, North Carolina Central, and Johnson C. Smith universities provided live music while voters waited in line to cast ballots. They not only provided a distraction from the long lines but also passed out water, snacks and t-shirts from the Vote Baby Vote tour bus.

“Working with these organizations has been incredibly powerful in terms of our ability to engage youth voters across the state,” said #NoCap2020 lead fellow Israphil Brandon. “I believe the turnout numbers have increased by 64%.”

Throughout the day free rides to polling stations in Charlotte were also offered with the promo code “VOTEWITHDABABY.” The artist shared that he specifically would do all he could to support Black and brown voters.

“We are the people who need to vote,” said Da Baby. “We need to push, which is why we are trying to draw as many people as possible to create change.”

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