Young MC is an American hero

The rapper didn't have to take a stand on the “Freedom 250: The Great American State Fair.” But he did.

Back when I was a high school senior, I was a tri-captain of the Mahopac Indians’ cross country team. We’d travel to all of our away meets via bus—meaning we’d head off to Carmel, to Brewster, to Peekskill, to White Plains. And in the lord’s year of 1989, that means we would play one song over and over and over.

“Bust a Move” by Young MC.

It was the jam. Our jam. The song that motivated us, inspired us, kept us loose. All these decades later, I know every single word, note, pause. I friggin’ love “Bust a Move.”

Of course, time passes. And through the years, Young MC somewhat faded into the abyss; a rapper who, with age, became more novelty than fresh face. There’s a scene in the George Clooney film, “Up In the Air,” that shows Young MC headlining a corporate convention in a hotel lobby, busting out “Bust a Move” to 100 or so attendees wearing lanyards and khakis. That felt on point.

But then …

Earlier this week, Young MC did something far more important than a song, an album, a tour. He became one of the first artists to pull out of the Washington, DC-based “Freedom 250: The Great American State Fair,” a June 26 event he initially believed to be a celebration of America, but one that he came to learn was organized and controlled by (blech) Donald Trump. As an ode to (blech) Donald Trump.

And I’m sure Young MC could have used the dough. And the attention. After all, hip-hop isn’t the landscape of 59-year olds. But instead, he chose righteousness and integrity. “I had no clue it was considered a ‘Trump-backed’ event, so that was new to me,” he told Rolling Stone. “My whole thing was ‘tell me what the event is, what it’s about, who you are, and then give me the choice of whether I want to do the event or not.’ I was never given that choice. I was told one thing and then it was a bait-and-switch.”

So what happened next? What followed?

Well, this …

Bret Michaels dropped out.

Martina McBride dropped out.

Morris Day dropped out.

C+C Music Factory dropped out.

One artist after another artist after another artist dropped out, until Trump—a loser of losers—posted this …

And while his words are the blatherings of a fool, they’re also reminder No. 654,321 that there is no loyalty when it comes to the president. These “third rate” artists weren’t third rate when they were invited—only when they backed out.

Only when they dared to bust a move.

PS: Young MC’s last release was a 2024 song called “Loose.” This is the Apple Music link. Let’s all support the dude and download it.