Local musician Chance the Rapper pointed to President Barack Obama as a potential replacement for Mayor Rahm Emanuel during an interview with Complex released Wednesday.
Chance, whose real name is Chancellor Bennett, said the city was in need of a new mayor and pointed to the president as a potential successor during an interview alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the Broadway smash “Hamilton.”
“He makes a lot of great, nonpartisan decisions and he’s obviously spent a lot of time in Chicago on the South Side,” Bennett said.
Bennett is the son of Ken Williams-Bennett, who was named deputy chief of staff and director for Emanuel’s Office of Public Engagement in 2014. Williams-Bennett previously worked for Harold Washington and Barack Obama.
During the interview, Bennett reflected on meeting with the president at a young age and former Chicago mayors.
“I met him when I was really young, and I still have that same impression when I see him nowadays,” Bennett said. “It would be awesome having a good man represent the city because I feel like we haven’t had that since Harold Washington."
“Mayor [Richard] Daley was sick too. But, yeah, it would be awesome. There are a lot of people that need him in Chicago and the city, overall, needs it,” he added.
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This isn’t the first time Bennett addressed local politics. During two separate appearances on Saturday Night Live, he referenced Jason Van Dyke, the Chicago Police officer who shot and killed Laquan McDonald in 2014.
He also made an appeal to Bruce Rauner earlier this year, asking the governor not to veto legislation dealing with Monetary Award Program grants.
Chance's new mixtape, 3, is scheduled for a Friday release.
