Jay Z is set to hold a get out the vote concert for Hillary Clinton in Ohio aimed at mobilizing black voters, three sources told BuzzFeed News.

While the date of the concert has not yet been confirmed, a Clinton aide confirmed that it will be held in Cleveland.

The concert — perhaps the centerpiece of the “closing argument” strategy built to turn out this group — would be a major coup for the Clinton campaign, which has struggled to excite young black voters. It’s a key part of the coalition they need to build to defeat Trump in several battleground states, but especially Ohio where she has trailed more consistently than in most swing states. High turnout among younger voters of color would make it virtually impossible for Trump to win.

Senior Democrats, meanwhile, have signaled publicly that Clinton has indicated staff should do whatever it takes to turn out young black voters and the concert is viewed as one of the last major voter mobilization moves the campaign will make before election day.

In 2012, he performed a show along with Bruce Springsteen in Columbus for President Obama’s reelect campaign, at which the president spoke. Jay Z himself has been particularly outspoken on police violence, an issue of importance to young voters going to the polls.

He’s a validator on the issue, who’s interpolated references to Trayvon Martin in a well-received freestyle, and more recently, after the killings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, released statement a song via his streaming service Tidal called “Spiritual.”

A Democratic source familiar with the concert said they wouldn’t be surprised if Cleveland Cavaliers star Lebron James made an appearance after endorsing Clinton earlier this month.

Jay Z and Beyoncé long ago endorsed Clinton and chopped it up with Bill Clinton during the Philadelphia Music Festival on Labor Day weekend.

The Clinton campaign has a series of concerts in the works in the remaining weeks of the campaign aimed at turning out voters. The National, Ohio natives, will play in Cincinnati next month, and Jennifer Lopez, whose pop tune “Let’s Get Loud” often plays at Clinton rallies, is doing a similar GOTV concert in Miami, Florida aimed at Latino voters on Oct. 29.

Source: buzzfeed.com

Date Posted: Monday, October 24th, 2016 , Total Page Views: 1334