Found in the Inbox: AyeMaze Makes a Statement With “Don’t Be Trumped”

Adam Brown, known in hip-hop circles as AyeMaze, made “Don’t Be Trumped” as a video campaign during the 2016 US presidential race. The Rive Video Promotion campaign presented it as a direct response to what it called the divisive tone of Donald Trump’s campaign, and as a message from “one of the next generation of leaders.”

A modern renaissance résumé

The campaign compares AyeMaze to Paul Robeson. At the time AyeMaze was a business major and rising senior at Hampton University, the football team’s starting place kicker and a member of the MEAC All-Academic team, after four sports and the chess club presidency at Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati. The release also lists the company Ayemazing Enterprises, travel to China, Spain, France and Germany, and volunteer work with exchange students, orphans in Guatemala and the homeless in Cincinnati.

The music before the message

AyeMaze had already built a music career with songs including “Club Jumpin’,” “Ball,” “Got Em” and “By Myself.” “Don’t Be Trumped” was a step from party records into commentary, and the campaign framed it as part of a broader, conscious ambition.

Why it was in the inbox

Election seasons always produce protest records. This one came from a student juggling football, business and music at the same time.

Watch the official video

Release details from Rive Video Promotion’s campaign for “Don’t Be Trumped,” a 2016 election-season video. The views described are the campaign’s. This feature updates Exposed Vocals’ original August 2016 post.