By Matt Miller and Ricardo Baca
The list of endorsements for unaffiliated candidate ’s bid for Colorado governor looks more like a roundup of hip-hop Grammy nominees than a run for state office.
In recent weeks, Wyclef Jean and Snoop Dogg have individually announced their support of Dunafon. Public Enemy’s Professor Griff moderated a debate between Dunafon and some of the lesser-known gubernatorial candidates in early October. And the list will continue to grow with other stars signing on, according to Dunafon, known for his big personality and sweeping campaign promises.
But why are these rappers drawn to Dunafon, who’s more rural than urban? They all agree on legal marijuana, realistic regulations and moderate taxes, an issue that separates Dunafon from opponents Gov. John Hickenlooper (who was against the pot-legalizing Amendment 64) and his Republican challenger Bob Beauprez (who recently said legal sales should be repealed).
“Itap a miracle plant,” said Dunafon, the Glendale mayor who doesn’t get high or smoke marijuana but juices raw cannabis leaves for energy and uses CBD oils as a sleep aid.
Itap a convincing message from a charismatic man, and these A-list hip-hop artists have even donated their time and talents . And Dunafon doesn’t even listen to hip-hop.
“(Wyclef Jean) said to me, ‘Why don’t we cut a hip-hop,’ ” Dunafon said of his first encounter with the Grammy-nominated rapper and producer earlier this year at the 420 Rally in Civic Center. “And I said, ‘These are cowboy boots.’ ”
Dunfon’s recent hip-hop credibility won’t likely make him Colorado’s next governor, but analysts say his newfound celebrity in the music world could throw off the intensely close race between Hickenlooper and Beauprez.
“I don’t see many voters sitting out there saying, ‘I don’t know what to do, let me see what Snoop Dogg is up to,’ ” independent political analyst Eric Sondermann said. “Dunafon is a sideshow, but itap a fun and interesting sideshow that could impact the main show.”
During a tour of his castle-home near Idledale last week, Dunafon proudly shows off the rounded towers, two lakes, two waterfalls, 20-seat planning room and other oddities on the property.
“Itap as bizarre as being a cowboy in the middle of the hip-hop world,” Dunafon says of the castle.
This summer Dunafon joined a respectable group that includes Shakira, Carlos Santana and Mary J. Blige, all of whom have worked with Grammy-winning MC/producer Jean.
Dunafon — a Hemingway-esque man — sing-talks in a “Rawhide” voice about less government, critical thinking, hemp and two-party corruption over a Wyclef Jean beat.
“I went back to (Wyclef’s) house, we sat down in his studio and cut it,” Dunafon said. “I had no idea all the people he’s produced and all the things he’s done.”
Shortly after “The Trap” hit YouTube, Dunafon had a chance meeting with Snoop Dogg at the Gypsy Jane Fest in Denver.
“He just started rapping in the trailer: cannabis, war on drugs and changing,” Dunafon said of Snoop. that evening, he said, part of which was spent over drinks at Glendale strip club Shotgun Willie’s, owned by Dunafon’s wife Debbie Matthews.
After striking up a friendship, the rapper offered
“Wake up in the morning feeling good as I can, heading to the voting booth so I can vote for my man, Dunafon,” Snoop Dogg raps on “The Trap.” “Yes he can get you out this trap with this rap master plan.”
Dunafon’s campaign strategy has been to take no corporate money and run no television advertisements. And Dunafon said he hasn’t given any money to these hip-hop artists for their support.
Without the sudden exposure from these hip-hop artists, Dunafon said he would be known as “a guy that had all the right ideas and failed to get known enough.”
But with recreational marijuana sales already underway in Colorado, why would these rappers choose this gubernatorial race? Dunafon said the battle for Colorado cannabis is just beginning, and these hip-hop artists understand that.
“These guys are very bright guys,” Dunafon said. “Snoop has done his homework.
“I guess in me they find a guy who is living in the cowboy world. Cowboys are like rappers. When you grow up with real cowboys they’ll help each other do anything as long as you show up and do what you said you’re going to do,” Dunafon said.
And now itap time for the government to be held accountable, Dunafon said.
“We’ve got a government that should be apologizing to us for what they did,” Dunafon said, referencing nearly a century of pot prohibition.
Dunafon hopes his newfound hip-hop credibility and pro-pot message will help him mobilize young people on Nov. 4.
“They’re going to have to think that there’s a reason to do it and that their hip-hop heroes aren’t going to buy into a counterfeit movement,” Dunafon said.
And while Dunafon’s chances at becoming Colorado’s next governor are slim, he could still make an impact in the Hickenlooper-Beauprez match-up if their tallies come down to a razor thin margin, said political analyst Sondermann.
“I think Dunafon has less to do with liberalism or conservatism and more to do with quirkiness,” said Sondermann, “and our incumbent governor built a whole brand around being quirky, so potentially he would have more to lose here.”
Follow our news and updates on , our relationship status on and our search history on . Or send us a telegram.
Reverb Managing Editor has a really common name so please use these links to find his and . Or just send him an email to mrmiller@denverpost.com.
Ricardo Baca is the founder and executive editor of , the co-founder of and an award-winning critic and
