The 2012 Presidential race has been shaping up to be an ugly, close race since its outset, but one man has turned the campaigns on their heads: Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter. Carter announced his plans to run for President on Monday, his presumed running partner being Kanye West.

Carter has been a hip-hop mogul for some time, preceding that career with a very successful stint in the crack game. His platform appears to be based mostly on his prowess as a businessman.

“I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man,” he said. “So let me handle my business, damn. I sold kilos of coke, I’m guessing I can sell CD’s.”

Carter did not appear to understand the disconnect between selling CD’s and being President of the United States, but that did not appear to be a problem for those attending the announcement, as nearly every statement was met with raucous applause.

Carter entered the room as “Public Service Announcement” off of The Black Album played. The crowd began to chant “Forget Barack, throw up the Roc” before Carter had even begun speaking.

“I don’t run rap no more, I run the map,” Carter started. His confidence took the crowd by surprise, but his fans didn’t skip a beat jumping on the bandwagon.

Many concerns were raised during the question and answer session, though Carter had an answer for every question. One of the most pressing questions was how he planned to fund his campaign.

“What’s 50 grand to a motherfucker like me, can you please remind me?” Carter said. Nobody reminded him.

His stances on most economic, social, international and domestic issues are still unclear, though West has made statements that offer some insight. Their view on most foreign policies is completely undocumented, with small exceptions.

“Prince William ain’t do it right, if you ask me,” West said. “If I was him I would have Mary (sic) Kate and Ashley.”

Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs has also chimed in, changing his classic “Vote or Die” movement to “Vote for Jay-Z or Die. I’m not fucking around.”

Campus Basement will be covering this story more thoroughly as it develops.