Politics Donald Trump’s Campaign Asked Disgraced Fyre Fest Founder Billy McFarland for Help Wooing Rappers: Report The Republican presidential candidate enlisted Fyre Fest’s Billy McFarland, who is also a convicted felon, to woo rappers on the campaign trail By Marina Watts Marina Watts Marina Watts is a Digital News Editor at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Bustle, The US Sun, Newsweek and OK! Magazine. People Editorial Guidelines Published on July 9, 2024 04:29PM EDT Close From Left: Donald Trump; and Billy McFarland. Photo: James Devaney/GC Images; Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Donald Trump's campaign is enlisting Billy McFarland for help wooing rappers' support ahead of the upcoming 2024 presidential election, according to a new report. The Fyre Fest founder, a convicted felon who served time in prison for fraudulent activities related to the failed luxury music festival, introduced Trump, 78, to rappers Icewear Vezzo and Peezy ahead of a campaign event in Detroit on June 15, according to Rolling Stone. The magazine reported that the disgraced CEO, 32, also told radio personality Angela Yee that he introduced the presumptive GOP nominee to Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, both of whom appeared at Trump's rally in the Bronx on May 23. According to Page Six, McFarland joined the rap duo, who "took the stage and spoke at the Trump rally" at Crotona Park in the South Bronx. “I just love bringing different people together," McFarland told Yee, per Rolling Stone. He also claimed that “over 35 artists” had asked him to attend Trump's New York campaign event. Billy McFarland in July 2023. jfizzy/Star Max/GC Images Every Crime Donald Trump Has Been Charged With, Explained McFarland has also posted a picture of him with Trump, who is also a convicted felon, on the former president's birthday. "Pres’ birthday featuring your new cabinet," he captioned Instagram post. Sources close to or on the Trump campaign told Rolling Stone that McFarland has "no formal role with the former president’s 2024 campaign." However, he is someone "that Team Trump has reached out to when the campaign or Trump has sought to connect with certain celebrities." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The magazine noted that members of the Republican party have been working on securing meetings and hosting events with hip-hop artists, rappers and producers. They are reportedly hoping that the artists will campaign for Trump and help him appeal to Black voters. Donald Trump in May 2024. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Historians Rank Donald Trump Worst U.S. President Again, with Biden in 14th Place Trump was found guilty in May for 34 counts of falsifying business records in a historic hush-money trial involving adult actress Stormy Daniels. He will be sentenced on Sept. 18. McFarland famously founded the disastrous Fyre Festival in April 2017. He was charged with wire fraud in June 2017 and served part of a six-year prison sentence. He was released in May 2022.