If you paid attention to the recent election cycle, then there’s a good chance that you saw clips from the much-hyped New York Governor’s debate. In fact, the only memorable thing from those clips was candidate Jimmy McMillan’s epic rant about representing the Rent is Too Damn High Party. Outfitted with muttonchops, black gloves and a dapper suit, McMillan may not have captured the governorship, but he sure captured the hearts of YouTube viewers throughout the world.

Many people probably don’t know, but McMillan has been writing music for years. “I write music from my heart because I love to write,” he says. “But now, why not capitalize on what you’ve been trying to do for 30 years?”

And he’s right. The marketing wizard that he’s become has enabled him to re-release the 30 year-old track, “A Woman Is So Hard to Understand,” off his debut record The Rent Is Too Damn High (Vol. 1). The political candidate-turn-singer sees himself as a man of the people who uses music to help spread his message. “This is only the beginning,” McMillan says in his thick New York accent. “People want to see more of me, so this is what I can do to get it going.”

Though it has been 35 years since he first recorded “Woman,” McMillan released the now YouTube sensation song built off his infamous catch phrase. “I thought it was a great opportunity, especially after October 18, there were three million hits on YouTube, that it was time to make a move. But I never knew the popularity would go from three to 15 million like that. Now we have the “Rent Is Too Damn High” and it’s only gonna get bigger from here!”

The lyrical themes of the record, besides being politically charged, focus on love and relationships. “Now that the election is over, I knew I had to bring some love songs that are focused on the rent being too high. Stuff from the perspective of not being able to take someone out to dinner because you can’t pay the rent, you know? It seems like it’s what the people want to hear.”

Everything is seemingly coming together for McMillan. Last week, he was featured on Showtime’s weekly football program, Inside the NFL, chatting with hosts James Brown, Cris Collinsworth and Shannon Sharpe.  He is doing his best to take advantage of the publicity of his plight to promote both his record and political cause.

With a record dropping on December 7, loads of public appearances, the one-time Vietnam vet is making the most of his Golden years. Though many find him kooky and don’t take him as seriously as he may want to believe, McMillan isn’t fazed. In fact, not only is he not looking back, but the gray-haired singer is planning a future collaboration with one of music’s biggest names.

“I’d love to do something with Eminem,” McMillan says. “There’s no one else more real than him out there today. Like me, he speaks the truth and that’s what the people need to hear in times like this.”