Last Chance-Nov 4 from 247 Hiphop on Vimeo.
Young Jeezy, The Game, Common, Bun B, Kidz in the Hall, DJ Z-Trip, DJ Revolution and others chime in on the importance of this election. Lately, watching all these rappers endorsing Barack Obama and the electoral process gets old, but who would have EVER thunk that that would be a complaint I would be making.
After so many years of hip-hop spiraling into a Clear Channel driven bubble gum, ringtone inferno, even the big names are getting lightweight political. I'm not saying that Young Jeezy is gonna be doing records with Dead Prez anytime soon, but it is again becoming common for rappers to discuss society and the need for change. I feel like we have tallied this phenomenon in the "fad" category, but these dudes are really doing it. In 2004 it felt like Diddy and Russell Simmons were the only rap cats rallying the troops, but this year everyone and their mother is on it. Jay-Z, Wyclef, The Beastie Boys and others are giving free concerts to registered voters and Jeezy, Bun B, Jay, Diddy, T.I., The Cool Kids and a host of others have been sounding off on the topic for months now.
Young Jeezy and Jay-Z are registered to vote in their first election ever, and T.I. already voted (see above post). I think is is disingenuous to say this is happening just because its cool. Obama has had this effect on people all across this country. Yes he has captured a sense of "cool," but he has also inspired folks to plug back in. Hip-hop is no exception. The test will be to see how many of us stay politically minded and motivated after the 4th.
After so many years of hip-hop spiraling into a Clear Channel driven bubble gum, ringtone inferno, even the big names are getting lightweight political. I'm not saying that Young Jeezy is gonna be doing records with Dead Prez anytime soon, but it is again becoming common for rappers to discuss society and the need for change. I feel like we have tallied this phenomenon in the "fad" category, but these dudes are really doing it. In 2004 it felt like Diddy and Russell Simmons were the only rap cats rallying the troops, but this year everyone and their mother is on it. Jay-Z, Wyclef, The Beastie Boys and others are giving free concerts to registered voters and Jeezy, Bun B, Jay, Diddy, T.I., The Cool Kids and a host of others have been sounding off on the topic for months now.
Young Jeezy and Jay-Z are registered to vote in their first election ever, and T.I. already voted (see above post). I think is is disingenuous to say this is happening just because its cool. Obama has had this effect on people all across this country. Yes he has captured a sense of "cool," but he has also inspired folks to plug back in. Hip-hop is no exception. The test will be to see how many of us stay politically minded and motivated after the 4th.
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