The Barack Obama of Rhymers feel HONORED!!! I just read on CNN.COM that the stars are coming out and I was delighted to see that my main man Jay-Z is holding a concert rally for Barack Obama in tossup state Florida.

The merging of Hip-Hop and Politics has created an interesting marriage over the course of this election year. We have seen rapers expressing their support for Barack Obama which has often led to media lashings from the right wing because of some of the content that can be found in Hip-Hop.

It’s interesting though, think about this analogy. It would not be absurd to hear a country singer lavishing praise for a political candidate. Country music is filled with sexist lyrics, an over indulgence in alcohol and tons of other vices that can be found in middle America. But that’s ok. Hip-Hop speaks of those same vices from the perspective of urban america. Country music comes from middle America.

Interestingly enough when you see candidates campaigning and they speak of middle America, main street and not Wall street they are catering to middle class white voters. Main street does not correlate with 145th Street in Harlem, Martin Luther King Drive in Chicago or any other urban areas where you are sure to find minorities who too feel the pains of America’s economic policies and the lack of a good education in these urban areas.

So it is not a suprise that Right wing people criticiZe Barack Obama for inspiring Hip-Hop but also inspiring those who live in the areas in which Hip-Hop was created, to have a voice and become a part of the political system. I wish much success to Jay-Z and the organizers of this rally to bring out voters who typically are not engaged in this political arena because often they are forgotten. Obama 08 yes we can!!!!!!!!

Grammy-Award winning musician Jay-Z is set to host a voter registration rally and concert for Sen. Barack Obama in Miami on Sunday.

The event, “Last Chance for Change,” is free to those 18 and older, in an attempt to encourage young voters to register before the state’s October 6 registration deadline according to a press release.

Florida and its 27 electoral votes have been critical in past elections. According to CNN’s electoral map the state is currently a toss up between John McCain and Barack Obama.

 

As we remember the lives of those who were lost some 7 years agon on the fatefu day of 9/11. Let their memory live though song, while it is a tough time for many and the country as a whole I chose a few Hip-Hop songs for us to listn to and journey through the joy and the pain of such an atrocity.

Hov

Kanye brought Hov out to perfor a new track called Jocking Jay-Z. Thoughts?

Seems Nas brought a suprise to his audience last night at the Rock the Bells Tour. It’s good to see two Iconic figures in Hip-Hop on stage ripping it.

Here’s another clip:

Vibe enlisted none other than the “Hov” himself to cover their 15th Anniversary edition.  For a guy who started out getting rejected by every major record label the “big homie” has done good for himself!

From Marcy to Hollywood and Back Again

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=4er1_zdHmP0[/youtube]

The following piece was given to us by Ma’at. When I first read this piece I was so in tune with it that all of the other noises in the background of my mind needed to be silenced. I truly hope that this piece engages us in a discourse about not only our current reality but the change which we wish to see within our reality. Peace and Grace be unto you!

THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE

Rags to riches
Foreigner
Outsider to Inside
American Society
American Money
American Riches
The American Dream
Business Man
Drug Dealer
Hustler
Lawyer
Me…
See I
I too started off
Young
Hungry
Driven
Hustling
Toward the dream
My American Dream…… Esq.
So I did what anyone…everyone chasing the American Dream does
I hustled
Made those connects
Studied the greats…
The great hustlers….

Walked softly…. watched, listened, emulated
Worked my way through the system
The American system
Day in and Day out
Climbing the ladder
Shaking hands
Negotiating
Until
Until the party life…..got me
Addicted
Addicted to status
This little brown girl from Church Ave.. now regarded by society as a
member of an elite….
Better than you
Better than most
Damn that shit feels good
The high
The power..
It’s addictive
I’m penetrating you
Deeply, hard, long….
Now all you can do is say my name and hope you feel me tomorrow
How could I not fall in lust?
How could I not keep coming back?
Knowing it was starting to kill me…..

Yeah…the American Dream
My American Nightmare
Time moves….
PAUSE
I look around….I
Is this what success is all about
A bunch of bitches acting like bitches with big mouths
I’M LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM
AND YOU KNOW WHAT,……. ITS FUCKED UP
I live a life where I am a part of a machine that rapes my people
Rapes my mind
Bleaches my spirit
Makes “America” Rich
How fitting?
How fitting that the dream in this country
A COUNTRY BUILT ON THE PRINCIPLES OF DESTROYING WHAT MUST BE DESTROYED
FOR PERSONAL GAIN
Would idealize a life that destroys those who live it for the gain of
those in power
The essence of a Hustler’s Spirit….

WAKE UP!!!!