Politics as Unusual
written by 4bars
written by 4bars
With politics being relevant in pop culture more than ever I thought it interesting to look at its effect on hip hop. I’ve always wondered how we got away from the socially conscious days of Public Enemy and Queen Latifah & Co.’s “Ladies First” immediately to Two Live Crew and N.W.A. Social commentary is something that has always been present in hip hop and still is, but as we’ve stated, it’s not what gets spins or makes money.
Rappers have always talked about how rough their upbringing and neighborhoods were and how something wasn’t right but as conditions worsen and we face financial crisis and war, social commentary has even started to seep into the mainstream. There have always been rappers talking about the foul nature of our government, but it was never the Young Jeezys who, in his own way, filled his album with relevant undertones of the need for political change and his support of Barack Obama. Ludacris went so far as to actually make a diss record (!?!) against the current establishment and John McCain. And Daddy Yankee REALLY went against the grain when he endorsed McCain.
I always wondered why when celebrities would encourage the “young people” to vote (Diddy’s “Vote or Die” campaign) they never expressed who they felt should get said vote or who they were voting for. It was as if there was a rule against entertainers stating who they were voting for. But this year, few in hip hop have been shy about expressing just who they are voting for come November 4th, even Diddy has dropped his non-partisan approach and blatantly endorsed Obama. I’m happy to see that people are changing, or at least trying to, I just wish things didn’t have to hit rock bottom for the wake-up call to come. What’s next, Lil Wayne running for Mayor of New Orleans? I mean, athletes do it all the time, why not artists? Haha, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, or maybe not?
6 comments:
Many upstanding citizens can't be excited about self-proclaimed murderers and drug runners endorsing a candidate. At that point, it looks like those are the candidate's people. Not how it should be, but what it is.
Imagine syrup-sippin' Weezy, hoe-pimpin' Snoop, Mr. 17.5 Jeezy, and who-shot-ya Cassidy endorsing announcing on a major network that they would endorse someone. Man, it would be cool for our generation, but it would definitely turn a lot of voters away from that candidate, I think.
Yo Wiz, remember the mythical Just K Obama piece that never was? lol
I see your point, but the people who manufacture the guns (or whose lobbyists made sure it was allowed), allowed the drugs in, and lets not talk about the "pimping" and "hoeing" that goes on in politics, all those people endorse these candidates and run for office themselves, so i feel like it's a matter of perception.
In this country, everybody has a voice, should they? debatable, but they do, and dammit, if these little ragamuffin hoodrats (i sound elitist as shit don't i?) aren't gonna be good for anything besides promoting and adhering to shitty stereotypes, the least they can do is get up and vote when the rest of us call on em. And who better to speak to the people but Mr. Please say the baby? I mean, at least 1.25 million people would listen, no?
I'll get with this too...
lol. 1.5 would listen in the first week alone. As for the politicians allowing the pimpin', hoeing, drugs, etc. etc., it doesn't matt r. Perception is reality in the eyes of the American public. These are some of the same people that vote solely based on "looks like one of us" or "women are too moody and emotional to hold an office."
I mean, seriously, they tried to tie Obama to that Ludacris mixtape track. I guess saying you plan on voting for someone is ok, but I don't think they should even take it beyond that. Good grief, I'm already picturing a 60mins. interview w/ Cam'ron about his views on the election. God Bless America.
I hate to say it, but upstanding citizens don't care what wins the election, as long as its their team who brings home the "W." It's like that scene in Gangs of New York where both sides are dressing up homeless people and changing outfits to go vote over and over again. The amount of votes cast exceeded the population by double. So if Jeezy and Weezy's endorsements bring in an extra 10000 votes and Obama wins, so be it. And if they don't, its just another excuse to use as a scapegoat. The reality is that Republicans are a well-oiled machine. They seem fanatical about many things because most of them are fanatics. Say what you will, but fanatics feel so much passion that they not only vote, but they get others around them to do so. Democrats seem to feel that they have the ideas of truth and reality behind them, and then they end up losing. They also underestimate their opposition and it comes back to bite them. Hence, Sarah Palin being the most dangerous threat to the country since Bush. I don't think endorsements even matter. Both sides receive so many that they seem to balance out. We will see this election what endorsements are truly worth. Because Oprah's army has to be the biggest force out there, and the fact that the race is so close, shows that it may not make a huge difference because I believe Obama would be this close even without her endorsement. I don't buy into polls, so it'll take until Nov.5th to see the answer to that one.
Bars, this could be the beginning of the next phase of what Hip-Hop can do. Obama inspired many of these rappers to get more vocal with their choices because he is a candidate that they believe they can finally trust. In 04, i believe Diddy created Vote or Die more to end Bush's reign than to support Kerry (seriously who voted because they actually liked Kerry?). I'm all for endorsing candidates and encouraging fans to vote on your album and at your concerts. The Hip-Hop community and fans can make a difference because its made up of mostly youth and minorities. This could be the start of something big or something that will dissipate somewhere in 2010.
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