nieniew
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12:32:00 pm on October 15, 2008 | # |
My friend Ginger on stage with Common. So Lucky.
I recently found a site called the “Chicago Hip Hop Initiative”. This site is a community organization that uses hip hop to inform, educate and help out the community through events that are put on by local hip hop acts. They use some of their events and the site to gain awareness throughout the community and this year’s presidential election where a Black man is a serious contender is no exception. On their homescreen they have a saying that reads, “just being registered isn’t enough.” I really like how they put this in there because people, especially young people need that extra kick in the you know what. We do need to be reminded that our job is not done especially if we really want the “change” that both candidates say they will provide.
Also, this reminds me of the long history that hip hop has had in chicago and depending on the artist, a lot of the music dealt with speaking out and being aware of the condtions of this world. Such artist is local artist Common. Although he has been hitting a lot of the mainstream air ways like our other hometown boy, Kanye West, he never fails to stay true to his political rhymes that are engraved with a hometown swagger. But his political rhymes and other rappers that do not just talk about the club, cars and girls do not get much air play, but what hip hop and rap heads need to realize is that hip hop has always been political.
I found an article from the Huffington Post where the authour goes into even more detail. You should definitely check it out. Hip Hop and politics is nothing new, we just never noticed it. It is our way of speaking out these days.
Check out the link to the article and the Chicago Hip Hop Initiative below:
Chicago Hip Hop Initiative
