OBAMA AND HIP HOP

Barack Obama has a promising look in the hip-hop future. He’s been named “B-rock” by the rap music industry. He has been mentioned in some of the most popular hip-hop singles of the summer. He also held a high-profile meeting with rapper Ludacris. Though Barack seems to not be leading the democratic presidential spot in the national polls, he managed to catch the vote from the hip-hop world. Which mainly consist of all races, industry professionals, rap artist r&b singers etc. Despite Barack’s overcritical outlook on hip-hop he still is being played in stereos, on iPods, and music sites throughout the country. One of the past summers biggest songs by world-renowned rap artist Common, “The people” Common drops a line “my raps ignite the people like Obama”, while the music video shows a Barack Obama bumper sticker cameo. Common also stated that he feels Obama is a fresh face, and that he has style. He also makes the connection that the people who have a love for hip-hop have a love for Obama. Another one of hip-hops influential rappers Talib Kweli who hasn’t voted in a few years because he feels that the political system is broken and that Obama’s hip-hop appeal is cosmetic. He also states that Barack’s name happens to rhyme with a lot of words and that Barack is an African-American fresh face, he speaks for the African-American people. With Barack running for president the world has become more multi-cultural. Barack has stated he has grown up listening to Jazz, but he is well aware about the hottest current artist of today such as Jay-z and Beyonce’. It’s still unclear whether or not Obama’s sudden emergence in hip-hop as a byword would have any effect on African-Americans, a demographic which he is willing to cultivate. A lot likely to happen is opponents would try to change Obama’s relationship with hip-hop. Though Barack doesn’t agree with a lot of the things that go on in hip-hop he doesn’t totally shun it out, he tries to understand it. Hopefully Barack will fully embrace hip-hop the way hip-hop has embraced him.