Hip Hop’s Soundtrack to the Election

Hip Hop’s Soundtrack to the Election



Hip-hop continues to throw its unwavering support behind Sen. Barack Obama as he takes on Sen. John McCain for the presidency. From voter registration drives to free concerts, artists have been stepping up and urging the youth to step out and vote. On Tuesday, DJ Green Lantern, Russell Simmons & Barack Obama: Yes We Can: The Mixtape was released.


DJ Green Lantern, former house DJ for rapper Eminem’s Shady Records, teamed up with hip-hop impresario Russell Simmons for the star-studded record. The album features tracks from Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Nas.


A former Hillary Clinton surrogate, Simmons has been on the stump campaigning for Obama in Ohio and other key swing states.


With all the negative attention that’s usually cast on hip-hop, It’s beautiful to see top artists pulling together to do something that will benefit the greater good: creating awareness. Maybe this will inspire young black people to become more politically active and informed–whatever the outcome of the election.


Renita Burns is the editorial assistant at BlackEnterprise.com


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