For a 2012 Obama win, hip-hop stars must 'Barack the vote' like they did in 2008
Rap and hip-hop artists have turned down the volume on their once-boisterous efforts to rally their fans – a key part of President Obama’s base – to support him in 2012. To see Obama take office for a second term, the hip-hop community needs to return to the momentum it built in 2008.
This is a screen grab of the 2008 YouTube video by will.i.am for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama, in which the Black Eyed Peas member, along with other music artists, actors, and celebrities, echo Obama's campaign pledge "Yes, we can." Op-ed contributor Nakia Hill says, 'if Obama wants to breathe new life into the electorate...influential hip-hop artists need to step up to the microphone and lobby more young and urban voters.'
Boston
The hip-hop community stood in a loyal b-boy stance behind President Obama in 2008. Sean “Diddy” Combs encouraged young voters to “Vote or Die,” Jay-Z endorsed Mr. Obama on tour, and others rallied the urban community and millennial voters to jump on the “change” bandwagon.
The hip-hop community’s enthusiasm during Obama’s 2008 campaign was contagious. Young voters were chanting Young Jeezy’s “My President is Black,” hip-hop’s ode to Obama. But nearly four years later, rap and hip-hop artists have turned down the volume on their once-boisterous efforts to encourage their fans – a key part of Obama’s base – to get out and Barack the vote.
To see Obama take office for a second term, the hip-hop community needs to return to the momentum it built in 2008.
Logic suggests that hip-hop likely played a pivotal role in the record-breaking turnout in 2008 for young voters and African Americans. Hip-hop consumers tend to be young, traditionally African-American, Latinos, or people of color, and often in urban areas. Young people in particular tend to be generally plugged into the music, media, and celebrity scene – in which hip-hop enjoys a growing presence.
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