The Brown & White

A town hall-style meeting addressed the role of rap music in the upcoming presidential election at "Hip-Hop and the 2008 Presidential Election," sponsored by the Black Student Union in Whitaker Laboratory Tuesday.

"Hip-hop transcended cultural, racial, ethnic, geographical, social and class lines," said Calvin-John Smiley, president of the Black Student Union, in his introductory speech.

Many artists have taken sides in the election, such as 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) who has endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. There seemed to be a consensus, especially among the members of the panel, that the media focuses hip-hop news around a few money-hungry artists.

"We need to bring the movement back to where it came from, not leave it to just be a dollar throwing contest for celebrities," said Mutulu Olubala, also known as M-1, half of the hip-hop duo "dead prez."

"Hip-hop comes from the black and brown poor people," explained Rosa Clemente, an activist and organizer for many hip-hop organizations. Clemente was a co-founder of the National Hip Hop Convention and played a leadership role in The Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and REACH hip-hop.

"From all the candidates, Obama is the closest to a hip-hop leader," said Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, president and CEO of Global Policy Solutions, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting firm.

"[Obama] is the leader we've been looking for," Clemente said. "He is that candidate."

In 2004, more than 20 million 18 to 29 year olds voted for president, an increase of 4.6 million voters up from the year 2000, according to the Rap Sessions national tour Web site. 2004 was the highest level of national youth voter participation in over a decade.

However, for Obama to receive the youth vote, he must motivate the youth to register and go to vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

"It's like being a modern day slave if you don't vote," Rockeymoore said. "You let someone deal with your money while you sit on the sideline."

The panel, consisting of respected activists, scholars and artists examined not only the role of the hip-hop vote, but also the hip-hop agenda.

"It's not just the vote," Rockeymoore said. "Our agenda is always working. It is not once every four years. We are working to keep it in the forefront all of the time."

She has demonstrated her strong belief in her book, "The Political Action Handbook: A How to Guide for the Hip-Hop Generation."

In order to do this, public knowledge and education must be addressed. "We should see more meetings like this," Smiley said. "There needs to be a balance for news."

"I don't care what BET says," Clemente said. "All major media is filtered through three major companies."

"Why James Carville? Rosa [Clement] should be talking on CNN," Smiley said.

He said there is no balance in media as there should be. Meetings like this allow other views of information to get out to the public, so that not all information is slanted.

"The label hip-hop generation is filtered," said Karl Brisseaux, '11. "There is so much that we don't see. That's why this kind of meeting is good."

"Elite hip-hop has its scene," Gregory Martin, '11, said. "We don't get to see everything. Soulja Boy-that's not hip-hop. It's a dance. He isn't real. I want to hear about real life."

Martin and Brisseaux both said they are registered voters and plan to vote in the upcoming election.

Martin isn't the only one who wants to hear from different perspectives. Hip-hop started in the United States, but has reached a variety of people in other countries.

"This is a universal language for young people," Olubala said. If someone mentions the name Tupac or Biggie in a foreign country, it is probably recognized by at least one person in the room, Smiley said.

Though the conversation was meant to discuss the role that hip-hop will play in the upcoming presidential election, it covered a variety of topics and was viewed as a success by Smiley.

"It went excellent," he said.

"Hip-Hop and the 2008 Presidential Election" is part of a national tour called "Rap Sessions." Rap Sessions also discusses topics including race and women in hip-hop. Between the months of March and April, this tour will reach ten cities including: Boston, Fairfield, Conn., Bethlehem, San Francisco, Chicago, San Luis Obispo, Calif., Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Madison, W.i., and Marwuette, Mich.