Hip-Hop Artists Work on Voting Drive

[Khephra]

NEW YORK -- Some of the biggest names in hip-hop are stepping up their drive to register young people to vote with a radio campaign that could reach more than 2 million listeners a day.

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, founded by mogul Russell Simmons, announced its "One Mind. One Vote." partnership with syndicated radio personality Doug Banks at a news conference Wednesday. The new radio campaign will launch Jan. 19 in Times Square.

"Radio is the drumbeat of our community," said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, the hip-hop group's president and chief executive.

The nonpartisan network hopes to register 2 million voters in 2004 and 20 million over the next five years by reaching out to young hip-hop fans and holding registration drives at concerts and other events.

more...................

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-hip-hop-vote,0,7068047.story?coll=sns-ap-entertainment-headlines

[Maine-i-acs]

1. 2 million more Dems in 2004!

Thanks Russell - we will need every vote!

[kysrsoze]

2. Yeah, I'd like to see hip-hop ads on how terrible things are

They not only need to get voters, but get a lot of upset voters.

[CatWoman]

3. This is great news

I remember MTV's "Get Out the Vote" in the 90's.

Quite effective.

[joeunderdog]

10. I'm down with that!

It doesn't even occur to some of the kids in the Hood to vote to change their lives in a positive way. If we can reach that population or just deliver messages thru music--the old fashioned way--it's a great development. There's a real upscale, young crowd that follws Hip Hop as well.

[StClone]

4. Now if we could

Get the Rappers out to vote and get the Modern Country listeners to stay home...hmmmm.

[Cannikin]

5. Unless you're a Dixie Chicks fan, that is....

[Ernesto]

6. Aw yes

Fodder for the "culture war".

[wryter2000]

7. This is wonderful

I remember seeing a link to a Rolling Stone article about this here before. I can't remember the other hip-hop guy's name that was mentioned, but he was very big in the movement. This is great. Just fabulous.

:bounce: :yourock:

[Sideways]

9. It was probably Paris..his shit kicks.. Check Out Davey D's site for info

http://www.daveyd.com/

[PBinOregon]

8. Fantastic!

I keep getting the feeling that something is happening that is just starting to emerge, that we're on the early side of a new movement that is totally off of the radar right now.

May it be so!

[sonias]

11. excellent news

We need to remind all voters that the people do matter. Get out and vote and vote for a regime change at home.

Sonia

[Laughing Mirror]

12. this has enormous implications, think of the 1960s

Music and musicians carried the message back then, as they will now in these dismal days and the ones to come.

Don't forget too that most of the kids that buy the hip-hip records are middle class whites. Their hip-hop idols might play a big roll in educating and inspiring them and energizing moves toward more democracy.