A couple weeks back, Immortal Technique pointed out in an Al Jazeera interview how the media makes Barack Obama go through what he referred to as “Toby Moments,” where they force Obama to publicly denounce his supporters. Well, it is happening again today, as the Obama campaign has criticized Ludacris for the track Politics as Usual off the “Gangsta Grillz: The Preview” mixtape.

After listening to the song, I can’t really figure out why. Maybe because he called Hillary a bitch? Maybe because he called Bush a horrible president? Or maybe because everything he said is true? In any case, in support of Ludacris I have decided to name Politics as Usual this week’s hip-hop track of the week. Click below to listen:

And follow along with the lyrics after the break - just to see how rediculous Obama’s newest “Toby Moment” really is. (more…)

A new generation of song producers is poised to reignite the city’s musical legacy — not in a studio booth, but at the YouthVille Detroit community center. About 30 youngsters in a weekly music production class learned firsthand tricks Wednesday from nationally recognized Seattle-based producers Vitamin D and Jake One.

The two producers, who have worked with hip-hop group De La Soul, rapper 50 Cent and singer Mary J. Blige, played some of their beats and answered questions about breaking into the beat-making side of the music industry. The sponsor, Red Bull Big Tune, has taken the program several cities across the country, from Las Vegas to Philadelphia. (more…)

Classic hip-hop from this summer’s “Freshly Dipped Tour.”

Somehow missed this a month ago. Courtesy of Audible Treats.

The Hip Hop Caucus and Multi-Platinum, Grammy Award Winning Superstar T.I. have joined forces to launch a powerful new voter registration and Get Out the Vote campaign that combines the power of celebrity and media with 21st century grassroots organizing tactics to mobilize and educate young people between the ages of 18 and 29, who are not in college.

The campaign slogan, “Respect My Vote!” and t-shirts were unveiled today at a press event in Washington, DC, with DJ Green Lantern, Dawn from Danity Kane, Young Berg, Maino, Wale, Young Steff, Washington Wizard Etan Thomas, Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Killieberew, Immortal Technique, Pleasure P, World Class Sprinter and Champion Michael Walton, BET Executive Vice President Stephen Hill and many others turning out to support. (more…)

This week’s underground hip-hop track of the week is Turn It Up by the Metermaids - a local NYC crew that has a tendency to make the crowd move at shows. The track features the legendary Camp Lo and is my favorite song from the Metermaids’ new album “Nightlife,” which has a review coming soon! In the meantime, check out Turn It Up below:

This is the 3rd sneak peak of the Living Legends’ tour documentary, and contains just as much dope footage as the first two installments. Check out part 1 and part 2 also if you haven’t already.

Produced by 9th Wonder. From Pooh’s upcoming album “Rapper’s Delight.”

Toledo, OH - Things were hoppin’ in Toledo Saturday, hip hoppin’ that is! The third annual Hip-Hop Humanity Festival got folks moving in downtown Saturday. This year’s theme is teens promoting peace. Organizers say the festival was the perfect place for many local teens to show off their talents and give the community a positive image of young people in Toledo.

More than 320 students took part in a 1.3-mile peace march in downtown Toledo yesterday in the third annual Hip Hop for Humanities festival with the theme “Teens Promoting Peace.” It was sponsored by Toledo’s youth commission. The march was followed by performances by local 11 to 19-year-olds, including dancing, singing, poetry readings, and a gospel group. (more…)

Goldsboro, NC - A hip-hop artist and motivational speaker told more than 70 children at the Boys & Girls Club this past week that they have great mental powers. And to capitalize on them, they just need to stop selling themselves short. “If you do one to two hours of homework per day, you are guaranteed to be a B-student,” said the artist known as Nubian Scholar, HIP HOP Guru of Self-help & Personal Development. “There’s far more good than bad in the world. If it was not true, we would all be killing each other right now,” he said.

Nubian Scholar came to the Paylee Unit of the Boys & Girls Club from Washington, D.C. at the request of Eastpointe’s System of Care Director Phyllis Greene. She found out about him when he did a presentation in Rocky Mount. She looked him up on the Internet and was impressed with his message. She invited about 30 children from Wayne and surrounding counties to join the Boys & Girls Club members as they gathered in the Learning Center to hear Nubian Scholar. (more…)