Dope fan collage put together over Jay-Z’s History.

This week’s hip-hop quotable is straight from the mouth of Brother Ali. Rhymesayers released Ali’s track Mr. President (You’re The Man) yesterday for free download on their website. While hundreds of celebratory songs have been released since Obama’s victory, this is undoubtedly my favorite. The lyrics are dead on. Click below to listen:

And follow along with the lyrics after the break. (more…)

In 2004, Barack Obama arrived in Boston as a freshman senator from Illinois to give the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. Tomorrow, three of the city’s biggest hip-hop representatives hope to usher in his presidency. Edo G, Slaine and Akrobatik will take the stage at the Middle East with beats, rhymes and hope for an Obama victory at an Election Day concert tomorrow night.

“No politician in my lifetime ever inspired me as much as Obama,” said South Boston native Slaine – one-third of Boston rhyme squad Special Teamz, which also includes Edo G. “He’s our generation’s JFK or Bobby Kennedy. He’s a culmination of Martin Luther King and all these things that have been shut out of politics.” (more…)

Obama ‘08!

As the election draws near, presidential candidates and celebrities alike are mobilizing to earn votes in critical states like Ohio. And Wednesday was no different at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. Cavaliers guard LeBron James and rapper/businessman Jay-Z played host to a full house of basketball, rap music and Barack Obama supporters at a Last Chance for Change rally. Tickets for the event were free.

Some were there to celebrate the Obama campaign, while others gathered to hear rap verses. Before the lights dimmed and the show began, numerous pro-Obama shirts could be seen. One featured the phrase ”Barackstar 08,” while another had a massive hand on the front and the words ”Bye, McCain” on the back. (more…)

Ever since Barack Obama became a serious contender for Democratic Party nomination, numerous rappers have lent their voices in support of his campaign. Since his nomination, the excitement has only increased. Certainly, this is not the first time that hip-hop artists have encouraged their fans to vote. Rappers have been involved with MTV’s “Rock the Vote” (a campaign to encourage young people to register to vote) since the 1990s. In 2004, rappers Sean “Diddy” Combs and 50 Cent led the “Vote or Die” campaign that was more specifically aimed at the hip-hop audience, but there damn sure weren’t any hip-hop artists writing inspired anthems about John Kerry’s candidacy.

The support for Obama among rappers is something entirely different, with multi-platinum artist Jay-Z doing free concerts for the Obama campaign in swings states like Florida, and rapper and music producer Kanye West actually doing a “remix” of Obama’s Iowa victory speech set to soft hip-hop style background music. Also, there are numerous popular songs referencing, if not dedicated to, Obama. (more…)

I’m posting yet another Obama hip-hop video in celebration of tonight’s debate – which should wrap this whole thing up. Make sure you watch, and make sure you vote! Song by MC Yogi.

Detroit, MI – According to news sources, Jay-Z will perform Saturday at Detroit’s Cobo Arena during a free rally and concert to promote voter registration. With just five days left to register voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is traveling to Michigan Thursday and sending in his wife and a top hip-hop artist to push the registration message.

The campaign also has created a video playing on the Obama Web site and YouTube that features Obama, running mate Joe Biden and a host of Michigan Democrats and popular entertainers who have hosted voter registration rallies and events in the state.”This is the biggest election of our lifetime,” Obama says in the video. “If you are already registered to vote, get your friends and family to register to vote. If you need more information about where to go, get on our Web site. … Remember, we need to do it by October 6th.” (more…)

Will.I.Am and John Legend performed their now-famous Yes We Can live at last night’s Democratic National Convention.

During an ABC News-sponsored debate last spring in Philadelphia, Senator Hillary Clinton and even the debate’s moderators made numerous charges against Senator Barack Obama. Analysts roundly panned the debate as a “gotcha” fest and devoid of substance.

In a campaign appearance the next day talking about the debate, Obama reached over to his shoulders and made a motion to brush off any “dirt” that may have collected there as a result of the debates, a gesture borrowed from hip-hop artist Jay-Z. The potential President of the United States being willing and knowledgeable enough to reference a major hip-hop artist is significant, and helps explain why so many young people gravitate towards his him. Hip hop is the most dominant music in the world for youth and its influence on pop culture today is unmatched. (more…)