Jay-Z Stumpin' for Obama-is that Good or Bad? in Davey D's Daiy Hip Hop News Forum

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Jay-Z Stumpin' for Obama-is that Good or Bad?

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mrdaveyd

Jay-Z Stumpin' for Obama-is that Good or Bad?

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Posts: 735

Oct 8 08 6:15 AM

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Jay Z is stumping for Barack Obama, "via free rap concerts," but the author wonders "who is out there promoting Obama-ism, the Jay Z who was just another black kid with big dreams from the hood 20 years ago or the multi-millionaire business man, former CEO of Def Jam Records and part owner of the NJ Nets, Shawn Carter?" Nowadays, "Hip Hop artists are business men and the only presidents that they are concerned about are the dead presidents that are on the face of dollar bills." Hip Hop "is now the voice of Wall Street.
"

Jay Z Stumpin' For Prez? (Good or Bad?)

by Paul Scott

This article originally appeared on Mr. Scott's blog, NoWarnigShotsFired

"The only presidents that they are concerned about are the dead presidents that are on the face of dollar bills. "

Just like a pimped out E. F.
Hutton, when Shawn "Jay Z " Carter talks, people listen.

And I'm not just talking about the boyz in tha 'hood, I'm talking about the white collar boys in executive suites. With just one lyric, Jay-Z has the uncanny ability to change the direction of an entire entertainment industry. Shawn Carter is the urban personification of the Horatio Alger Story: street corner drug dealer becomes a successful entrepreneur by rappin' about being a street corner drug dealer. The stuff that urban legends are made of.

That is why I have mixed emotions about Jay-Z stumpin' for presidential candidate, Barack Obama via free rap concerts.

Don't get me wrong. Anytime a Hip Hop artist raps about anything other than derrieres and drug deals, I'm automatically a fan. So, I ain't hatin' on "Jigga," as he is affectionately known by rap connoisseurs.

However, what bothers me most when rap stars become "political activists" are the contradictions and missed opportunities.

"I have mixed emotions about Jay Z stumpin' for presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
"

Lets face it. Politics is really one big orgy and if you flick on the lights and pull the sheets back on any political bed, a lot of strange bedfellows will go scrambling for the nearest exit. However, Hip Hop is somewhat different, as it is heavily marketed as the voice of urban youth and many black kids do look up to rappers as role models, for better or mostly worst.

This is not the first time that a rapper has endorsed a political candidate, rap pioneers Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 once kicked some funky rhymes in 1984 in support of Rev.
Jesse Jackson's first presidential run. However, despite using the bleeped out "p" word (piss) on the rap classic, "The Message" their music was basically, family friendly. Also, few could argue about the political awareness of rappers of the late 80's and early 90's such as Public Enemy and Sister Souljah, as they were often under fire not only for their lyrics but their strong political stances. This is not so with today's multi-millionaire rap pundants..

Hence, Hip Hop's political hypocrisy.

Today's Hip Hop artists are business men and the only presidents that they are concerned about are the dead presidents that are on the face of dollar bills. To borrow from a sample from Jay Z's street classic "Dead Presidents." "I'm out for presidents that represent me..." Hip Hop is no longer the voice of inner city streets as it was a generation ago, it is now the voice of Wall Street and somehow tales of extravagant "ghetto fabulous living" go over real big with the marketing departments at multi-national entertainment corporations.

"Hip Hop is now the voice of Wall Street.
"

The lifestyles that Carter and some of the 21st century, commercially successful Hip Hop artists rap about are the lives that the economically privileged in the Hamptons live but the struggling youth in economically depressed neighborhoods give their lives trying to achieve. So I have to wonder who is out there promoting Obama-ism, the Jay Z who was just another black kid with big dreams from the hood 20 years ago or the multi-millionaire business man, former CEO of Def Jam Records and part owner of the NJ Nets, Shawn Carter?

We can't expect the members of the Hip Hop Millionaire Boys Club to have the same political and economic interests as the struggling masses still trapped in "the ghetto. " It must be noted that many of the underground, noncommercial/politically conscious Hip Hop artists are rollin' with the Green Party, this year, courtesy of the organizing efforts of Hip Hop activist and VP candidate, Rosa Clemente.

Also, the Jay Z's and Sean "Puff Daddy/Diddy" Combs of the world, two of the signers of the recent Obama endorsement letter, "Open Letter to Young America" have the ability to effect the lives of more black youth in one week than the Obama administration can do in four years. Suppose, Jay Z with his many CD releases over the last decade would have released one strictly "political" album dealing with social problems and solutions? What impact would that have had on the millions of Jay Z followers around the country? Suppose during the last decade he had used his standing room only concert appearances to politicize his millions of fans instead of giving them tales of crack deals and misogyny? I think it is safe to say that the political consciousness of black youth would have been very different than it is, today.

"Many of the underground, noncommercial/politically conscious Hip Hop artists are rollin' with the Green Party, this year.
"

Hip Hop politicians remind me of the two little pigs who built their cribs out of cheap straw and sticks instead of spending the necessary time and effort to build a sturdy house made of brick. If they spent more time working on building a solid social and economic infrastructure instead of blingin' and poppin' bottles of champagne at the club, then they wouldn't have to worry about the big bad Republican wolf blowing their houses down every four years!

The 'hood doesn't need voter registration, tha hood needs political education. But until we, as a community, demand more political and social responsibility from artists that we support with our dollars, in and out of political season, to quote from the "Jigga Man," himself..

"Can't knock the hustle. "

Paul Scott, "the Hip Hop TRUTH Minista," is a writer and activist in Durham NC. His blog is http://www. nowarningshotsfired. com To reach Scott contact (919) 451-8283 or info@nowarningshotsfired. com

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Critical Eye

Greetings, Bro. Paul Scott

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Oct 13 08 9:02 PM

Hey Bro. Paul:

As usual a deep article, and I enjoy reading them. As far as Jay-Z is concerned, hell would have to freeze over before I give even an atom of respect to any "Hip Hop artist"/former drug dealer who says in an interview that he or she will not apologize for their former life of drug dealing/selling/deliberately CHOOSING to kill their own people. I listen to artists like Chuck D, KRS-ONE, X-Clan, Paris, The Conscious Daughters, NYOIL, MC Lyte, and the like. Jay does not have the E.F. Hutton affect on me - when he speaks, I DON'T listen,(and neither do I listen to E.F. Hutton, but that's a whole other discussion I ain't gonna get into right now) because to me, he really ain't sayin' shit - in or out of the studio!!! I was just about to give him some props for his works dealing w/Katrina until I read the aforementioned interview (and I also have an issue with the interviewer who seems to have left his balls at home), and saw him come out with another album (titled american gangster), which is another tired-ass retread of a tired-ass played-out fantasy trend, which is black rapper emulating white racist gangster who doesn't give a damn about said rappers' (or the rappers' peoples' )black asses.

As far as stumpin' for poliTRICKal candidates, I'd rather get with those who are about: a)independent candidates (i.e., Sista Cynthia McKinney & Sista Rosa Clemente), or even better: b)us forming our own political system. This 2-faced(party), 7-headed, 8-tentacled, fork-tongued, 2-winged beast system is like a fake orgasm - it may makes us feel good for a short while, it may look enjoyable, but when it wears off, you know you been cheated - then again, many don't even realize it. I apologize for my rant, but much like Jay won't apologize for his dealing death and destruction to our people back in the day, I WILL NOT apologize for my sentiments regarding him.

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FlavorBlade

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Posts: 37

Oct 14 08 7:52 AM

"as far as Jay-Z is concerned, hell would have to freeze over before I give even an atom of respect to any "Hip Hop artist"/former drug dealer who says in an interview that he or she will not apologize for their former life of drug dealing/selling/deliberately CHOOSING to kill their own people".

In the case of a brother like Jay-Z you can just hope that when the time comes he will choose God's plan. It's a choice that some make earlier than others. It comes with recognition. Right now the brother is deep in the matrix. The one that tells them that things are going to be the same as they are now forever. Just gradual changes. The current system of authority is here to stay. Make all your moves based on that. Plan as if God will not come and make radical change. So as cool as Jigga and the rest of the rich jet setting brothers are, they are actually sheep. Their reluctance to disdain the life they once lived gives it a measure of acceptance and credence for the next generation. It feeds the illusion that satification can be brought, and risk of life and soul to obtain wealth is good. It worked for them. Of course it's what the matrix wants, because it doesn't want change to occur within it's power and control paradigm. Even Obama bless his heart has a impotent idea for change, which is bascially put the lobby's in check. Can't really do it under the current ways. You can deny them certain legislative pieces but the economy is to tightly dictated by the powers they represent. The only recourse would be a much greater form of government regulation, and then of course industry rubutal and destructive conflict. Small business accounts for alot of jobs, but big business is America's finance. For true change the total construct most be torn down. This can not happen gradually, the infastrucutre is to solid and adjustable. Things would get worse, but worse in a way that doesn't impede the current flow of power and control, thus no real positive change for the masses. So when these radical events that must come arrive and shake and bend the mainframe, will a brother hold on for dear life and follow the fall, or take a leap of faith and fight his way through to a new break through. Jay once said he thought the main thing the future holds is more advanced technology. Well when the immediate future crashes his hope above perhaps this will be his pill.

I'm figuring Jay will jump off. 50 I don't know about.

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Jay-Z Stumpin' for Obama-is that Good or Bad?

Jay-Z Stumpin' for Obama-is that Good or Bad?