The Vision of the Hip-Hop Generation

The vision of the hip-hop generation and its young people was in full and glorious effect last night. While many older Americans -- who marched and struggled so hard so Senator Obama could run for president of the United States -- never dared to believe in his candidacy's real potential, young people, particularly the hip-hop community, had faith and their imagination became our reality.

The election of Barack Obama, a resounding progressive voice, is a clear reflection of hip-hop politics. It is a reflection of the 35 million people who downloaded Eckhart Tolle's The New Earth, and all of the other popular books espousing this new, emerging consciousness. Promoting love, compassion and generosity over fear, anger and greed; promoting lasting peace through dialogue and opportunity will be more economic to the American people in these troubled times than the promotion of war. Obama's election as president is a beautiful testament to the American collective consciousness that is flowering. This more loving consciousness will be necessary to protect us from some of our hurtful human choices and tendencies. We will need it to create balance with the constantly emerging advances in technology so, going forward, we can use these advances in a positive way to lift up Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.

I don't think I'm overstating it when I say that today, I feel like America has dodged a bullet. Let's support this beautiful leader to do the work necessary to promote and execute on the change agenda we all voted for. Let's each do our part to insure that this is a transformative time in America, where our country can be a leader in creating a positive and lasting change in the world.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election

Comments

[tiffanyjillian]

I think some people are reading way too much into what's been written here. Nowhere does Russell say that the hip-hop generation is the SOLE reason Barack was elected. Nowhere did he state that it was ONLY the hip-hop generation's dream brought to fruition. But you belittle this generation (which includes Blacks AND Whites) by saying that our vote had little impact. The Youth & Urban vote DID help to put Barack Obama in office. Without millions of new YOUNG & URBAN voters, this would have been a much, much tighter/closer election. How can you conclude that Hip-Hop does not impact those two MAJOR CONSTITUENCIES?

Yes, a lot of the popular, hip-hop of the past 15 years or so has been crass, derogatory, materialistic -- but, not all of it. There IS diversity in Hip-Hop (Talib Kweli, Mos Def) The Beastie Boys are a great example of how socially conscious hip-hop artists have been and continue to be (signed to Def Jam by Russell Simmons!). And when Mary J Blige, P Diddy and Jay-Z mention Barack Obama in their music and in interviews, you better believe that millions of listeners DO LISTEN and RESPOND.

So, let's keep this in perspective. If you don't like the music or culture, that's your right, But just because you don't like or appreciate the impact that Hip-Hop does have, doesn't take away the fact that Hip-Hop still has it.

[Susan53]

So does this mean that RS will give back all the money he's made while promoting negative stereotypes of black men and women?

[JScott]

I was thinking the same thing. Sadly probably not, and if ya ask him his silence will be deafing (not def) deafining.

[Rhonnybay]

hmmm.....are you sure you know who was on Def Jam when he was heading it?

Russell sold Def Jam many years ago for a lot of $$. He was running Def Jam in the "golden age" of hip hop when there was a balance of positive images etc.

so called "gangsta hip hop" was a west coast thing and didn't have anything to do with Russell Simmons.


The connection between Hip Hop and Obama is this - HIP HOP is the dominate music for the youth, no matter white or black. Actually more white kids by hip hop than black kids. Hip hop artists like Ludacris, Jay-z, Diddy, etc. did a HUGE push to get young people to register and then to vote.

We have to also remember that hip hop is getting older. Russell is in his 50's.


its cool to see some folks get it though :)

[alsm9]

"The connection between Hip Hop and Obama is this - HIP HOP is the dominate music for the youth, no matter white or black."

That's so not true. I work in the music industry. The youth of today follow lots of different scenes, punk, indie, hip hop, metal...I've never heard this term "hip hop generation" because there isn't one.

I will agree with the idea that the youth vote was important though, no matter what people want to label them. And no matter what they are listening to, because Barack Obama is a much more progressive thinker than McCain.

[seewhy]

look.... i say all this as a 48 yr old [same age as barack obama and chuck d] white guy whose best days are behind me. i could recite every lyric of the early public enemy albums. and i will say straight up that the mad poets of the late '80s and early '90s had everything to do with the breaking down of racial barriers that led to what happened yesterday: a result that had nothing to do with race.
a mission has been accomplished even if it's not the one y'all set out to deal with.

[cheersdk]

"P.E. in da house!"...The White House, not Public Enemy, that was 1989...many Summers ago, change is here, "...On this Autumn night..." I mean President-Elect (P.E.) Obama!

[ajax2]

I see no connection between hip-hop and Obama's election, none.

[mmgbizgirl]

There were tons of people in the Hip-Hop industry who got the message out to their fans about this election. It was their overwhelming registration efforts that helped get Obama elected.

Here is my tribute to the President and his family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5QigRkg9G8

Enjoy!

[bichn]

I believe the Obama campaign had the best ground game ever and they started perfecting it in Iowa. Hip Hop did not get him elected. He did.

[AndyDandy]

lol I have a feeling this is his way of saying the "hip-hop generation" is better then the 60s rock generation. IDK if this is true or not, but I think saying Obama is only the vision of this generation is really belittleing Obamas main message.

[carrieanna]

It's not the past but the future's
What she fears
Strong we be strong
The next generation
It's what not who we are facin'
The fingers pointed to us in our direction
The blind state of mind needs correction
Word to the mother we tighten connection
To be a man you need no election
This generation generates a new attitude
Sister to you we should not be rude
So we come together
And make 'em all say
Damn this generation


-Public Enemy, "Revolutionary Generation"

[writerforhire]

I know that Russell Simmons uses his celebrity status to speak out on intolerance that we, as a people, exercise and he does work to repair broken people group relationships and build bridges of understanding. His words resonate of the same tolerance and hope that this president, his candidate and the candidate of the people, will live up to the hope that they have placed in him.

[jpnairn]

Call it the politics of hip-hop if you want. It's older than hip-hop music and has a broader appeal.

[WilliamL]

The negative in some of these posts deserve a second post-

We have just gone through a long eight years, a long primary, a nasty general. The time has come to be a lot more reasonable and respectful in our posts and check the direct attacks/negatives.

The pop hip hop that most have been exposed to has little social value. I think some of this, I hope, will start leveling out. Meanwhile, instead of attacking Russell, and others, if you do not understand-ask questions.

A little more on the "Politics of Hip-Hop."

Consider the following, from P. E. s 88 album- "Fear of a Black Planet"-some might remember it from a Spike Lee Film. this is 101 people.

A few lines from "Fight the Power"

"you got to give us what we want,
you got to give us what we need,
our freedom of speech is our freedom of death
your have to fight the powers that be!"

This music is twenty years old or so. Music evolves. Politic evolves.

For those who want to "know" this wd. be point of reference to start. Consider Consolidated-the business of punishment,

Enough with the negative people-we need to start attacking one another.

[mikemillion2000]

Hmm, didn't Mr. Simmons say that he was a Republican a few years ago?

Hmm.....

[WilliamL]

RusselL,
As we know, there is a fundamental lack of understanding with some of the music today although some of this criticism is justified.

Being raised in the military and growing up in enlisted housing (my father was not an officer), I was exposed to a lot of dif. music, esp. in La. in the mid-70s with Parliament, Funkadelic, George Clinton,- later because of this early influence-Public Enemy, Disposable Heros of Hipopricy, Ice T, Ice Cube, and also Considated.

For those who have never lived in military housing and/or the "projects," it is difficult to understand what living in those conditions are like as it is also difficult to relate to others music. I am not equating base housing with living in the projects directly but there are comparisons. Enlisted housing is a "multiclutural" environment. For the most part esp. in certain areas and schools, I was the minority.

I think a follow up to this article wd. be in order and such an article sd. be specific about the "politics of hip hop."

"How can we ever discuss gender, class, and race when we can not repsect the rights of lesbians and gays." Consolidated.

I crossed paths with Chuck D at a small airport years back and had an opportunity to thank him for his music/work.

I thank you as well.

[stevehamlin]

Time to get out "Chocolate City" -- (are you with me CC?).

One could make the case that George & Bootsy's Parliament/Funkadelic was ahead of the times, yet again.

[robbie44]

True that.

[lofreek]

A lot of the negative qualities about hip-hop, such as what Trunkfish said, can in my opinion, be traced directly to the outrageous slashing of funding for public schools during the train wreck known as the Reagan administration. Without access to inspirational music teachers and quality instruments which public schools should have provided, underprivileged youths desiring to express themselves turned in a direction which was available to them. This is what hip-hop is about.

I love jazz, I have studied jazz for 35 years, I play jazz, and I have the utmost respect for all of the jazz greats. I believe that jazz is the most important American art form, a gift to this nation from African American culture. With the Obama presidency, I can now envision a future where the youth of America rediscover the richness of the jazz heritage and are no longer impeded by insufficient art related funding caused by greedy and foolish politicians. Youths of all walks of life should be able to study music in schools with inspirational teachers and have quality instruments at their disposal. Hip-hop concepts and innovations can co-exist side by side with instrumental virtuosity stemming from the jazz tradition. Education provides possibilities, and hopefully, down the road, better cultural output from this nation.

[Trunkfish]

I'm totally with you, lofreek.

I got a full scholarship to college as a music composition student. I love and play jazz. And if I was ever elected president, I'd have to promote a national jazz festival. Hey, I might even have to make Russell Ferrante (of The Yellowjackets) my new Secretary of Music!

But, seriously... it is quite sad that so little value is placed on music and The Arts in school.

Let's do some math...

The Iraq War is costing us 10 billion dollars per month. There are 50 states and, if we divided this money equally between the states, that would be two hundred million dollars per state per month. That's enough money to give 200 cities in each state 1 million dollars per month! Imagine the good that we could have done with that money?!

But some of the problem can be traced to our need for instant gratification. It's a lot harder to learn to play guitar than it is to learn to play Guitar Hero. Taking the time to master an instrument takes, literally, years. In this era of twitter, texting, instant-everything, etc. it's hard to get young people excited about going into a room and practicing their scales!

With the emphasis that Obama has placed on volunteerism and community service, maybe there will be opportunities for some of us (okay, me) to get off our butts and help to make a difference.

[Nommo]

The whole thing would make sense to you if you would recognize the genius the brought hip hop to the world. A genius that made do with what was left over and what everyone else took for granted. The same spirit that created "jazz" a music that was a precursor for hip hop in that it took over the world from its humble and "deprived" origins.

So jazz is hip hop without the sales, dig? I would say that hip hop's return on investment is something jazz musician's ain't gonna see 'less they become Kenny G. You better recognize.
To be sure, hip hop is a tiny portion of my music. My own groove is Pres and Lady Day, Miles, Yardbird and late period Coltrane.

I would never define rap culture by its least common. If you despair at the crap then ask yourself why Kenny G outsells Kenny Garrett, by way of example. Why more Brubeck than Powell? Stop acting like you owe something and just play your music. Listen to Nas and deny his virtuousity.
When there were no instruments, people made them . The hip hop generation copped from Rahsaan Roland Kirk. So what?

Its all good.

[ToonMoene]

In the seminal book "The soul of a new machine", describing the making of a new, revolutionary, computer (in the 70's), one of the main characters remarks: "Let's hire fresh college graduates - they don't know yet what's impossible."

That's the spirit of hip-hop. It brought this company untold wealth; it will bring this nation untold wealth.

However, for us Dylan fans, the call to arms still is "Come gather around people, where-ever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown ..."

... and then go out and be beaten to pulp by the Chicago police !

Yes, We Have Overcome !