Friday, January 30, 2009
I know, the man is everywhere these days, and rightly so. Still, as we are all aware, the election of Barack Obama as our 44th president is an especially momentous accomplishment, not only for Obama but for our country as well. While Americans celebrate the inauguration of their first African-American president, hip-hop artist’ reactions don’t differ much from the near-national consensus. Barack has said he likes hip-hop in multiple interviews, naming hip-hop moguls Jay-Z and Kanye West as some of his favorite artists.
Because of this, hip-hop heads have embraced President Obama as one of their own. As a result, since Obama became the president-elect on Nov. 4, 2008, there has been an overwhelming sense of pride emanating from the entire hip-hop community. Rappers have felt the inspiration and hope that Barack has provided for millions of Americans, and it has certainly begun to come through in their music. Artists are already proudly referring to Obama as their president in songs and verses, most notably on Young Jeezy’s recent single, “My President.”
Barack Obama does seem to have a great deal of love for hip-hop and its roots, but the love only goes so far. While praising hip-hop for creating a channel of expression for young people, he voices genuine concern for some of the lifestyles hip-hop tends to promote to these young Americans.
“Honestly, I love the art of hip-hop,” Obama stated in an interview with BET in 2008. “I don’t always love the message of hip-hop.” He went on to speak of meetings he has had with prominent hip-hop artists such as Jay-Z and Kanye and speaking with them about harnessing their influential powers to send a resonating, more positive message to their younger fans.
“The potential for them to deliver a message of extraordinary power that gets people thinking is tremendous,” Obama said. “The thing about hip-hop today is it’s smart. It’s insightful. The way they can communicate a complex message in a very short space is remarkable. A lot of these kids aren’t going to be reading the New York Times; that’s not how they’re getting their information.”
The president is absolutely right. Hip-hop must act as a vehicle for change within its own culture for it to progress as one. If this requirement is not met by its contemporary representatives, it will ultimately mean the demise of hip-hop.
However, if hip-hop begins to listen to our new president, it could spark the beginning of a revolution in hip-hop regarding its role and influence in our society as a whole. Hip-hop has made a new friend in Barack Obama for now, but for the friendship to remain intact, hip-hop must do its part to adhere to the values he and his staff have deemed essential to our prosperity. I’ll leave you with a quote from the man himself: “What I always say is: Hip-hop is not just a mirror of what is, it should also be a reflection of what can be.” Peace.
— Coldham is a Chicago senior in journalism and English.
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Comments
Coldham: Hip-hop has a friend in the White House
I agree with President Obama, that black artists should be inspiring to us all not only young black people. We are still thinking in terms of groups aren't we when we get an image in our minds of the kind of person who listens to hip hop music. But, at the same time the right of the artist to create without undue restriction must be respected. I know that President Obama would do that, which is only one reason I am so glad that I voted for him and that he won. Imagine McCain in the White House. Not.
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