The Audacity of Dope

(watch it in High-Def on HyphenTV)

A few weeks back, David Banner came through Sound Session and I jumped at the chance to talk a little politics with one of the more socially aware rappers out there.  Granted, Banner drops his fair share of standard commercial/club type joints (“Play” comes to mind…), but it’s all about balance, and he provides that with his social commentary.

In this clip, Banner talked with me about the importance of the election coming up a week from today.  He explained why he supports Barack Obama, what the presidential candidate represents to him, and why it’s critical that the youth get involved in the political process.  With the election so close, we really need everyone on board down the home stretch.  Are you in or are you out?

Feels good, doesn’t it?

Perhaps a little amateurish, but like I mentioned with LL, I’m willing to give people a pass if their hearts are in the right places.  Nish Gaveer is a dude from Philly who put together this song and video in support of Obama.  You ever notice how diverse Barack’s supporters are versus John McCain’s?  The people I see at McCain/Palin rallies look like they’re from another world…and certainly not the America I live in where people of all backgrounds work and live together.  Oh, but I almost forgot, according to Palin, I live in an anti-America city.  GTFOH.

As always, Jay Smooth comes through with another on point video.  The importance of the youth vote has never been higher and this is the biggest election in our lifetimes.  It’s imperitive that you actually go vote (or send in your absentee ballots ASAP) on the 4th.  No excuses whatsoever.

If you weren’t able to make it to Tacoma last Sunday to hear Joe speak, here are a few short highlights.  It may sound trite, but he’s right.  Every vote really does count, especially here in Washington where Governor Gregoire needs your support.

If you have your absentee ballot, vote now.  If you have some free time in the next 10 days, volunteer to help out right here.  And that’s not just empty rhetoric, I’ve been volunteering since the start of summer.  Get out there and help bring us across the finish line.

(i had the same look as Exile when I heard this)

Blu is the man and probably in my top 3 favorite MC’s right now.  Plus he’s a cool ass dude, so this pains me to do.  However, I heard a line in Evidence’s new track that just confused me:

“It’s the middle of ’08, and I still ain’t heard Obama speak bout problems that we face”
–Blu, “For Whom The Bell Tolls”

Word? This reminds me of the criticism that many people tried to hit Barack with early in his campaign: that he was only preaching this esoteric “change” idea, without backing it up with substantive policy positions and strategies.  The problem with that is that if you actually make an effort to listen to more than a 30 second soundbite on the news, or go read any of the extensive issue pages of his website, you quickly learn what Obama’s all about.  Now, you don’t have to agree with his ideas, but to say that they aren’t there or he hasn’t addressed virtually everything is just false.  I hope Blu has found Barack’s statements that talk about the issues he’s concerned with, because I assure you, they’re there.

So forgive me homey, but I just disagree with that line.  Blu’s still possibly the illest MC in the game right now, so make sure y’all cop his new Johnson&Jonson project.  Easily one of the best albums of the year.  And here’s Ev’s new track if you haven’t grabbed it yet:

Evidence ft. Phonte, Blu, & Will.I.Am – “For Whom The Bell Tolls”

Ok, so we all already knew that Jay-Z and Nas have been two of Barack’s biggest supporters in hip-hop, but it’s great to see the Obama campaign reach out to them and film these official endorsement videos to help win swing states where the artists performed.  Every state has their own page on Barack’s website, so go track down yours and get involved.

Washington people: as we talked about on the last Sound Session, your page is located at Washington.BarackObama.com.  Volunteer.  All the cool people are doing it (…aka…me).  You know, if the campaign wants me to film one of these celebrity endorsements, they should just holler @ a Hyphey hahaha…

Some simply visuals for a web video of LL’s “Mr. President” off his new album, Exit 13.  Is it good?  Ehh.  Does LL’s rhyme style work in 2008?  Ehhhhh.  Do I support him making a song with at least a cursory amount of substance?  Absolutely.

I don’t even hate wackness.  I hate wackness that glorifies other forms of wackness.  If your heart’s in the right place, I’ll let it slide all day.

This dropped a few days ago, but who would have thought working two+ jobs would make it hard to post up ill stuff regularly?  Eh, no matter!  So if you missed it, here’s Green Lantern’s long awaited Obama inspired mixtape, aptly titled Yes We Can.  The songs are dope, but the real highlight of the tape is how Green cut up various quotes from Obama and his supporters for all the interludes.

1. Intro
2. David Banner,Busta Rhymes,Talib Kweli – “Black President (Remix), Pt. 1″
3. Barack Obama – “Stand Up”
4. Nas Speaks on Politics
5. Styles P and Cassidy – “Make It Out”
6. Jay-Z Speaks “The American Dream”
7. Barack Obama – “One Mic, One People”
8. Russell Simmons Speaks on Obama
9. Joe Budden, Twista, & John Mayer – “Waiting on the World to Change 2008″
10. Angie Martinez – “Yes We Need A Mixtape!!”
11. Malik Yusef, Kanye West, & Adam Levine -  “Promised Land”
12. Wale, Rhymefest, Christina K, & Royce The 5’9″ – “Black President (Remix), Pt. 2″
13. Barack Obama – “My Life”
14. Jay-Z – “Lick a Shot”
15. Russell Simmons on Change
16. Wyclef Jean – “Obama for President”
17. Charles Hamilton – “The Moment”
18. Find Ur Dreams (Interlude)
19. George Bush’s Highlight Reel
20. Mikkey Halsted – “King George”
21. Obama on Hip-Hop
22. Joel Ortiz feat Dante Hawkins – “Letter To Obama”
23. Akon and U.M. – “Aint No Sunshine”
24. Qadir and Dwayne – “Its My Time”
25. Johnny Polygon and Amanda Diva – “Colorblind”
26. Mavado – “We Need Barack”
27. Jay-Z / Gabe Real – “What We Need” (Speech)
28. Qadir – “Yes We Can” Outro

I spent my entire Saturday afternoon handing out instructional literature for absentee voters in my neighborhood, so it’s safe to say I’m “fired up…ready to go.” Nov. 4th: be ready!

Download here.

Barack killed it last night at the Al Smith dinner in NYC.  Granted, a staffer obviously wrote his (and McCain’s) jokes, but still, great delivery and too many quotables.  Barack’s the man.