ENTERTAINMENT/OPINION

Rappin’ Up The Vote

by Big Ced on Aug 7, 2008

So T.I. has partnered with The Hip Hop Caucus for a voter registration drive for this year’s presidential election, and it’s admirable for him to do so. My thing is, how can a convicted felon ‘endorse’ or encourage people to vote when he isn’t allowed to do so himself?

I’m aware that The Hip Hop Summit Action Network has recently released a Public Service Announcement to get people to not only just register, but actually get out there and cast their vote.

But, you have Snoop Dogg, T.I. and Jim Jones (honestly, I’m not sure if Jim Jones has a criminal record, but I can’t see him even going to the polls at all) in the video encouraging people to be involved in the voting process. Yet, can you see any of them actually doing the research to actually go out and vote themselves?

I am all about getting more blacks involved in who is in office because, despite what most think, under the current system we are partly responsible for who makes the laws and decides things for us. If we are not involved in the political process, then we can’t complain when we are not spoken for. Yet, how can we expect the younger generation to follow through and register and then vote when they know that the artists that they follow and respect aren’t doing the same? Or better yet, are not being allowed to.

You know what I’d rather see? I’d rather see some of the politicians fight to get convicted felons to be able to vote again. THAT would impress me, knowing that a reformed convict has the right to be a part of this decision making process called politics. I’d like to see Russell Simmons, Puff, Quincy Jones and any ‘powerful’ black man fight to get some of the artists they work with to be able to be a part of the voting process again.

If these people get their rights back, this will potentially sway votes in other directions. The prison system ‘allows’ them to come back into society after time served, why can’t they get their right to vote back?

What do you think?

BIG CED is the founder/owner and visionary for The Industry Cosign and has been involved in the entertainment field for over two decades. His rants on music and the industry-at-large are exclusive to Urban Thought Collective.


Leave a Comment

Comments

August 7th, 2008 at 10:14 pm Tawnie says:

Hi! I’m late and I’m still #1? Cool!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pm RedRazor says:

I don’t know man, I think our “leaders” have better things to focus on than whether a bunch of knucklehead rappers can vote.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:18 pm Tawnie says:

Lookin good Red :)
Who knew?
August 7th, 2008 at 10:20 pm RedRazor says:

Aha! Thanks Tawnie!
August 7th, 2008 at 10:41 pm sarasmiles says:

If we’re looking to rappers to lead us to the vote then we are in bigger trouble than I ever thought.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:11 pm missme says:

The stripping of voting rights from people who have served their time is a travesty of American law
August 8th, 2008 at 1:18 am Luke 1980 says:

We’re not talking about hip hop stars influencing highschool aged people, we’re talking about voting age mofos – 18, 22, 26. I don’t believe that TI makes a differnce to someone of voting age. Does he? Please say he doesn’t. Maybe I’m naive but I refuse to believe that a 18, 19, 20 year old adult would vote for something because Snoop said to do it. Folks ain’t that dumb.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:55 am Najee Ali says:

Malcolm X. said an important thing in his biography.Black folks need to stop looking for entertainers and atheletes to be our leaders..Its still true today.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:11 am Stephanie says:

I say use whatever works. Young voters will listen to these celebs and hopefully it will get them to get out and vote.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:16 am Big Ced says:

@ RedRazor who says:
“I don’t know man, I think our “leaders” have better things to focus on than whether a bunch of knucklehead rappers can vote.”

Nah, you’re missing the point, I’m not saying to do it just for the knuckleheaded rappers, to just do it for ALL the ex-convicts whose voices aren’t being heard.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:20 am Sooth sayer says:

I honestly never understood what the hip hop summit or action network even does. I mean, why is it a secret? Are they doing anything to honestly advance the dialoge and make some needed changes to the image of the music itself?
August 8th, 2008 at 9:21 am Phillip Giddings says:

This is very true… once you do your time, you should totally be able to vote and have your voice heard, its a shame that that law is not in full effect. That is clearly TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION YA’LL!!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:21 am Big Ced says:

@sarasmiles who says:
“If we’re looking to rappers to lead us to the vote then we are in bigger trouble than I ever thought.”

It’s not about looking to rappers but they are influential and kids DO grow up and need to know the importance of voting and if this is a way to do it, it’s better than them not knowing or caring about the voting process.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:29 am Big Ced says:

@Luke 1980 who says:
“We’re not talking about hip hop stars influencing highschool aged people, we’re talking about voting age mofos – 18, 22, 26. I don’t believe that TI makes a differnce to someone of voting age. Does he? Please say he doesn’t. Maybe I’m naive but I refuse to believe that a 18, 19, 20 year old adult would vote for something because Snoop said to do it. Folks ain’t that dumb.”

You’d be VERY surprised! THIS is why these ’stars’ are sought after. you also have to remember, high school kids grow up to be college kids who grow up to be working adults (Usually…..). We have GROWN ASS PEOPLE who do follow what Snoop, T.I. and others, I’ve witnessed it myself. When you are intelligent, you have your own mind, but when you aren’t, you follow what’s popular in order to be popular.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:35 am pmatters says:

Interesting. Hopefully celebrities are smart enough to be absentee voters and have their ballets mailed to them so all they have to do is vote and drop it in the mail or at their local polling place. That is what I do.
August 8th, 2008 at 9:44 am David Nelson says:

I have always thought those celev voter campaigns were a crock just to get publicity – shameless actually, Piff in particular
August 8th, 2008 at 9:48 am David Nelson says:

opps — I mean PUFF!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:48 am Big Ced says:

@Najee Ali who says:
“Malcolm X. said an important thing in his biography.Black folks need to stop looking for entertainers and atheletes to be our leaders..Its still true today.”
Either we are going to be great friends or mortal enemies…. ha ha… I agree somewhat, but it’s a start based on the fact that politicians are going to the entertainers and athletes. The fact that black folks don’t and/or can’t rely on other leaders, it’s a huge start that the entertainers and athletes can use to steer ‘us’ towards the true leaders of our community.. That’s better than having no leaders at all….
August 8th, 2008 at 9:51 am Big Ced says:

@Stephanie who says:
“I say use whatever works. Young voters will listen to these celebs and hopefully it will get them to get out and vote.”
And THAT is important if we expect to get ahead and get our people to vote!!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:52 am Big Ced says:

@Sooth sayer who says:
“I honestly never understood what the hip hop summit or action network even does. I mean, why is it a secret? Are they doing anything to honestly advance the dialoge and make some needed changes to the image of the music itself?”
Well, I’ve written about that years ago and I still don’t have a clue!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:54 am Big Ced says:

@pmatters who says:
“Interesting. Hopefully celebrities are smart enough to be absentee voters and have their ballets mailed to them so all they have to do is vote and drop it in the mail or at their local polling place. That is what I do.”
I SERIOUSLY doubt it! I hope I am wrong, but more than likely, if it has nothing to do with money or furthering one’s status, then I doubt voting is at the top of their list, IF on their list at all!
August 8th, 2008 at 9:58 am Big Ced says:

@David Nelson who says:
“I have always thought those celev voter campaigns were a crock just to get publicity – shameless actually, Puff in particular”
I question this EVERY 4 years. My thought process is that, if you really care about the politics and the way the government is run, whether locally or nationally, there would be voter drives EVERY year! There are elections that take place in every calendar year, yet, you only hear from the likes of Puff, Russell and others when it’s the presidential election because it’s on a national level as well as an international level. They need to care yearly and be more involved in the other elections.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:19 am culturepop says:

T.I is trying to do all this do-gooder crap with the kids to get a lighter sentence and its all so fake
August 8th, 2008 at 11:08 am renep says:

this blog is too short!
August 8th, 2008 at 12:47 pm UncleD says:

You are absolutely right Najee and Missme. This is a probelm that we overlook too much as a community. These brothas & sistas need some attention.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:51 pm heatmizer says:

Very good point Ced. Although I believe everyone deserves the right to vote its still kinda weird that these rappers only use the spotlight for a good cause every four years. Esp when as felons they dont’ even have the right – interesting
August 8th, 2008 at 1:10 pm Destah Owens says:

I thought that ex-cons that had not committed violent crimes could indeed regain their right to vote. SO…I googled it and here’s what I found:

“More than 4.7 million Americans are barred from casting ballots because of a current or past conviction. But millions more simply don’t know their voting rights, scholars say. Confused by folklore and misinformation, many ex-felons just throw up their hands.

California is one of 35 states that forbids convicts from voting while in prison or on parole. Seven states permanently ban ex-offenders from voting, or require them to obtain permission from a governor or legislature to regain the right. Seven others outlaw voting by certain categories of felons, or impose a waiting period.”

The state of Florida changed their law in April of 2007, allowing more that 500,000 ex-cons to vote (a large majority of which were black and latino), although some analysts have suggested this was done partly by the Republican gov’t to have a chance at more black and latino votes. (There’s always a catch ;-) )
August 8th, 2008 at 2:05 pm Krista Wills says:

Thanks to Destah for the info! That’s what’s Im talking about. Each One Teach One!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:28 pm Nicole Malave says:

Voting is a right that folks died for. It shouldn’t take all of the events and begging young people to get involved. I find it sad actually
August 8th, 2008 at 3:24 pm Lilly says:

Snoop and Puffy need to sit down!
August 8th, 2008 at 3:25 pm Tina says:

This sounds like a campaign platform to me.
August 8th, 2008 at 6:46 pm Joselyn Tanarive says:

destah – great stats – darryl great blog – utc great site – thanks 2 all.
August 8th, 2008 at 8:48 pm ratty says:

Seven states permanently ban ex-offenders from voting, or require them to obtain permission from a governor or legislature to regain the right
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME

Related Material

Related Posts

Tag Cloud

Archival

Blog Archives by Month

Other UTC Blogs