CNN

It's all well and good B-Rock gets his props in Vibe, but does he have grassroots supporters making a Hip Hop song for them. Let alone one with such a sweet hook as "If you dont want the state to take food off your plate, vote for Ron Paul in 2008." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlPjsGFcXlg

Instead of you Republican hacks criticizing him for being on the cover of VIBE, why don't you all research what he actually is trying to tell the black youth of today:

In the VIBE article about him he says:

"There's no doubt that hip-hop culture moves our young people powerfully. And some of it is not just a reflection of reality," he told the magazine. "It also creates reality. I think that if all our kids see is a glorification of materialism and bling and casual sex and kids are never seeing themselves reflected as hitting the books and being responsible and delaying gratification, then they are getting an unrealistic picture of what the world is like."

Obama seemed unwilling to use raunchy rap as a rallying cry in his campaign: "My priority as a U.S. senator is dealing with poverty and educational opportunity and adequate health care. If I'm ignoring those issues and spending all my time worrying about rap lyrics, then I'm wasting my time."

^^ Sounds like someone with a genuine message for people of all colors in this country…

We are Americans, I think its time we start acting like it and heal the wounds and the ripples this present administration has caused on the very fabric of our country. Democrat, Republican..who cares? Listen to the candidates regardless of party and decide for yourself who has the vision and more importantly the WILL to bring this country together again.

Posted By Evan Esteves, Boca Raton, FL : August 18, 2007 5:21 am

Thank you EVAN... for showing some of these 'sheeple' what the article ACTUALLY SAYS. CNN posts an article and noone actually goes out there and does their own research. EDUCATE YOURSELF PPL!

6 companies own the WHOLE of the media. They tell you what to think and what to do.

EDUCATE YOURSELF. Don't let the mainstream media influence you.

Pimp Daddy B-Rock? Oh my !!

Bruce of Franklin TN writes:

“I think it's irresponsible of anyone to accept the endorsement of a genre of people who represent the worst of what our society has to offer.”

I abhor the violent, misogamist and materialistic aspects of hip-hop. And no one has been more critical of these elements than Senator Obama. But let’s not condemn the whole genre. There are intelligent insightful hip-hop artists as well. And anything that gets young people involved in the process is fine by me. Furthermore, it should be clear by now that no one can tell hip-hop artists what to write.

Chris of Florida says: “It’s so funny to see through everything” but clearly sees nothing.

First of all, most hip-hop fans are white. And Obama is by no means guaranteed the African-American vote. I’m half Italian and there’s never been an I talian-American President, but I sure won’t be voting for Giuliani or Tancredo. Like most Americans I care about my country more than my ethnicity.

My guess is Obama is embarrassed by this whole story. He is so not a hip-hop kind of guy.

Hillary and Obama are both probably unelectable (for different reasons), so it's hard to see where any of this blather really matters.

However, I think it's irresponsible of anyone to accept the endorsement of a genre of people who represent the worst of what our society has to offer.

I'm sick and tired of Obama itemizing all that's wrong with America and suggesting what COULD fix things, but I never hear a well-thought-out "I will do this, or I will do that" except that he's going to stop the war if 15 minutes or so. Does he really THINK? or is he just good at talking? Why doesn't he put forth his agenda, clearly, so we can know what he's going to do.

I just read the VIBE article on Obama today and it was pretty good and agreeing to the interview was a smart move on his part. Obama is always talking about bringing people together and encouraging change in American politics. What better way to do that, than to try to reach out to a demographic that might not be fully engaged in the democratic process. You can love or hate hip hop, but if Obama's message can get through to someone who might have been apathetic about the political process, than that alone makes the article very powerful.

An election is about getting votes. If the Hip-Hop community never voted before, maybe that is because they did not have a candidate they can support. If they do support Obama, maybe they will finally come out to vote. Don't stop the B-Rock!

Let's judge the man by his inner qualities than his outward appearance. I would much prefer him to get endorsements, shout-outs, whatever you want to call them from hip-hop artists than from lobbyists who sell out America on a daily basis.

I listen to all types of music, and there is no shortage of bad lyrics in all types of music

It's about time!!!

ONE OF THE REASONS THE YOUNG BLACK MALE IS IN TROUBLE THESE DAYS, AS A BLACK MYSELF I'VE SEEN THE DISASTROUS EFFECT OF THE HIP HOP INDUSTRY ON AFRICAN MEN AND INSTEAD OF OUR LEADERS SPEAKING UP TO THIS INDUSTRY THEY ARE SCARED TO BE CALLED SOLD OLDS OR ACTING WHITE.aND WHITE LIBERAL POLITICIANS ARE GOING TO SUPPORT IT WHILE THEY RAISE THEIR KIDS IN THE SUBURBS

If this article inspires young people to turn away from the shallowness of instant gratification, then that IS a good thing.

Besides, the biggest demographic market for rap is white suburban teen age boys.

Oooooh a high-profile meeting with Ludacris, a flash-in-the-pan sits down with a flash-in-the-pan to discuss what exactly?! He must be ready to be president now. Yeah, I hear he's got Michael Vick endorsing him now too!

Keep check your watch Barrack your 15 minute is almost up!

NO QUALIFICATIONS? THIS IS THE EXACT THING THAT SCARES ME ABOUT MY GENERATION. THE GENERATION THAT WILL VOTE FOR SOMEONE BECAUSE HE WAS ON A HIP HOP MAGAZINE COVER OR BECAUSE HE IS BLACK..WHY DONT WE USE OUR VOTING RIGHT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE LIKE HEALTH CARE FOR EVERYONE OR EQUAL RIGHTS OR TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME..THESE THINGS SHOULD MATTER MORE THAN SOME POLITICIAN ON A MAG COVER

Cathy,

How is Obama "not one of ours" in your opinion? Where is he to go?

Oh wait, that's right. He was born in Hawaii. How silly of me. Obviously Hawaii isn't a state of the union, and the Kingdom of Hawaii has recently turned democratic and chosen a constitutional monarchy in a bold move by King Kamehameha the XI.

"Great……next thing you know Obama will be wearing long white t-shirts and Sean Jean outfits."

That's an extremely tasteless and ridiculous thing to say. Shame on you, Barabas from Hot City, TX.

How much experience does one need to be said to have experience? Just because Hillary slept in the White House doesn't mean she has experience...duh people think before you speak.

You sir, our not one of ours, go to your place and be president. we don't want you.

OK, my other comment go deleted, so I will say this; the problem with making this a big deal is that Americans are all about labels, and boxes and stereotypes. J-Rock and Jeff are penalizing him for the hip hop community embracing him.

How biased is that? Nobody said a thing about John E on the cover of Esquire but because he fits the description, nobody says, "Hey he doesn't need the white male vote, the rich elite are only a small subculture in American society...."

Listen to yourselves....SMH

Instead of you Republican hacks criticizing him for being on the cover of VIBE, why don't you all research what he actually is trying to tell the black youth of today:

In the VIBE article about him he says:

"There's no doubt that hip-hop culture moves our young people powerfully. And some of it is not just a reflection of reality," he told the magazine. "It also creates reality. I think that if all our kids see is a glorification of materialism and bling and casual sex and kids are never seeing themselves reflected as hitting the books and being responsible and delaying gratification, then they are getting an unrealistic picture of what the world is like."

Obama seemed unwilling to use raunchy rap as a rallying cry in his campaign: "My priority as a U.S. senator is dealing with poverty and educational opportunity and adequate health care. If I'm ignoring those issues and spending all my time worrying about rap lyrics, then I'm wasting my time."

^^ Sounds like someone with a genuine message for people of all colors in this country...

We are Americans, I think its time we start acting like it and heal the wounds and the ripples this present administration has caused on the very fabric of our country. Democrat, Republican..who cares? Listen to the candidates regardless of party and decide for yourself who has the vision and more importantly the WILL to bring this country together again.

THIS IS FOR DAVE B, OF CLEARWATER, FL.

STAY OFF THE POLITICAL TICKER PAGE. CLEARLY, AT LEAST TO ME,AND I PRAY OTHERS, YOU ARE A BIGOT. THE MAN, BARACK OBAMA, DID AN INTERVIEW FOR VIBE. WHAT...ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. TOUTING YOUR BIGOTRY ON THE INTERNET LETS ME KNOW YOU'RE NOT TOO SMART.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Nooo, quite wrong Jeff from Arlington, Obama is running a primary campaign, and if the black vote turns from hillary in early states she's screwed, if turnout (which doesn't include the unlikely and first-time voters) increases with the entry of new Black voters and first-timers, Obama could easily start pulling upsets.

David Axelrod knows exactly what he's doing.

The B-Rock huh. That sounds real presidential. This might get him some more hype from the younger non voting generation, but at the same time the older voting generation could be turned off by it.

Is an endorsement from the hip-hop community a good thing?

Good on him! I like this guy. He's little green, but he'd unite and not divide our country. He's worth a look!

Uma,

It's JUDGEMENT that matters! BTW, he has more elected experience than Hillary...

I'm rushing out to get a copy of this today!

Check out the Knights of Liberty on myspace and youtube. Now that's Hip Hip- Hop!!

Dave from Clearwater:

Are YOU making the generalization that all people who wear long t-shirts and Sean Jean outfits are black? I didn't say anything about them being black, so how am I racist? Sounds like YOU are buying into the stereotypes that only black people dress and act like that. What about eminem and Paul Wall? I see white kids wearing long shirts and Sean Jean outfits all the time.

Maybe you need to look in the mirror to see who the racist is.

Well...I'm not sure why some are being negative about the article. Obama has support among some in the hip-hop community, but to somehow translate that to saying he should go rap or wear white T-shirts etc is absurd. C;mon people, elevate the leve of discussion here for once.

Obama has also graced the cover of TIME and Newsweek, along with GQ Magazine, among others.

Let's stop being so juvenile here.

Van from New York, why do Obama supporters trouble you? Because we want someone other than Hillary to lead this party? This is why we have Democratic nominations my friend. If the nominee is Hillary, those same Obama followers are going to be ESSENTIAL to her winning the general. In the end we're all Democrats my friend.

Maybe someone here can answer these questions for me, since there’s a lot of talk questioning Obama’s experience and no one has answered them in the other boards I posted in.

What experience does the geezer from Law & Order has and why isn’t his experience questioned? I guess Angelina Jolie can run off of her UN and acting experience too
What experience does Guilani have beside being a mayor and dressing up like a woman?
What experience does Mitt have besides being a governor of a liberal state but now running as a conservative?
What experience did Hillary have to become a Us senator? The only reason why Hillary a contender is because of her husband

Also, if Blacks only voted for blacks, Bill Clinton wouldn’t have been anointed the first black president. Ask any black Republican who runs again a white Democrat if blacks votes across racial lines. Also if blacks only voted for blacks, why is Hillary slightly ahead of Obama for the black vote?

The reason why I know that the press afraid that there going to have a revolution is because the press were talking in the television. saying they going to have a black man as a candidate as a presidency is because of the constitutional book that Mariah Carey using to send me a message during the trial betwen Chris Webber and Mariah Carey and that constitutional book a black guy got discriminated.

Barack Obama I am messaging you this message because during the trial between Chris Webber and Mariah Carey, The press, Hawaii was Mariah Carey alaby and Mariah Carey using the constitutional book to send me a messages not to take a witness stand in the court and that constitutional book a black guy got discriminate tieng a black guy hand and legs and in that same page they talking about anti slave and pro slave using the constitutional book to send me a message. I could remember the press talking in the television that their going to have a black person as a candidate as a presidency because they afraid that the United State is going to have a revolution. That's the purpose why they have a black man as a candidate as a presidency. For so many, many years this is the first time I saw a black man become a candidate as a presidency.

Well once this becomes the popular thing to do, Hillary will probably decide to become a video vixen and “drop it like it’s hot” in Nelly’s new video, even Hillary lovers have to admit she will do anything to get votes. Maybe she’ll get Bill to drop some rhymes with his homeboys from the hood, since he was the first black president.
Posted By Tracy, Chicago, IL : August 17, 2007 6:46 pm

Hillary-haters Myth#1

"She'll do/say anything to win/get elected."

Yet she won't say she made a mistake and repudiate her vote on Iraq in 2002, when other candidates have, this despite the fact that it has caused her lots of criticism from the left-wing of her party. If she'll say/do anything, why not this?

Where are the stories to back up this lie/myth? Tales of the terrible things she did and the lies she's told in her election campaigns should be the stuff of legend by now, if there was any basis in FACT.

You will see the usual suspects repeat this accusation/slander over and over and not ONCE do you ever see an example. Where are the examples?

Van

May be Obama will be famous in hip-hop music; he should be doing that since he doesn't have experience to be president of the USA.

Republican foes of Obama must be really proud to know that all the racist reactionary idiots in this country are on their side. What a base to be proud of! The 25% "dead-enders" who follow the sacred word of ED afflicted, drug-addled talkshow blowhards but who can't pick up a book because education might turn them into wimpy liberals!

Well once this becomes the popular thing to do, Hillary will probably decide to become a video vixen and “drop it like it’s hot” in Nelly’s new video, even Hillary lovers have to admit she will do anything to get votes. Maybe she’ll get Bill to drop some rhymes with his homeboys from the hood, since he was the first black president.

Henry Tucker, Percy Goode...

I agree Big Time! Hearing her try to sing the national anthem was enough!

Did anyone see that on YouTube?

Some gold teeth might be an improvement though, or maybe that whole Darth Vader grille!

Have a good weekend,

Chip

B-LOSER? B-DORK? B-TAX? B-SURRENDER? B-BOMB PAKISTAN? B-NO EXPERIENCE? B-WANNA-B?

lmao@HilDawg bustin' out some rhymes. I just had a vision of her car surfin' off a big pink Hummer.........

Word up: what a dumb choice for his press officer to make! Obama doesn't need the votes of a minority of hip-hop fans within a 13% ethnic minority of blacks, most of whom do not vote. Why alienate his supporters by association with a subculture which typifies what is wrong with black America?

Say what you want about Barack or Hillary, it's the Democrats who look like America. The Republican candidates are a bunch of old, pasty white guys from the country club, falling all over each other to show racist & sexist hatred of their fellow Americans.

Qualifications? We don't need no stinkin' qualifications! We have similar levels of pigmentation in our skin! You get my vote!

Van

What this cynical world of "winning at any cost" is some tongue in cheek levity. In other words – relax dude it's a joke.

Vote for him! He's black like us! We don't want another white person in the er, White House... Qualifications don't matter because HE'S BLACK LIKE US!!!

Barabas – If you did your research on Barack Obama you would know that he has spoken out against rap and hip hop on many occassion, especially with respect to the way they talk about women in music. I find it a tribute to Obama that even after speaking his mind with the thoughts not necessarily favorable that community still supports him.

With someone as clear-headed and strategic as Obama, I can see this as having tremendous potential benefit, for two reasons. First, Obama will get support from many young people (and some older) who are part of the more serious-minded sector of the hip hop generation. Secondly, Obama will have some ability to influence many within the hip hop culture to have a positive impact on society, work hard toward important goals, etc. So both Obama and the hip hop community (and indirectly, America in general) benefit.

I'm not evening going to say anything. I'm sure Oprah approves. Why isn't he in a country magazine? Why isn't he on the cover of field and stream? It's so funny to see through everything. Even when they tell you they are not about one particular group, they show their true colors.

Hip hop represents what hip hop when true to itself represents. Common and Talib Kweli, two leading artists of real hip hop recognises this and I hope young african americans and americans can appreciate the similarities of hip hop and the change movement sweeping the political field in Washington and throughout the country.

Hip hop music at its core was about challenging the status quo, fighting the power, advancing the struggle. Obama's campaign and leadership mirrors those mandates at its core.

Hopefully people realise there is a difference btw true hip hop and the mainstream rap they see on t.v.

Hiphop began as a movement of change and expression.

Barack Obama came to political power as an agent of change and political expression of hope. As a young hip hop enthusiast it truly is amazing how Obama has managed to transcend pop culture and to have the ears of hip hop artists and publications.

Good article vibe... Hip Hop for Obama.

"Great……next thing you know Obama will be wearing long white t-shirts and Sean Jean outfits. Maybe he'll even make a cameo in the next Mike Jones video while sporting a platinum grill and ice all over his wrist and neck."

Sounds a bit racist to me. I assume you are either a Republican or pro-Hillary?

The full article is not on Vibes site but here is whats out there.....
I say Go Obama...1st politician in history.....That alone is saying something!!!You have my vote.

VIBE is proud to announce our 14th Anniversary Juice issue, starring Barack Obama and 40 more who will change the world. For the first time in the history of the magazine, a politician graces the cover.

Henry Tucker, I am a Hillary supporter, but I must say your comment is very funny. I hope she doesn't try to rap either.

Hillary is so popular, and so feared by the supporters of her competitors, that no story on the ticker, regardless of topic, is free from their bleats of anger bile and sexism.
I like Senator Obama, it's his followers who trouble me.

Van

Great......next thing you know Obama will be wearing long white t-shirts and Sean Jean outfits. Maybe he'll even make a cameo in the next Mike Jones video while sporting a platinum grill and ice all over his wrist and neck.

Anything for votes, I say!

Dear Lord – let's hope Hillary doesn't attempt to put out a rap video to compete with B-Rock to get shout-outs. It would be more screams of agony!

The hyperlink titled "Full Story" goes to a picture of Obama. Great pic and all, but let's see the full story!