@Nate: wtf? what's wrong with teenagers adoring Obama just as much as...should i say it...TUPAC...or scarface. Besides, they can't vote until they're 18? As for as college students, they wouldn't be in college if they were easily influenced by celebrities. DUH!

Butta, I understand what you're saying and you definitely have a good point; one should be able to avoid something if he/she doesn't like the message. And yes, there are many intelligent young Americans who are not affected by the songs, etc. But as a teenager who attends high school, I can honestly say that there are also a good deal of kids my age (16-18, not to even to mention the college kids) who are hugely affected by rappers and their endeavors. The other day I picked up my copy of To Kill A Mockingbird and found "Hustle Muzik" written on the inside cover. When Young Jeezy released those Snowman shirts, every one had them. Kids still drink that $2 Formula 50 stuff, even though they all know it tastes like watered-down cough syrup. And now Obama has become like a rapper-celebrity himself, so that power plus the influence of rappers who come into 106 & Park with a bedazzled Obama shirt everday is quite impacting. The fact of the matter: there are kids around my way who like Obama simply because rappers and the media told him to and because he seems like a cool guy. Sad but true. Like you said, my previous statement demeaned the many teenagers who actually stay on top of the issues and judge how they feel about them. But there are also some teenagers and college students who still get gas money from their parents and/or are quite clueless, sorry to say.

I agree with Butta too, but the reason I also agree Nate is because Hip Hop has come out IN FORCE for Obama, which is a good thing, but it always concerned me that it would be used against him by the crazy Right. Your Limbaughs and o'Reilly's and such.

nOvaMatic   |   October 21, 2008 12:34 AM   |   Permalink

@ Nate: I happen to disagree.

You said it plain as day when you stated: "...Last time I checked, we live in a democracy..." To that end, these pro-Obama artists are free to express themselves however they see fit, and I am free to support them and my candidate of choice in the same manner. Artists have come out as pro-McCain (country artist Hank Williams comes to mind) and they have just as much right to do so. It's whatever. And I have the right to turn the radio station, flip the channel, or press that little red X in the upper right hand corner of my browser when they start spewing their right-wing hatred to whatever tune they chose.

Please give teenagers and other young voters more credit than saying that they are easily influenced by entertainers on how to vote/who to vote for. They can make their own informed decisions every time they go fill their gas tank up, watch their parent/s agonize over their investments going down the crapper, or go to their cousin's funeral who just came back from Iraq in a body bag. Gimme a big fat break.

With all that said...

OBAMA '08!!

@ Nate: I agree.

nOvaMatic   |   October 20, 2008 10:15 PM   |   Permalink

I don't care about who you want to win the election, but the fact of the matter is... rappers, singers, acters, etc. have a huge influence on the public, especially the youth. The fact that so many of them are telling young Americans to go out to register to vote is heaven-sent. BUT they should not be shoving their personal opinions in people's faces. People like Solange are directly telling people to register to vote AND vote for Obama in the same sentence. Last time I checked, we live in a democracy where one is free to vote however they feel is right. And I think that many of today's stars, including LL (even though I don't know anyone who still gives a damn about him, seriously) are taking adavantage of the vulnerability of teenagers/college kids and their admiration for Hollywood figures. And I just think that's wrong. It's a shame that all you folks are applauding these songs, videos--even compilations (I'm lookin' at you, Hidden Beach) that shove their preferred candidate in the public's face. The reality is that if anybody released anything--God forbid--that put McCain in the forefront, y'all would be crapping your pants with the quickness. Shame.

ll throw this together fast just to get the word out