'Why Killer Mike Endorsing Bernie Sanders for President Is Important'

[Number23]

Hip Hop comes of Age!!

'Why Killer Mike Endorsing Bernie Sanders for President Is Important'
http://www.bet.com/news/music/2015/11/25/why-killer-mike-endorsing-bernie-sanders-is-important.html

Hip hop culture was born among the betrayal of the Black community. Its roots are embedded in speaking out against inequality, which is perhaps a parallel to Sanders’s most famous talking point. When Biggie famously proclaimed he didn’t think “hip hop would take it this far,” understandably he was rapping about the successes and riches he and his circle were able to experience. But currently in hip hop, we’re seeing a new pinnacle of both musical representation of social issues and now, thanks in part to Killer Mike, a political apex of it.

During his powerful speech, Killer Mike told his own story and discerned himself of not being simply a rapper. Hip hop was a way to have his voice heard and through the culture he loves he’s able to use his platform to spread awareness faster than he could without it. It’s hip hop that had him standing in-front of tens of thousands of people expressing his beliefs in a way few Black men have had the opportunity to do. And it’s his desire for direct change that had him speaking out prior to rap.

Glad to see this brother using his voice and helping to raise rap's magnificent profile even higher.

'It ain't nuttin like, it ain't nuttin like, it ain't nuttin like hip hop music..."

[randys1]

1. I thought of that when i saw it, this is a BIG deal for him and the genre.

My first reaction to rap was (and this was a VERY long time ago) "they are just talking, I can do that"

And I am embarrassed at that reaction because I am a musician, my whole life, I should have known better.

No, I cant do that, surely not the way some of the artists can and more importantly I cant write the music, not me, for a variety of reasons.

[Number23]

6. For the first time, people are actually searching out rappers for their endorsement

Now I'm not under any illusions. I know that a big part of this is because of Sanders' massive and endlessly discussed dearth of black support. But even with this is mind, this is unheard of! Even Democrats have traditionally tried to marginalize rap ie the Sister Souljah foolishness.

This is a huge step for hip hop. Honestly, I've got no idea what Killer Mike's endorsement of Sanders will do, if anything. It may have no effect at all. But this is a huge step for a hip hop and I'm loving it. And if it encourages other rappers to become more political in the process, especially with their music, then that makes it even better.

[brush]

2. I've been undecided but I'm leaning towards Sanders

As I think about it, perhaps the reason I've been undecided is how much of a turnoff many of the Sanders supporters on DU have been with their over-the-top Bernie or no one posts.

[JI7]

5. i found many of them a turnoff before this primary

I think they would behave the same even with another candidate other than sanders.

[Number23]

7. They've turned off everyone and everybody. And not just on DU

There have been damn near as many articles on Sanders' over the top, unhinged and incredibly tone deaf supporters as there has been on Sanders' himself. And so many people from 80% of the diarists on Daily Kos to Thom Hartmann and Van Jones to freaking Occupy have condemned these people.

So far the effect of the fairly universal condemnation has been minimal. Probably because they are incredibly busy blaming their rotten behavior on everybody under the sun but themselves.

[lovemydog]

3. Yeah, Run the Jewels is a pretty big deal.

Killer Mike & El-P.

I'm not endorsing a candidate here.

Just saying I agree with you.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones N23!

[Number23]

8. Thanks, lmd!

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

[JI7]

4. it is good to see people who actually made the art being represented on the

Public stage.

[ismnotwasm]

9. I think so

When Rap music finally hit the airwaves, I was a young street girl trying on a different culture. The effect on the people I was around was stunning and while I didn't recognize what I was seeing at the the time, I knew something big was happening. We might fuss over this candidate and that, but the larger picture is the article paints is spot on--I can't deny it, and I don't want to. It feels like that time back then, I don't totally understand what is happening, but I can feel it's something big.

[Number23]

10. It's huge. Like I said upthread candidates are now actively searching for black endorsements

and that includes from rappers.

Now, is Killer Mike's endorsement that big of a deal? Probably not. And I would wager it's not nearly as a big a deal as some Sanders supporters are desperately trying to make it out to be. But to me this isn't about Sanders or even Killer Mike but a fairly cosmic shift that shows politicians actively looking for endorsements from young black men and women. And that's a pretty massive change.

[ismnotwasm]

11. +1000

[gwheezie]

12. I think it's great

These are our contemporary poets and creative spirits, their voice expands the discussion. I don't really care who they support.

[Number23]

14. "I don't really care who they support." It is impossible for me to agree more

Once again, you say exactly what I'm thinking.

I'm just glad that this brother had the opportunity to get his voice out there. I have never heard of him before this but I just love that this huge (in the physical sense) intimidating brother was actually given the opportunity to nationally endorse a political candidate. I LOVE that.

I have no doubt he's raised his own profile considerably with all of this, but I'm not so cynical to think that's the only reason he did this. It really seems that he is excited about Sanders. And black people excited about politics is a good thing.

[betsuni]

13. K&R

[scarletwoman]

15. Wonderful OP - getting to the heart of why Killer Mike's political statement is so important!

NOT how the Sanders zealots see it - a black person endorsing Sanders: could be ANY black person, and they'll jump on it and wave it around because it's all about Bernie. Not about the individual, not about who the black person is, not about that person's life experience, not about that person's art. It's nothing but a trophy hunt for the Bernistas: woohoo! bagged one!

I think that the entire deeper dimension of raising the political profile of hip hop is therefore largely lost on them. So glad you posted this!

[Number23]

16. Gwheezie said it perfectly upthread, "I don't care who he's supporting"

And she's absolutely right as are you. The real story is not about who some random rapper is endorsing. The real issues is that some random rapper was actually ASKED to introduce a major presidential candidate at a rally! This is massive. This is huge!

Yeah, the trophy hunters blew up GDP as usual with their "Oh my GOD, now Sanders has the black vote in his corner!!1one" showing their utter and complete obliviousness once again. (They said the same thing when Cornell endorsed Bernie and shat all over every single black poster/person who said that Cornell's endorsement was actually a detriment to his black appeal. Because you know, we're only black people. Why would be expected to understand our own community, especially when white people here who LOVE to speak for us are always reminding everyone else that "black DUers don't represent the black community" even though EVERY SINGLE THING we've said about the black community has been true?? )

The story, the issue here is not that Killer Mike endorsed Bernie Sanders. The real story is that rappers, even profane ones, are being courted and given positions of respect on the political stage in much the same vein that rock musicians are. And it's awesome.