I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. I was stunned and shocked when the news came across my Facebook account. The wind had been taken out from underneath me. I just sat there in a bit of amazement. What was the news you say? The Republican Party is going Hip Hop! Wow! A good friend of mine had sent me a link regarding this branding decision made by the GOP. You can read one of the articles here. Now, I am an open brotha when it comes to Hip Hop. I am in no way shape or form thinking that Hip Hop is solely a “Black Thing” or an “Urban thing.” However, that being said, for me, and for other Hip Hoppers I’ve spoken with over the last week, it’s a slap in the face. The very idea of having GOP/Republican and Hip Hop in the same sentence is almost a blasphemy.

 

 

Now, I am familiar with the Hip Hop Republicans & various sites that are also Hip Hop and Republican. Therefore, I am in no way suggesting that being African American and a Republican is equated with a “sell out” or “Uncle Tom.” Nor am I suggesting that Republicans are not “down” with the homies…in some respects. What I am saying is that this is a simple case of branding gone bad; moreover, when it comes to Republicans, you have to look long and hard to really find strong support from the minority communities in the public sphere. Some bloggers even suggest that Republicans recruit less often to minorities, particularly Blacks. But, that is for another blog my friends. My concern here is that Hip Hop, once again, is being pimped out to the highest bidder. Hip Hop is being ho’d out for votes and political status. Where was the GOP 10 years ago with Hip Hop? Where was the GOP during the Hip Hop Golden Years? And you mean to tell me that all of a sudden the party, having an African American face—Michael Steele—is now suddenly “down” with Hip Hop? As a member of the Hip Hop generation, I don’t believe the hype! I don’t think that the GOP is able to truly embrace Hip Hop values, morals, and social actions. I don’t think that the GOP has really taken into account what Hip Hop stands for and its historical roots. Nor, do I feel that this move is done with respect—it is done for votes; plain and simple.

 

Now, for those of you who are Republican, man…I feel ya, I really do. I just experienced 8 years of doom and gloom under the Bush tyranny. I remember both of those elections feeling empty and just sad for our country, so I really am empathetic to those Republicans who are feeling that the U.S. is going into the 5^th dimension of hell and Marxism under Obama’s leadership. All that being said, however, I just can’t see many parties stooping to this level in attempting to reach “young minorities.”

 

Now, do politicians—whatever the party—do what they have to for votes? Of course. Do political parties use pop culture as a vehicle for their message? Of course. Did Obama use urban pop culture for his gain? Hell yeah! What’s the difference you ask? Well, this just doesn’t ring true with the GOP given no significant history with Hip Hoppers, connection to the Hip Hop community (other than a few out skirt projects that never really take the front of the party), or a desire to understand Hip Hoppers—in fact most of the history between Hip Hoppers and Republicans has been quite tumultuous. Obama simply connects better with Hip Hoppers because of his character and personality. This move simply feels inauthentic and invalidating to the Hip Hop community. As a Hip Hoppers, I’m almost offended.

 

I’m not the only one who feels that way either, most of the Hip Hoppers I run into see it as 1) a scam, 2) last ditch efforts by “sore losers,” 3) pitiful, and 4) a sham to attract young teens into a party that does not really truly embrace “who they are.” This is just the word on the street. In fact, I’m hoping to add this newfound data to the book I’m writing on Hip Hop and theology coming out late summer 2009. Moreover, most Hip Hoppers see it as another attempt to simply “get votes,” and then never really address the real issues.

 

I give it to Steele. I really do. I couldn’t do what he is doing. In the end, I truly believe that the Hip Hop community will sniff this one out. Hip Hoppers, along with most urbanites in general, have a good BS detector and can begin see things for what they really are. I for one am not falling for it. I just tend to find it somewhat funny. But then again I like funny things in life.

 

We will see how far this goes and how the “plot will thicken” as the GOP takes aim at this generation of Hip Hoppers. I’m not necessarily against the move by the GOP, I do realize that they are in a “reconstruction mode” right now; Hip Hop would be a viable move, and who better to lead it than a negro, right?