September
2004
A
Little Street Knowledge
By Celia Alario
and Tate Hausman
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On the eve of the Democratic
and Republican National Conventions, a fresh team of young organizers
is turning conventional politics on
its head by launching Slam Bush (slambush.net), an innovative get-out-the-vote
campaign reaching out to the 20 million potential voters who can
bring change to the White House—the “hip-hop Generation.”
On July 22, 2004, in collaboration with an all-star collection of
venders, organizers and hip-hop individuals and groups, the League
of Independent Voters (indyvoter.org)
unveiled Slam Bush’s series of anti-Bush hip-hop “rhyme battle” contests,
where rappers and slam poets across the country can grab the mic and “debate
the President.” These live events, planned in swing state cities like
St. Louis, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Detroit, will set a stage for political
organizers
to register thousands of underground hip-hop fans and turn them out to vote
against Bush.
Dozens of hip-hop artists and institutions (including Chuck D of Public Enemy,
Wordsworth, Medusa, M1 of Dead Prez, Supernatural and Davey D, to name a few)
have signed on to the campaign. Leading the organizing efforts for Slam Bush
is veteran hip-hop activist Biko, founder of Contrabandit.com and LA’s
Rhyme Night.
“ Slam Bush is an opportunity for the hip-hop generation to use its own
voice to stand up against George W. Bush,” said Biko. “This election
is going to be as close as the 2000 election. A few thousand votes in Ohio
or Florida could make the difference. By activating even a small slice of the
20
million strong hip-hop generation, Slam Bush could make that difference.”
One winner will be chosen from each local slam to compete at the National Slam
Bush Championship, scheduled to coincide with the first presidential debate
on Thursday, September 30. While John Kerry and George W. Bush are debating
at the
University of Miami, street poets and rappers will be delivering hip-hop voters’ messages
to Miami’s streets. Contestants will be judged by a celebrity panel and
showcased in front of thousands of hip-hop fans. Rappers from cities without
local slam events will be able to submit their rhymes on the Slam Bush website.
The campaign will be produced by Free Range Graphics, an innovative strategy
and communications firm that made international headlines for creating the
most successful Flash advocacy ad in history, “The Meatrix” (themeatrix.com).
Free Range’s position as a leader in online campaigning and creative
political work makes them the perfect firm to produce Slam Bush.
“Slam Bush is about bringing a little street knowledge into the political
sphere,” Biko continued. “Bush’s policies, his war, his criminal
justice record, his tax cuts for the rich and service cuts for the poor, these
things disproportionately hurt young, urban Americans. If respected rappers
and street poets have the chance to explain that reality with language the
hip-hop
generation understands, there’s no doubt that regime change will come
to Washington.”
For more on Slam Bush, contact Celia Alario (310) 721-6517, Tate Hausman
(212) 932-0934.
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