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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Presidential hopeful Barack Obama listens to hip-hop, knows many of the genre's moguls, such as Jay-Z, Russell Simmons and rapper Ludacris, admires their business acumen and has been endorsed by them.

That support could be a blessing for the 47-year-old Democratic candidate as he appeals to young voters.

Or it could be a curse, with links to hip-hop's "gangsta" image and offering ammunition for the supporters of Republican rival U.S. Sen. John McCain.

"Hip-hop's public image makes it a hot potato," said Bakari Kitwana, of the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago. "People don't know what it is so they equate it with hyper-sexuality, violence and drug culture."

"People on the right can always say this doesn't represent family values and they can make these negative associations with hip-hop that then Barack or any other candidate is put in a position to defend," said Kitwana, who is publishing a book in September on organizing a hip-hop voting bloc.

Hip-hop music began in New York's South Bronx in 1970s and has grown into an industry worth billions of dollars with mass appeal beyond its black and Hispanic roots.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080809/...tics_hiphop_dc

Chopz504

it is what it is

Chopz504

hiphop stands on its on. people gon buy it regardless

maefz

real talk.