"Wake Yo Game Up" Town Hall Event
How can and should hip-hop inspire listeners to get involved politically? On May 2, 2008 at the Oakland Museum of California, community members from across the Bay Area attended a town hall centered on that question. Sponsored by KQED, the Town Business Network and ITVS, the evening's discussion focused on how hip-hop can mobilize young voters, and how hip-hop artists and fans can bridge the perceived gap between politicians and the issues that concern local communities.
- Davey D, hip-hop historian, journalist, and D.J. (moderator)
- Eric K. Arnold, journalist for East Bay Express
- Sean Kennedy, owner of Moses Music in Oakland
- DLabrie, member of Hip Hop Congress
- Malika, MTV artist from Making the Band
Listen to select clips from the discussion:
|
Davey D asks how the value of civic participation can be instilled in our children. Malika and Sean Kennedy explain how their own parents taught them the importance of voting at an early age.
Listen: (4:52)
 Download MP3 (3.4 MB)
Right click or ctrl-click to save to disk
|
|
Davey D asks Eric Arnold how the popularity of hip-hop can translate into a higher voter turnout.
Listen: (2:43)
Download MP3 (6.2 MB)
Right click or ctrl-click to save to disk
|
|
Barack Obama likes hip-hop, says Davey D, and he's used some of hip-hop's most tried and true methodologies to attract people to his campaign.
Listen: (:43)
Download MP3 (528 KB)
Right click or ctrl-click to save to disk
|
|
Has hip-hop become too mainstream? How does a new hip-hop artist break into the business? And where do hip-hop fans find great hip-hop music that's below the radar? Eric Arnold's believes that the power of working on the grassroots level—as a politician and as an artist—can get you all the way to the top.
Listen: (2:59)
Download MP3 5.1 MB)
Right click or ctrl-click to save to disk
|
|
Once potential new voters have been reached, what's the next step? Eric Arnold stresses that registering is not enough—people have to make it to the polls. Oakland City Council member Desley Brooks emphasizes the importance of attending—and especially voicing opinions at—city council meetings and other local government events.
Listen: (4:54)
Download MP3 (3.4 MB)
Right click or ctrl-click to save to disk
|
|
the National Endowment for the Arts