NEWS - Texas Southern University

NEWSPolitics of a New GenerationHip-Hop Summit HighlightsResponsibility and Voting RightsHip-hop glitterati turned civic activists flooded TSU’s H&PE ArenaSuper Bowl weekend to preach accountability and social consciousness.The Houston Hip-Hop Summit, held January 31, got underway at 11:00 a.m.and carried the theme ‘Taking BackResponsibility: Youth Economic andPolitical Empowerment.’ The event,a concept brought to fruition by theHip-Hop Action Network, featuredopening remarks by network presidentDr. Benjamin Chavis, and aplethora of music and sports figuresadvocating fiscal responsibility, governmentalchange and the power andimportance of exercising the right tovote.The list of panelists reads, perhaps,like a hybrid of The Sourcemagazine and Black Enterprise…multi-million dollar artists, new andold, such as George Clinton, DougE. Fresh and Reverend Run, and rappersDavid Banner and Tigger, shared the stage with activists like Chavis andJesse Jackson. Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Records as well asthe Hip-Hop Action Network, fielded the majority of audience questions,conveying his passion for youth empowerment. Questions covered a rangeof topics, but one that moved the panel to heated discussion was a queryregarding lyrical content and artist accountability.“The language of rap is coded, and sometimes misunderstood,” Simmonstold the audience. Lyrics are a reflection of personal truths, he continued,and “you must choose what’s good in that truth for you.” Rap artist DavidBanner weighed in as well. Kids growing up in the street relate to adults indifferent ways and respond to different stimuli, he said. “We need new ageleaders to talk to these new age kids,” he held.In addition to lyricists and musicians, the stage was also cluttered with anarray of NFL athletes and politicians. State and U.S. Reps. Al Edwards andSheila Jackson Lee, fixtures at many TSU events, were present, along withParticipants in the Hip Hop Summit include, from left, Def Jam Recordsco-founder Russell Simmons, activist Jesse Jackson, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters,R&B artist Beyonce’ and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.GENERATIONS OF PRIDE • Summer 2004 29