I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]
An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.
Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.
Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.
One thing Barack Obama isn’t lacking is high-profile endorsements. As recently as this weekend, he picked up a big one from the Republican former Secretary of State Colin Powell. But for a campaign like Obama’s, which is putting a lot of eggs in the basket of young voters, perhaps one of his most crucial supporters isn’t from the Washington arena at all.
Consider the mogul Shawn Corey Carter, aka Jay-Z, known to many as the rapper with “99 problems” who told us to “Brush the dirt of ya shoulder” and has boasted of himself as “the best rapper alive.” He may also be known to many as the reigning king of hip-hop.
Just dig a little deeper in the resume of Mr. Carter and you’ll see why. As CEO of the wildly popular Def Jam Records, co-owner of the New Jersey Nets, owner of the internationally successful Roca Wear clothing empire, he has single-handedly shaped many aspects of the hip-hop music and culture, taking the flashy urban appeal to the root of the fashion industry.
Earlier this month, the rapper/businessman gave a free concert in Detroit for Obama at Cobo Hall.
Let’s not forget, either, that in his personal life he’s managed to pair up with hottest R&B singer of her time, Beyonce Knowles, making him the most envied and respected man in hip-hop.
Jay-Z has got youngsters, black and white, looking to him as their role model. So why would he stop at politics? Let’s face it: Jay-Z is powerful voice to young people. If he says something’s cool, then you better believe it’s “hot” the next day.
Take, for example, the button-down shirt. All Jay-Z had to do was start wearing button-downs instead of the commonly oversized baggy T-shirt that hip-hoppers made a must-have. Now, when you go to a club or hip-hop show, don’t be surprised if you see young men in suits and button-downs and maybe even a nice hat.
So, if young hip-hop fans are surfing YouTube and they see Jay-Z saying: “Don’t forget to vote. November 4th. Barack Obama for President,” are they going to listen? Ask any young person with a taste for hip-hop.
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