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(AllHipHop News) Rap pioneer and human beat boxer Biz Markie has signed on for the Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Bus tour, which kicks off today (February 18) in New Orleans.

The Hip Hop Caucus teamed with The Alliance for Climate Protection’s Repower America campaign to coordinate the tour, which will also feature appearances by D. Woods, actress Gloria Reuben and EPA Administrator, Lisa Jackson.

The tour’s goal is to further encourage various urban communities to call on local politicians to support a clean energy economy.

The tour, which also includes round tables on college campuses and community rallies, will make stop sin Little Rock, Columbia, Missouri, Washington DC and other markets.

“The Hip Hop Caucus Clean Energy Now! Tour will amplify and unite the voices of young people, African Americans, the Hip Hop community, and the faith community, around the critical need for clean energy jobs now and a clean energy future for our country,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., President of the Hip Hop Caucus. “We are excited to work with the Alliance for Climate Protection and numerous national and local partners on this historic effort. We anticipate this tour will go a long way to educate and mobilize communities for a brighter future through policy that will reduce poverty and pollution at the same time.”

According to studies, investments into clean energy could produce up to as many as 1.9 million new jobs, in addition to lowering energy bills for low income families, as well as pollution.

“The clean energy choices we make today will have a profound impact on the environment of our young people and communities of color — the very people this tour is bringing together and the voices we need to hear,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “We’re going out and meeting people where they live, work and learn to talk about how we create clean energy jobs, protect our planet, and break our dependence on foreign oil.”

Tour dates and cities are listed below:

Little Rock, AR: Friday, February 19 Columbia, MO: Saturday, February 20 Indianapolis, IN: Sunday & Monday, February 21-22 Bloomington, IN: Monday, February 22 Columbus, OH: Tuesday, February 23 Washington, DC: Tuesday-Wednesday, February 23-24