By Roman Wolfe
Business mogul and political activist Russell Simmons has assembled an all-star cast of rappers, who will launch the National Hip-Hop Team Vote 2008 campaign in Philadelphia on April 20.
Rappers like Styles P., Mike Jones, Webbie, Lil Boosie, Rich Boy, Lil X, Flo-Rida, singer Chrisette Michelle, BET's Rocsi and Terrence J. and Reggaeton singer Alexis y Fido will encourage youth to vote during the important Pennsylvania primary, which takes place on April 22.
The event is sponsored by the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), The Hip-Hop Research and Education Fund (HREF), PowerPAC and Voto Latino. Simmons will join the rappers and local activists, who will speak to young adults about the importance of voting and participating in all phases of the presidential elections.
"The fact is that even in this struggling economy the rich have put more distance between them and the poor," Simmons told AllHipHop.com. "The fact is that young people have more compassion and vision, while the old people have built this mess and don't have the collective faith that they can make a real change. I believe We need the hip hop community to pick this next president. And I have faith that they will. Pennsylvania is where we start to prove that."
Obama and Clinton will debate each other in Philadelphia this Wednesday (April 16), in hopes on winning the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.
Currently, Obama leads Clinton in the popular vote, nominating victories and elected delegates, while Clinton has a narrow lead in Pennsylvania.
"The turn out of the vote for the April 22 Pennsylvania presidential primary is both an opportunity and a responsibility for the Hip-Hop community to be the key decisive factor in determining the next President of the United States," HSAN CEO and President Dr. Ben Chavis told AllHipHop.com.
The event, which is free and open to the public, starts at 1:00 PM and takes place at Temple University's Liacouras Center Arena.
"Hip-Hop changes history by transforming the boundaries of the past and unleashing the power of a hip-hop vision and action for a better America and a better world that ends poverty, war and injustice," Dr. Chavis said.