Hip-Hop has traditionally been used as an agent for political change, but the music has taken form in Iran as the country is in turmoil over the recent presidential election.

Iranian-based sources with AllHipHop.com have revealed that many of the protest riots over the controversial reelection of have been partly organized by Hip-Hop artists.

“Hip-Hoppers -the new breed of Iranian musicians – are the ones who are doing a lot of the organizing of protests,” said a source that requested anonymity.

The source stated that rappers have responded to governmental moves through their music.

“Cellphones and text messaging as well as internet in Iran has been cut off in the government’s attempt to curb communication between the youth so the rappers are making songs,” the source continued. “[Rappers are] telling and passing out [information] telling people where to go and meet and the issues going on. Its becoming the music of the revolution.”

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won last Friday’s presidential election decisively, but masses and masses of Iranian demonstrators have publicly opposed the victory. Protesters have accused the government of massive vote fraud and used signage such as “Where is my vote?” to present a unified message of opposition.

Wednesday marked the fifth day or protest.

This is Iran’s 10th presidential election.

Hichkas – “Bunch of Soliders”

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Baltimore, Maryland has become the first city to sign a “proclamation document” announcing June as National Basketball and Hip-Hop Culture Month.

Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) signed the proclamation earlier this week in Baltimore.

The recognition was spearheaded by Derrick E. Vaughan, founder of the non-profit organization that bears the title as the newly christened month (NBHHCM).

“It’s an honor and a privilege to have this Proclamation document for the past, present, and future individuals who have been and will be influenced by the fusion of hoops and Hip-Hop,” said Vaughan to AllHipHop.com in a prepared statement. “The recognition is historic for this generation.”

Vaughan’s organization prides itself on promoting the “history, legacy, and future of the hoops and Hip-Hop culture fusion in America.”

They reference 1984 as the beginning of the Hip-Hop-basketball fusion , citing the mix of basketball stars Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Hip-Hop’s emergence into the mainstream.

Baltimore and the NBHHCM kicked off this month with a June 1 “Tip-Off” celebration, the event was held downtown and featured rap, breaking, and graffiti performances from local acts B-Morsell, Raw Ned, Nitrus, and Butchie Mears.

Afterward, Mears’ artwork was dedicated to the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of African American History and Culture. Rapper B-Morsell, AKA the Dunkadelic MC, created the first Hip-Hop song inspired by the event entitled “Dunkadelic TV Rap.”

Derrick Vaughan is hopeful news of the event’s success will spread, and prompt other cities will sign on to give their own unique interpretations.

“June is the perfect month for rappers to release songs for the Summer,” he stated. “I hope to see more songs dedicated to the hoops and Hip-Hop culture in the future.”

For more information on the National Basketball and Hip-Hop Culture Month, visit www.NBHHCM.org.

Snoop Dogg has signed on to help raise money for a $140 million dollar youth center in one of Long Beach’s poorest neighborhoods.

Snoop, a native of Long Beach, is recording a song to donate proceeds to The Kroc Center, a new facility run by The Salvation Army.

The Kroc will sit on 19 acres of land and will include a two-story, 84,000 square-foot recreation center with a gymnasium, a fitness center, gardening areas, walking trails, pools and other facilities to train future athletes and Olympians.

Snoop Dogg will record a track with all of the proceeds – an estimated $5 million dollars – going towards the facility.

Professional football player Willie McGinest has also signed on to promote the center’s endeavors and recently made a sizeable donation.