Chicago rapper
Rhymefest will act as an international spokesman for Hip-Hop culture when he meets
with Conservative Party leader David Cameron in the United Kingdom this week.Rhymefest
will meet with Cameron at the House of Commons on Thursday (Oct. 19) to help change
the politician’s view of Hip-Hop music, according to UK daily The Sun. Cameron
criticized BBC’s Radio 1 during a British Society of Magazine Editors event last
June, accusing the station of playing music that "encourages people to carry
guns and knives."He
singled out the station’s Saturday night schedules, which includes DJ Tim Westwood’s
Hip-Hop show.Cameron’s
comments came during an outbreak of violence in the United Kingdom that claimed
various victims, including a 29-year-old policewoman and a 15-year-old schoolboy.
BBC’s
Radio 1 denied Cameron’s accusations and defended it’s programming stating the
station followed "strict producer guidelines that govern all of the output."In
August, Rhymefest responded in an open letter aimed at changing the Conservative
Party leader’s views of Hip-Hop music."My
challenge, is to ask that you sit down and have a cup of tea with me," Rhymefest
wrote. "In fact, let me come and perform for you. I am sure you will see
that rap music is more than murder music or knife culture."If
you truly believe this is a democracy then sit down and discuss with me the issues
that you see. And if you are correct, and your opinion of rap music is the same,
then we should come together with the community; rappers, politicians and radio
DJs, and have a wider discussion…because, Mr Cameron, this generalisation is
not all of us, it’s just a few bad apples that spoil the bunch…let’s
solve the problem of the rap community in a civilised way and in a way that music
can still be entertaining." Rhymefest
admitted he was surprised to learn Cameron had accepted his challenge to meet
and have a constructive conversation. "Whoever
thought that the power of the pen was truly mightier than the sword? Coming from
a ghetto on the South Side of Chicago, I know I didn’t," Rhymefest wrote
on his Myspace.com
blog. "Well, maybe now it’s time for me to accept my responsibility,
face my trial in life and take my place in history."According
to Rhymefest, reporters from MTV and the BBC will cover the meeting.