The Hot Sheet

Hip Hop and Civic Engagement

We at the PA League have always believed that hip hop culture can be an excellent way to introduce people who are not deeply engaged to political thinking. When I was a kid we listened to Public Enemy, in this past year even Young Jeezy, not known for his political outspokenness, brought us a track about politics and hosted an inauguration party.

Starting last year our sister org, the PA League’s Education Fund,has been the fiscal sponsor for the MC competition Rhyme Calisthenics to help advance the connection between rap music and civic engagement, visited hip hop shows all over, including of rapper and activist Immortal Technique, and participated in the Hip Hop Caucus. Nothing we did with hip-hop, however, reached the heights of Pittsburgh’s Mayor after the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh reporter and blogger Bob Mayo:

This shot of his honor flashing a sign with rap superstar Snoop Dogg is from Snoop’s own Flickr stream — snapped at Snoop Dogg’s exclusive post-game Super Bowl victory party in Tampa. Super Steelers were there, partying too. (The photo also appears on Snoop Dogg’s website.)

I hope we can assume that they spent the evening discussing how popular rap music can be used to increase youth engagement with civic process. Or, you know, sipping on gin and juice.