Obama In Music
This morning, I heard Nas’ brilliant track Black President off his new “untitled” album, and it made me begin to realize the massive cultural impact of Barack Obama. Barack Obama hasn’t just inspired Will.I.Am’s Yes We Can video, but a fairly substantial collection of tracks from a particularly influential group of artists all across the map musically.
House Music United – Yes We Can Obama’s entire Yes We Can speech over a gorgeous classic house track. Truly inspirational.
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Kidz in the Hall – Work to Do Kidz in the Hall are a Chicago-based group (formally on the new Rawkus Records). MC Naledge was one of Obama’s earliest musical supporters, so last December, he and producer Double-0 decided to release one of the first Obama support tracks. The Ivy-league educated duo (they met while at UPENN) followed this up in January with a remix featuring Bun B and Talib Kwelli.
Work To Do
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Work To Do (Remix feat. Bun B & Talib Kwelli)
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DJ Green Lantern – We Need Barack (feat. Mavado) Part of Green Lantern & Russell Simmons mixtape for Obama.
DJ Green Lantern – We Need Barack (feat. Mavado)
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Pete Rock – Obama for the People
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Nas – Black President (Produced by DJ Green Lantern)
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Bonus 80’s Throwback: Grandmaster Flash and Mellie Mel – Jesse (thx Falcon)



I am still a little skeptical of what Barack will actually be able to accomplish in the White House because of the politics that get in the way. This man is the stuff of dreams; he is not only the first major black candidate for the white house, but on the same note he encompasses many if not all of the hopes of the middle class and lower-middle class people that I am a part of, and that I love and respect. I hope that once he gets in office (and I know that he will), there won’t be too many obstacles for him to overcome for lack of supporters. I happen to be an active supporter, and I trust that the American people have had the wool lifted from before their eyes and support this wonderful man for who he is, the love that he has, and the ideals that he holds dear. Those ideals are all of ours, and they deserve the light of day, whether or not others believe the same. Understanding and love are the way to peace. Let them prevail.