Washington, D.C. - Picture this: On March 25, you walk into Dream. Dream is Washington, D.C.'s biggest hip-hop club, replete with four floors, VIP suites and numerous bars. Dream always brings in big acts and huge, scantily dressed crowds. Last week the Young Gunz performed, and Method Man worked the stage. But tonight is a night like no other. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will be in attendance and may perform. The same goes for Q-Tip. DJ Biz Markie is manning the ones-and-twos as you make your way inside. It is truly an All-Star night at Dream, and the $50 you dropped on your ticket was well worth it.
But the fun doesn't stop there. Suddenly Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe is in front of you. You holla at him and nod to his boys before you pass by. As you weave through the crowded dance floor, a Georgia drawl suddenly comes through the massive speakers.
Thinking, "No way Andre 3000 and Big Boi are here," you look up to the stage. But in front of Biz Markie is no member of Outkast, but former President of the United States Jimmy Carter. The crowd is getting into it, giving Jim-E C. mad props as he flips crazy freestyle rhymes.
Jim-E C. finishes up his set and replaces Biz Markie at the turntables. The crowd is getting crunk as he scratches through Nas, Biggie Smalls, 50 Cent and, as a tribute to his homies, OutKast. But just as he fades into "Rosa Parks," out steps "the first black President," sporting Harlem's finest bling and spitting rhymes into the mike.
MC Slick Willie Clinton's appearance sends the crowd into a frenzy, and you find yourself crushed towards the stage. The stampede only grows as the normally corpse-like John Kerry grabs a mike and begins to battle Clinton, and you feel the last of the air leave your lungs when "The Reverend" joins them and Dennis Kucinich starts breakdancing while Jim-E C. scratches furiously. It is one of the greatest moments in hip-hop. Or politics. Or something.
Now I admit, this match-up seems about as strange as this Iowa boy trying to write about hip-hop as though he is a part of it. But unlike me, these hip-hop stars and these legendary Democrats are not faking it. While Bill Clinton may not start rapping, he, Terry McAuliffe, Jimmy Carter and, supposedly, the whole field of Democratic candidates will actually be at Dream on March 25. P. Diddy, Q. Tip and Biz Markie will really be there too. Tickets really are $50.
It is an official fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee, and Democrats see it as a chance to get youth and minorities involved with the party and involved with making donations. It will actually be Clinton's second (public) appearance at Dream, the first having been at the first "Young Democrats United." The fundraiser/concert/party will run until 2 a.m. and features an open bar and a buffet. I have no idea what the balance will be like between consuming alcohol, dancing, platform development and grassroots organizing, but I hope to check it out.
Politicians and Hollywood celebrities now often intermingle, and Democrats can find many of their big donors on movie sets. Musicians have also been getting heavily involved with the Democratic Party. This was perhaps most noticeable in the recent primaries, with various stars endorsing candidates. Madonna stumped for Wesley Clark, and Coldplay's Chris Martin endorsed John Kerry in his Grammy acceptance speech.
Until recently, though, the connection between hip-hop and politics has been less visible. This could be because the connection is ignored by mainstream media outside of the occasional article on Russell Simmons, but it remains true.
This fundraiser, though, could be the beginning of a new relationship with benefits for both sides. Hip-hop has been a refuge for those ignored and discriminated against by a larger society. If Democrats recognize the hip-hop community as a strong potential constituent, it could lead to greater visibility of and a new addressing of urban concerns in both heterogenous and homogenous communities.
Making hip-hop a political issue could bring greater attention to hip-hop culture, and perhaps the current emphasis on its more violent elements will end. Perhaps more thoughtful, positive, or politically and socially concerned members, such as Mos Def, Jurassic 5 and Jonzi-D will be more widely acknowledged.
In return, Democrats may gain access to the massive amounts of money associated with many rap stars. But more importantly, they may stop taking the urban vote and the black vote for granted. As more city-dwellers and minorities get involved with party activities, they can influence its direction and point the party towards a number of issues it seems to have forgotten. That would be a win-win for both the Democratic Party and the country. As would seeing Bill and Hillary getting freaky-deaky on the Dream danc floor.
Rob Sand '05.5 is spending this semester backup dancing for Iowa's Tom-izzle Hark-nizzle.
