“It is incumbent on us to get youth involved in this historical election, as we must maintain the responsibility that our ancestors fought and died for n the right to vote,” said James Muhammad, co-founder and associate director of Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program.
“But it is also imperative that such a right not just be given away for the sake of voting, that we are informed and receive voter education.”
Dynasty, which is also part of A Call To Oneness, is working to reach 10,000 voter volunteers for the Nov. 4 Election Day. Missouri is considered a must-win battleground state in the presidential race.
Dynasty recently teamed up with A Call To Oneness, Hot 104.1 and 100 Black Men to register voters and provide voter information to the community.
“I am not voting age, but Dynasty has told us about a lot of issues effecting us as a people n violence, AIDS, a lot of stuff,” said Shaquan Ashe, a member of Dynasty and a student at Beaumont High School.
“It’s the same with voting, so that’s why we got involved n to help people understand, through our music, through getting out in these streets.”
When asked by Hot 104.1’s Boogie D, why she is involved when she cannot vote, Dynasty student Jessica “Jessie J” said, “What we do now effects us tomorrow, so we have to try to reach people.”
Last weekend the youth of Dynasty worked side by side with entertainment mogul Eric Rhone, cofounder of A Call To Oneness. Then the youth went to offices of Derrty Ent., where they record music on a weekly basis.
“They are learning from the best in all areas of the entertainment industry,” said James Muhammad.
He mentioned Nelly, the St. Lunatics, Derrty Ent., Hot 104.1, The Beat, The Trak Starz, and now Eric Rhone.
“These are examples showing them that with power and success come a responsibility to your community and its wellbeing,” Muhammad said.
In its early days, hip-hop addressed the disparities of inner-city communities, through songs like “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, or Afrika Bambaataa’s movement, the Universal Zulu Nation, which stopped conflicts with warring street gangs through hip-hop.
Let us not forget KRS One’s Stop The Violence Movement, Michael Concepcion’s We All In The Same Gang movement and, today, Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, which was birthed from the efforts of The Hon. Min. Louis Farrakhan’s activity of bringing the hip-hop nation together.
Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program is part of the Millions More Movement (derived from the Million Man March), as well as a non-profit corporation which focuses on getting youth into positive activity through hip-hop. Dynasty has stopped conflicts among youth in the streets, recovered high school dropouts for schools, as well as prepare youth for professional music industry standards.
A Call To Oneness is staging a rally to galvanize voters just two days before the election at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2 at Kiener Plaza. Organizers will also work the rally to continue their goal of amassing 10,000 volunteers to increase voter participation. For more info, call 877-662-4264. Dynasty Hip-Hop Inc. Mentoring Program’s main meeting is at the office of 100 Black Men on Wednesdays from 4:30-6 p.m. For info call 314-335-0421 or 243-4722.
