WBEZ Chicago

Rap Sessions: Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama/Tea Party Era, Featuring Special Guest Chuck D

For the sixth year, the Institute partners with Rap Sessions: Community Dialogues on Hip-Hop to bring a distinguished panel of scholars, journalists, and activists for a townhall-style meeting addressing important issues in our communities. Rap Sessions is led by critically-acclaimed journalist, activist, political analyst, and Institute Fellow Bakari Kitwana

This year's panel explores the ways the election of Obama, the emergence of the Tea Party, and the shifting national political landscape has both strengthened and diminished hip-hop's effectiveness at galvanizing youth. 
 
Panelists include: Chuck D, hip-hop activist, entrepenuer, producer, and MC; Rob "Biko" Baker, executive director of The League of Young Voters; Rosa Clemente, community organizer and journalist; Laura S. Washington, columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and political analyst for ABC-7 Chicago; and Jasiri X, independent hip-hop artist.

Click here to listen to the discussion at WBEZ.org