There is no secret that hip-hop has influenced every culture on earth since its conception. But now hip-hop has the chance to make real change as it tries to make its way into policy. From Uncle Luke to Rhymefest, Hip-Hop stars have attempted career moves into politics. Killer Mike may be the latest, starting right in his Atlanta, Georgia backyard.

Yesterday (June 15), the artist also known as Michael Render campaigned via Instagram to vote for him (as a write-in candidate) for District 55. “If I win, we win,” the Run The Jewels MC told followers.

The District 55 George State Representative seat was previously occupied by Rep. Tyrone Brooks. A Democrat, Brooks has served since 1980. According to a 2013 Atlanta Constitution-Journal report, “[Rep. Brooks] was charged in a 30-count indictment that includes charges of mail, wire and tax fraud. The indictment charges that, from the mid-1990s through 2012, Brooks solicited contributions from individuals and corporate donors to combat illiteracy and fund other charitable causes, but then used the money to pay personal expenses for himself and his family.”

In recent years, Mike has lectured at New York University and the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology. The Dungeon Family member spoke to students around race relations in America. Killer Mike has also been a guest on the Bill Maher show in which he talked about the influences of hip-hop on the world. However, is it possible that majority of the “white” world would see someone named “Killer Mike” as a threat to “their” world. Lets be honest, we have never seen anyone named “Killer” with any political power. Is hip-hop ready to use its power in politics and make real change in our community beyond the latest fashion?

I believe the time is now for us to leverage hip-hop for us and stop letting the government use it as a weapon to destroy us. Let it or not, some rappers are our unofficial leaders, whether they are conscious of it or not. It is time for hip-hop to make a positive change in our community.

Could Killer Mike make a smooth and active transition from music to politics?

Original Source: Read Here