Rhymefest Vs. Lupe For The Democratic Nomination

Last week, I highlighted some recent comments that Lupe Fiasco had made regarding Barack Obama, and how he felt Hillary Clinton was the better choice, particularly because of the impact electing a woman President would make. What I failed to do, mostly because I wanted to stay away from criticizing Lupe for his stance on policy, was note that he’d also said about Obama, “It’s not a shot at him but some of his agendas, the bombing of Iran and all that stuff.”

Well, fellow Chicago MC Rhymefest, who recently released a brilliant Michael Jackson-inspired mixtape, Man In The Mirror, took some exception to what Lupe said and released a statement via his blog on his myspace page. It went something like this:

Recently, a prominent Hip-Hop website asked an artist who they supported in the 2008 presidential primaries. Shockingly, their response was Hillary Clinton. Now, I’m not one to judge a person’s political, religious or [even] artistic views; however, the reasons that this artist gave were so fucking erroneous and outrageous that it compels me to speak out, even if only to give fans the right information so that we are not following uninformed-ass rappers down the hole of ‘abstract nothingness.’

First of all, the facts:
Barack Obama has stated he is not opposed to military action against Iran if they were persistent in their ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons; weapons being the operative word. However, he also states that as president, he plans to talk to Iran without preconditions about certain assurances in the context of them showing some good faith, as well. Barack Obama stated “I think it is important for us to send a signal that we are not hell-bent on regime change, just for the sake of regime change, but expect changes in behavior. And there are both carrots and there are sticks available to them for those changes in behavior.” This clearly does not describe the agenda of a candidate who supports ‘the bombing of Iran and all that stuff.’

I would be very interested to know if this particular artist even knows what Hillary Clinton’s position is pertaining to military action against Iran; and, no, I’m not giving him the answer.

Barack Obama being the only Black senator from Illinois automatically gives me a sense of pride and appreciation for his journey. Of course, for America to be flipped on its axis with a qualified woman president would be a significant milestone in this chapter of our country’s history. But, I fail to see how a qualified Black man as president wouldn’t be just as significant a milestone. Please, to all artists who dare to speak on political issues in this election: understand that Barack Obama won the Iowa caucus by inspiring more young people and women to vote than any previous presidential candidate. How could it not be impressive to see the new Bobby Kennedy of our day in the White House?

That spiraled into an Okayplayer message board discussion , where Lupe and Rhymefest went back and forth, each posting thought-provoking arguments for both sides. Fest posted in its entirety on his myspace blog again.

The jist of the whole argument? Rhymefest supports Barack Obama. Lupe doesn’t support the system at all, but thinks Hillary is the better choice. They both, wholeheartedly, believe in and give all praises due to God.

The End.

Related Posts: According To Hip-Hop, Obama Will Win The Democratic Nomination, NEW MUSIC: Lupe Fiasco ft. Young Jeezy and TI- “Superstar” Remix, Bun B Speaks On Pimp C, More Retirement Talk From Lupe, Lupe To Quit Rap And Become An Author

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