By Bill Heinzelman
On November 4, 2008, citizens from across the nation will head to the polls to determine the 44th President of the United States of America. This election, more than ever, holds a special place in the hip-hop community as Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, looks to become to the first African American President. Artists from across the spectrum of hip-hop, such as The Game, Killer Mike, Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, Fat Joe and Nas, have recorded tribute songs and voiced their support for Obama. Never before has hip-hop community been so intertwined and engaged with a presidential election. But politics in hip-hop is not a new phenomenon. In the late '80s artists such as Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, Ice Cube, and X-Clan all ushered in the Black consciousness movement, pushing politics and social issues to the front of the hip-hop scene. It's only now, unfortunately, that politics has remerged as a vocal point. With that being said, it's only right for UGO.com to profile the Top 11 Political Hip-Hop Artists. This list is comprised of artists from today's generation as well as from hip-hop early days in the late '80s.
