nikisha
I think it's good that artists are making people aware of whats happening around us but it would not make me want to get invovled into politics .

Alex
UK hip hop has the right idea, its in it younger years and hasent been blinded by the masses yet, hopefuly they can carry on chating about real issues

Leonidas PicoUnion
People like Chuck D talk about heavy issues and one thought is that after the rise of P Diddy and his proteges hip hop has become like a business. But people like DeadPrez keep it real. From Montevideo, Uruguay. Respect.

Anon
"Power goes to one's head"...i think that says it all! I don't think that these rappers know how influential they CAN be, and if this influence is directed in such a way, it can benefit us all. Nas does talk a lot, trying to motivate the youth of America today, and this is where we must start too! The youth is our future, and we need to educate them, give them knowledge and teach them values so that we might live a better life!

Roshan
all i'm saying we need a leader in hip hop like the days of chuck d, providing us real knowledge not all that rubbish about sex and money. who cares about that? good luck to them and i'm happy for their success but a great man is judged by the quality of his mind, not by the size of his wallet.

Eddie
I vote inconsistently. Why? Because there are very few "voting" actions that can bring large scale change in the US. Local voting is critical to small community, vote local! Commericalism has exploited Hip-Hop like everything else. The bling bling and gun clappin happens, unfortunately the commerical money lenders knew it also and took the worst of the culture (again) and used it to bring down the main house.

t dubbs
All i'll say is that certain rappers like nas chat about political stuff and dont really know what they are on about and a lot of them jus jump on the bandwagon.

Muri Eren (3 Jungfrauen Hip Hop Network / Frankfur
If there is really a "getting more active" claim in US Hip Hop concerning political issues, this hasn´t been communicated to us European Hip Hop Activists up to now. What we are watching in European Music Television are "pimping" and "bling, blinging" US rappers who don´t even got a glimpse of politics in their video clips. Going back to our Hip Hop roots is an important thing. Power to the people.

Anwar Abdel-Aziz
It is essential for hip hop to represent the political sentiments of the black community. Too often these voices are ignored or pushed aside. The original expression of hip hop as an art form embraced the struggle of African Americans, representing pride, dignity, and empowerment. These important lessons have been abandoned by main stream hip hop, and pop culture. It is imperitive that the original uplifting direction of hip hop be restored to help solve, and deal with the problems facing America, and the world today.

Matthew
People are missing the point here. whilst MAINSTREAM hiphop remains ignorant and cash driven, just below the surface there are huge amounts of revolutionary groups. Dead Prez have long been actively involved. Non-phixion are also famous for their political stance. Likewise J-Live and MR. Lif were 2 of the few people to point out the numerous issues facing freedom post 9/11. revolutionary hiphop is NOT dead, it`s just underground. what people need to concentrate on is once again getting it into the mainstream....

nick
hip hop has 2 forms and functions art and entertainment. Entertainment fills the elevators and dentists offices. Art makes you think. Keep the Art and the politics will follow. Think!

Stephen
Why would I look to someone like Erykah Badu for political advice? Hip Hop is the worst example of waste in Western society. How can one thank God while wasting so much?

Satyavan Craydon
I believe hip hop is an incredible powerful and influential force. As many who are immersed in its culture know, hip hop is becoming more and more synonymous with politics. If you look as emcees such as Saul Williams, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, KRS One, Dead Prez and Chuck D, you can see in there lyrics that they put an immense amount of energy into the subject of social change. I think hip hop is losing much of its credibility from its exploitation by huge record companies and media outlets who only subject the stereotypical rapper to the masses and not underground artists who direct there lyrics with a more conscious intent. Hip hop not only is influencing listeners but it is also helping raise awareness to issues of great importance.

Logan
I have no interest in what these "stars" have to say. They seem to only voice an opinion based on what other “stars” are saying as opposed to researching information themselves. And the opinions they thrust on us via their overexposure on TV only seem to be those in style, those that are chic. (I won't EVEN go into how the majority of "stars" are practicing Scientologists, until Hollywood decides it’s no longer fashionable.) Hip hop “stars” should concern themselves with how their lyrics, videos, and “personas” are influencing young people. Young men treat women as if they were hookers and women perceive that acting like one is the way to get a man, and a person’s character and goodness is judged by how much bling they’ve got. So sure, “stars”, be political, and I realize you WILL influence many young people. But will it influence me? Nah, I don’t have time to waste listening to them – I’ve got research to do.

Phil
While it's heartening to hear so many hip hop stars talk about political change, the truth of the matter is that hip-hop is a billion-dolllar industry that continues to emphasize material acquisition and Donald Trump worship over social progress. The Public Enemy song you repeatedly played is a decade-plus old, and it didn't change the political landscape then... The reporter seemed too obsessed with his own street accent and with getting quotes from celebrities than asking the harder question of how the hip hop 'community' is influencing American politics, if in fact it actually is.

Paul
It is extremely important to vote and to vote your mind. For the longest time the biggest stage has been silenced by the aggression of the powers that be. Stars need to step it up and represent the people that support them, and people need to support those that represent properly. Through the efforts of MTV and many other organizations, young people have been voting in record numbers, but until we all take to heart the spirit of democracy, democracy will continue to fail.

Jaume
I think that in the future we will see more famous people entering into politics- film stars, rappers, writers, sportsmen etc. I'm looking forward to it because it is easier to trust someone who has had success outside of politics, but I think these people will soon realise that the world of politics is not as simple as they seem to naively believe. People like Michael Moore are very good at complaining about politics but would they actually be any good at running a country or anything for that matter. I fear not...

Nina
isn't mainstream hip-hop culture simply reinforcing the very same divisions within society it once raised its voice against? Who of the big guys in this culture does really care about engaging in making a difference towards social justice etc? In this respect, raising the voice within the hiphop culture is more than welcome and I believe it can have a big impact since too many folks here are simply more interested in having the 'right sneakers' than in asking critical questions. So: LETS GET INVOLVED!!

Max Richards
It doesn't matter what you do. Election results will be manipulated and the public once again will be ignored.

Amy Weideman
I believe that in today's media-driven world, pop icons or "stars" can have a great impact on people. In the US today, where public dissent is stifled, often with negative consequences, I take my hat off to anyone who has the courage to speak out for what they believe in.

It seems especially significant in a time when many of our great artists who could be making a difference have chosen to keep silent, putting their career and money ahead of their values and making a real difference in the world. I hope that documentaries like this one will encourage others. I believe art can help to change the world! PEACE! and POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

Chong Chung Fui
Is that not democracy all about? I think youg people these days should be more concerned with the welface of the government, as their future depends on them. Though the mistakes of politicians, they should learn and not repeat the same mistake twice, and make the world a better place to live.

Graeme Phillips
This documentary completely overestimates people power. Many Palestinians living in Israel are having families as large as possible, as they believe they will procure more power in the future. If they would look to their neighbour Syria, they would see the Christian population is more powerful because they're traditionally better educated, and so get better jobs. The power they have and the wealth they control is far in excess of the proportion of the population they account for. The conclusion is that being numerous doesn't make you powerful; having powerful jobs does.

anon
If you are inspired by "stars" then no wonder the U.S. is in such a state.

haqsta
i definitely think that hip-hop/rap/hip-pop (whateva u call it) can make a difference. western societies (including the uk) are home to disenfranchised youth where kids listen more to rappers than politicians. it's so unfortunate a significant portion of rappers don’t realise (or don’t care about) the extent to which their lyrics/actions impact young people. urban communities are plagued with many problems including drugs and violence. many rappers rite now are indirectly exacerbating these problems with their lyrical content that is often obsessively centred around all things material (bling, whip, rims, etc). rappers wake up!!!!!!

jacob staff
I am too poor to record, too upset to be quiet. Here's a little verse as to why: Because them old boys, on good old Capitol Hill got their war toys set on maximum kill and you've got no choice, but to comply or be still. You will hear "our" voice or your blood will be spilled. While some Rolls Royce, parked up in Beverly Hills is making bold ploys to get the licensing deals to let our war boys be on CNN as they thrill, reality show boys - you're the stars - Licence To Kill from Devil's Advocate, as yet unreleased. I rap for free, for democracy's sake. PS Thank you Russell, for keeping grass roots hope alive.

rachel
Throughout history it has been shown that when enough people come together and start shouting for change then it can and will happen. However, having stars only asking asking for change won't necessarily mean that it will happen. But it may start a tidal wave that results in its success eventually.

Adriana
I believe the more educated we are, the better we can tell right from wrong. People power can bring change as long as it doesn't involve physical violence. No matter which role we play in society, everyone is able to press the people around to act honestly. I believe in the power of individuals: individual minds that think on their own for the benefit of all, that makes people's power indestructible.