Even though his presidential bid in Haiti failed to get off the ground, Wyclef Jean isn’t staying away from the world of politics. The Haitian-born founder of the Fugees is teaming up with the political action group Public Campaign Action Fund for a program called Campaign Money Watch. The group, which focuses on the issue of campaign and special interest spending among politicians, hopes Jean’s star power will help to attract youth and minority voters to the polls for this year’s midterm elections. ‘Clef even went as far in aiding the group as debuting a new song called “Election” for the group’s website.
“After a month of campaigning for president of Haiti and the first six months after the earthquake helping the country start rebuilding, I sat back and looked around,” said Jean. “What I saw and felt in the U.S., my second home country, with all the haters and money craziness in the campaigns, it almost puts the chaos of Haitian politics to shame, you know? It’s about making your voice heard. That’s what’s important, and I know that better than ever, so I want to reach the young people to remind them [of that].” (HuffingtonPost.com)
In other news, popular congac brand Hennessy has enlisted both Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest and ?uestlove of the Roots for their Blending of Arts series, in which both Hip Hop artist will work with a graphic artists from the Keystone Design Union to design custom bottle labels . Q-Tip joined forces with josh Vanover, b/k/a/ Spaceknuckle, to design a green-labeled bottle, while ?uestove collaborated with typographer and artist Aerosyn-Lex for an elaborate vinyl record-inspired label.
Both Q-Tip and ?uestlove’s custom designed labels can be found here.
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Finally, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni recently launched his rap career during a campaign rally called the National Resistance Movement Solidarity Concert. Following a performance by Ugandan rapper GNL Zamba, the 24-year incumbent president took the mic to perform a song. President Museveni told the audience that his verse was inspired by traditional Ugandan poetry and stressed that society must uphold their literary history.
“We need to keep our traditions intact, put our poems in your songs so that they are not forgotten,” said President Museveni. “We need those poems.”
The song on which President Museveni is featured can be found below.
