On the one hand, it's pretty clear that so far as there is a hip-hop candidate, it's Barack Obama, simply because he asks for applause by saying "give it up," and I have it on very good authority that he once walked into his campaign office and said "Obama in the house." On the other hand, I think this piece sort of redefines hip-hop to make it fit Barack Obama, and crosses out huge swaths of the form that don't really fit Obama's message. But that's sort of neither here nor there. Obama still bounds on-stage to the power chords of U2. The real question for hip-hop is when some presidential candidate will finally step onto the podium to the snare drum and jazz beats of some actual hip-hop. For that matter, what song could even work as the first hip-hop campaign theme? It needs somewhat vague lyrics -- a particular deficiency for hip-hop so far as campaign music goes -- a rousing, horn-heavy beat, and a fairly uncontroversial author. Where's Will Smith when you need him? And how come no one uses older soul? I'd think Sly and the Family Stone would be pretty awesome campaign music, and they're definitely deep enough in the common culture to escape scrutiny. Update: In comments, Fred App notes, "Obama's music includes Curtis Mayfield, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers and Jackie Wilson. That soul's not old enough for you?" Fair point. Mayfield, by the way, is more hip-hop than hip-hop, at least so far as I'm concerned, so I think Obama has done his duty here.
