I pledge allegiance…

em points to audience left... his right...

Let this be one of the million points of light as the new Eminem video for “Mosh” burns across the blogs, the chat-rooms, and ‘the internets’…
It’s amazing that the imagery of hooded youth lining up to register to vote can have such a revolutionary tone but it truly makes images of smashing icons, burning effigies, and toppling statues seem rather tired. I thought that Big Boi plugging “Fahrenheit 9/11” on the BET Awards was going to be the peak of hip-hop joining politics this year… but then Angie Martinez (of the hugely popular and mainstream radio station Hot 97) took a bunch of her listeners to the Moore flick out of her own pocket and sense of activism… then the ‘Vote or Die’ registration push surged, which is admirable, although the presentation of issues that matter to these new voters has not been presented in an exciting or relevant way. Although the Eminem song/video is light on specific details it is pulsing with a passionate call to arms… to pull levers! Or tap screens! Or punch chads? The flat graphic of Ipod-sillhouette hoodies stomping through video-game rendered streets with an animated Lloyd Banks, a high-contrast Marshall and a stand-out soldier, should be sent to every young voter in the swing states.
I though LL was gangsta when he slipped a FUBU plug into a GAP commercial but the most ‘hip-hop’ move I’ve ever witnessed is an album promotion disguised as revolution… which really doesn’t bother me if the job gets done… but let’s hope it’s the other way around.
Could MTV dare to NOT run the latest from the record industry darling? If it was any other artist I would say they could… But even if they don’t run it, it will get to the audience…thank Gore for the internets…
One question: When Em chants “Carry on! Give me hope! Give me strength!” don’t you think his rhyme book has it scrawled “Kerry on!”…?
C’mon kids…put on your hoody, get your swag on and stomp to the booth November 2nd.

( Charge it to Pop Life who credits Hua Hsu )