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FinalCall.com News
Entertainment News
The global moves of hip hop
By Jesse Muhammad
Staff Writer
Updated Sep 13, 2006 - 11:00:00 AM
UNITED NATIONS (FinalCall.com) - When many hear the words ‘hip hop,’ several views come to mind. Some see it as a negative force while others see it as a positive force for change. And certainly the United Nations (UN) agrees with the latter.
Recently, the CISRI-ISP Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations formerly inducted Dr. Benjamin Chavis Muhammad and Hasaun Muhammad as UN Goodwill Ambassadors, adding to the powerhouse list of hip hop artists, executives and influential leaders who are lending their voices in the fight for global change.
“This is a great honor and this appointment will enable us to make a positive change from the perspective of hip hop and the Millions More Movement (MMM),” stated Dr. Benjamin, president of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN). “This is part of the follow-through to the MMM and we are going to keep the spirit alive.”
Dr. Benjamin’s support of the hip hop culture dates back to the early ’80s when he used famed group Run-DMC in a get out to vote youth campaign.
“So many people criticize hip hop and negate the positive things that are being done. But by the UN Mission accepting the culture, it shows the power of hip hop,” offered Bro. Hasaun, who will serve as a Youth Ambassador. “The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan told us the power of the spoken word we have and now it is being brought into fruition.”
Both respected individuals were inducted as members of the team that focuses on fighting against severe malnutrition and poverty worldwide. The duties of the Mission outlined in the letter of appointment includes gathering the necessary financial resources to provide relief to emergency victims of calamities, through the use of micro-algae foods as an alternative low-cost protein source to rehabilitate severely malnourished victims from Least Developed Countries, Land-Locked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, who could otherwise not be possible to do so. Secondary to that assignment, the two will be apart of the Mission to end war and establish peace.
In his address during the ceremony, Dr. Benjamin spoke on how he will work to leverage the influence of the hip hop community to bring more attention to the global issue and interface with government leaders to galvanize political backing. Bro. Hasaun is working to increase youth involvement in the UN Mission. He has teamed with Grammy Award winning artist Wyclef Jean to produce a soon-to-be-aired Sha-Pa-Se!, a music video talk show for youth. It will be aired in Wyclef’s native land of Haiti and is projected to reach eight million viewers, which will give a platform to promote the UN initiatives. Other prominent hip hop and music stars solicited by the UN include Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye West, Ludacris, Doug E. Fresh, Ja Rule and Snoop Dogg.
