Las Vegas and hip-hop have been under the national microscope for the past few months—from Sheriff Bill Young's crusade to ban rap to Mayor Oscar Goodman's comments about removing the thumbs of graffiti artists to more recent acts of youth violence and shootings by Metro officers. Many people wondered if these tensions could no longer be stored away behind the city's attractive neon lighting. And it raises a question: "Who is really going to pay attention to the hip-hop generation?"
The NAACP, ACLU and multiple other organizations can't focus solely on these youths. But recently the Las Vegas Local Organizing Committee of the National Hip Hop Political Convention began taking a hands-on approach. It put together a benefit concert against the genocide in Sudan, held a panel discussion regarding Young's hip-hop stance and put together a concert titled "Impeach the Sheriff." But the committee is merely a splinter group of a much larger organization, which has committees in more than 20 cities, dedicated to political power within hip-hop culture.
A few weeks ago, these organizations convened in Chicago for the 2006 National Hip Hop Political Convention—discussions, workshops, training, presentations, films, concerts and other events that address pressing political issues around the globe. Among many other issues, attendees spoke passionately about changing hip-hop's negative image—which Young used as a catalyst for his agenda—and the need for youths to shed the thug image to avoid police harassment. The point was driven home that a progressive hip-hop culture also exists and cannot be lumped in with the gangsta culture.
After workshops on building organizations, web organizing, electoral politics, power mapping, arts-based organizing and nonviolent strategies, plus panels on political prisoners (moderated by Las Vegas' own Troy Nkrumah), media justice, criminal justice and economic competition, the convention wrapped with a town hall-style meeting to discuss nationwide issues. Las Vegas activists were recognized—possibly even enough to land the 2008 convention. While these are the first steps in changing hip-hop culture, one has to believe that, with the networking of activists, pioneers, legends, media reps and others, there is a revolution brewing—here and in the rest of the world.