HRS News

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network,, along with The Hip-Hop Research and Education Fund, PowerPAC will launch of a national campaign to mobilize the hip-hop generation of youth voters.

There will be a statewide youth voter registration effort between March 18 – March 24, the deadline to register voters for the April 22 Pennsylvania primary. A variety of outreach will include hip-hop radio stations, artists, recording industry street teams, web and pod casts, social networks, blogs and grass roots organizing.

“We decided to draw the line, especially in Pennsylvania, to settle once and for all any question about the sustainability of the impact of the youth vote transforming the American political landscape,” declared HSAN former Chairman, Russell Simmons. “While there’s been much speculation, and in some instances outright denial, of the impact of the youth vote, we know the power and self expression of young people is growing. We want to celebrate that growth and encourage an even greater youth voter turnout.”

According to a press release, the 18-29 year old segment of the hip-hop generation will be nearly 50 million strong in 2008, making up one third of the electorate. Civicyouth.org reported that between the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections, youth voter turnout more than doubled.

“As a 22 year old, recent college graduate, I recognize that my home state of Pennsylvania has an opportunity to make a tremendous impact on this nation,” stated Philadelphia native, Lauren Goodwin. “Although I have been involved in the political process in the past, this is the first election that I have felt truly engaged and connected to the issues. More is at stake than ever before because of the current war in Iraq, disproportionate funding for public education and the economic future of the United States. Pennsylvania, stand up and join me and the millions of other young adults by registering to vote and making our voices heard on April 22!”

The online version of the Los Angeles Times released a controversial headline article today which resurrects the belief that Sean “Diddy” Combs was behind a 1994 assassination attempt on Tupac Shakur.

According to the Times, FBI records quote a confidential informant back in 2002 who said associates of Combs, including talent manager James “Jimmy Henchman” Rosemond and promoter James Sabatino, “set up the rapper Tupac Shakur to get shot at Quad Studios.”

The informant also said Sabatino had told him Shakur “had to be dealt with.”

Sabatino is now in prison for unrelated crimes.

The article goes on to say:

According to this information, Rosemond and Sabatino, infuriated by what they saw as Shakur’s insolent behavior, enticed him to the Quad by offering him $7,000 to provide a vocal track for a rap recording.

Three assailants — reputedly friends of Rosemond — were lying in wait. They were on orders to beat Shakur but not kill him and to make the incident look like a robbery, the sources said. They were told they could keep whatever jewelry or other valuables they could steal from Shakur and his entourage.

A member of Shakur’s posse cooperated with the rapper’s enemies, relaying their offer of a $7,000 payment and keeping them informed of his whereabouts on the night of the assault, according to the informant and the other sources.

Later today, Combs released the following official statement:

“This story is beyond ridiculous and is completely false. Neither Biggie nor I had any knowledge of any attack before, during, or after it happened. It is a complete lie to suggest that there was any involvement by Biggie or myself. I am shocked that the Los Angeles Times would be so irresponsible as to publish such a baseless and completely untrue story.”

As reported over 5 years ago, the LA Times also accused Notorious B.I.G. of later killing Shakur.