With election day creeping up in a few hours, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Sean Combs and Mary J. Blige took to the streets in Philadelphia as a last-minute campaign effort to encourage voters to take it to the polls tomorrow for Barack Obama.
In between performances just outside the city's historic Uptown Theater, the hip hop artists chatted with the 10,000 strong audience about the historic occasion. "Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama's running so we all can fly," Jay-Z told the crowd.
Diddy said, "I was too scared to say it because I thought I would be laughed at. It's a new day right now and my son is in fourth grade and when they ask him what he wants to be, now he can say he wants to be president of the United States. That's all because of Barack Obama."
And MJ said, "No more drama! It's time for Obama!" OK, she didn't, but in a perfect world, she would have!
Check out all 40+ photos from the Obama rally in Philadelphia in the gallery!
In between performances just outside the city's historic Uptown Theater, the hip hop artists chatted with the 10,000 strong audience about the historic occasion. "Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama's running so we all can fly," Jay-Z told the crowd.
Diddy said, "I was too scared to say it because I thought I would be laughed at. It's a new day right now and my son is in fourth grade and when they ask him what he wants to be, now he can say he wants to be president of the United States. That's all because of Barack Obama."
And MJ said, "No more drama! It's time for Obama!" OK, she didn't, but in a perfect world, she would have!
Check out all 40+ photos from the Obama rally in Philadelphia in the gallery!
Photo Credit: Getty Images | WENN
Website: www.gettyimages.com | photo.wenn.com
hailie says:
if this doesnt prove some people choose obama because of his skin color i dont know what does.
meagan says:
whoah you can see that camel toe from a mile away, yikes.
I.M.E.L.D.A says:
if your comments don't prove why we would I don't know what does.
whoah you can see the hate from a mile away. yikes.
My people don't be distracted.
say what? says:
hallie, it doesn't prove anything.
the majority of minorities vote democrat and have for YEARS.
this year, the dem nominee happens to be black. if it had been a white man (or woman), they'd probably have been supporting THAT candidate.
yes, there are some people who will vote for Obama because he's black, not because his plans would benefit them more than McCain's.
but I'd venture a guess that there are more people voting AGAINST Obama due to his skin color than are voting FOR him due to his skin color.
tho we'll probably never know.
Cat says:
WHOA!! Man not to sure about that shirt....well there goes our FREEDOM in our country!! Display on the stage there is bad for a celebrity showing off CAMEL TOES!
joan durtz says:
Hailie = typical white McCain voter. What a typical bigoted and ignorant thing to say.
ck says:
These hip hop stars have never been into the elections before, and the only reason they are into it now is because obama is black. They wouldn't have made such a fuss if it were a white person. Not saying bp only voted for obama bc he is black but if you have been able to vote for years and you are just now getting into the election then you most likely voted because of the candidate, not the issues. Beyonce and Puff have been famous for years and I've never seen them nor heard of them "rockin the vote before".Oh and no i am not a mccain voter. Just so ya know.Anyways it isn't a big deal since bp only make up a whole 13 percent of the nation. It took hispanic votes and white votes too and I don't think they voted bc of race.
Joan Durtz=bigger racist
Adam says:
I recall rock the vote, with celebrity involvement, beginning in the early 2000's. When Rock the Vote partnered with Russell Simmons’s 360HipHop to create Rap the Vote 2000, Sean Puffy, Bow wow etc really promoted voting among young people. I find it curious that you're JUST noticing this...now that Obama is President.
I also recall this level of excitement with the last democractic President "Bill Clinton", a white man.
Adam says:
I recall rock the vote, with celebrity involvement, beginning in the early 2000's. When Rock the Vote partnered with Russell Simmons’s 360HipHop to create Rap the Vote 2000, Sean Puffy, Bow wow etc really promoted voting among young people. I find it curious that you're JUST noticing this...now that Obama is President.
I also recall this level of excitement with the last democractic President "Bill Clinton", a white man.
Adam says:
Why are we really fighting guys? Is it because there is a black man in office. Is it really that big a deal? I personally just want to see economic, education, health care improvements. And as a prior military vet, i'd like to see our troops taken care of.