In the 90s, we associated rappers and politicians with completely different sides of the spectrum. No one could ever see these two parties coming together. Until now, who would have thought that President Barak Obama was friends with American gangster Shawn Carter or known by his stage name Jay-Z. Two completely different people with different professions, backgrounds, knowledge, and power hanging out and laughing together. It was the beginning of the “change and hope” (Murray Forman) that Obama was seeking. But it took us a while to make this transition. Hip-hop wasn't the same thing it used to be, where it was just about free speech, anti-man and anti-white power speeches. Rap was vulgar, explicit and violent in the late 80s and early 90s. Public Enemy appeared around this time, "1989 was indeed another year in a long struggle for equality for African Americans » and Public Enemy wanted to make a statement. They attacked the political powers of the government not with violence and weapons, but with music and words. The hit song “Fight the Power” was about racism and civil rights leaders. Public Enemy wasn't like today's rappers who only sang about women, money and drugs. Public Enemy focuses on the political aspects and emphasizes their black community. This was the beginning of the hip-hop and political movement. Over the years, hip-hop has become involved and become universal in daily life. Here you'll hear presidents, senators, Republicans and Democrats talk about their favorite rappers and the songs they hear. When the president was asked if he liked hip-hop music, he responded, “I have to admit, lately I've been listening to a lot of Jay-Z. This new album 'American Gangster' ...... middle of paper ...... search for hip-hop authenticity. " University of Pennsylvania Year (2007): n. pag. Web. November 13, 2013. Forman, Murray. "American Studies Journal". Conscious Hip-Hop, Change and the Obama Era, nd Web, November 13, 2013. O 'Neal, Adam. "Hip-hop gains bipartisan support from Poles. RealClearPolitics. "Hip-hop gains bipartisan support from Poles. RealClearPolitics. Np, October 22, 2013. Web. November 19, 2013. Hughes, DANA. "Hip-Hop in Politics: What a Difference a Generation Makes." ABC News. ABC News Network, nd Web, November 19, 2013. Foster, Brian. “Always furious and courageous: “Everyone must have a dream”: Respectability politics and rap aspirations. » Respectability Politics and rap aspirations, ndWeb, November 20, 2013. Thoelke, Matt “The HANDLE”, The HANDLE RSS, nd Web.. 2013.