Hip Hop community launches campaign to get young fans to vote

By day, he's a rapper. But by night, well he's a rapper then too. But in between all that rapping, recording artist T.I. finds time to encourage young people to vote, and he's a headliner in a new hip hop voting campaign for 2008.

The multi-Platinum, Grammy Award-winning artist has joined forces with a hip hop political organization for a new voter registration and Get Out the Vote campaign that "combines the power of celebrity and media with 21st century grassroots organizing tactics," according to organizers.

The campaign slogan, "Respect My Vote!" and t-shirts were unveiled Tuesday at a press event in Washington. T.I. and other celebrities, athletes and high profile influential figures will take part in PSAs, press events and a photo campaign featuring portraits of the celebrities with the "Respect My Vote!" slogan and t-shirt.

The Hip Hop Vote 2008 campaign is a project of the Hip Hop Caucus, established in September 2004 by activists and organizers working to get out the vote. But in 2008, with a black man on the top of the Democratic ticket and the possibility of electing America's first black president, young African Americans are showing a renewed interest in politics, according to observers.

The 2008 campaign targets young residents in urban communities and college campuses in 12 states and in the District of Columbia. The group's 12 target states are California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia.

The target cities are Atlanta GA, Baltimore MD, Charlotte NC, Cincinnati OH, Cleveland OH, Columbus OH, Dallas TX, Detroit MI, Houston TX, Indianapolis IN, Bay Area CA, Miami FL, Philadelphia PA, Raleigh-Durham NC, Richmond VA, St. Louis MO and Washington DC.