Hip Hop's Influence on the 2012 Election

Nicki Minaj isn't the only star to get political.

Hip Hop's Influence on the 2012 Election - Say it ain't so, Barbz. Nicki Minaj surprised many fans earlier this week with her verse on "Mercy," from Lil Wayne's Dedication 4 mixtape, which seemingly endorses Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. "I'm a Republican voting for Mitt Romney/You lazy b---hes is f---ing up the economy," she raps. But this is just the latest example of hip hop injecting itself into the hotly contested 2012 election. Click on to see more examples of rappers who "connect politick ditto."(Photos from left: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank, Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Hip Hop's Influence on the 2012 Election - Say it ain't so, Barbz. Nicki Minaj surprised many fans earlier this week with her verse on "Mercy," from Lil Wayne's Dedication 4 mixtape, which seemingly endorses Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. "I'm a Republican voting for Mitt Romney/You lazy b---hes is f---ing up the economy," she raps. But this is just the latest example of hip hop injecting itself into the hotly contested 2012 election. Click on to see more examples of rappers who "connect politick ditto."(Photos from left: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank, Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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Barack Drops in on Jay-Z's Made in America Festival - Jay, a longtime strong Obama loyalist (check his verse on Jeezy's "My President Is Black"), recruited the prez to deliver a personalized video message to the tens of thousands of fans gathered at his Made in America festival last weekend, urging them to vote. (Photos from left: Jemal Countess/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images)

New Kid on the Block - West coast rapper on the rise Kendrick Lamar poses backstage at Heineken Red Star Access Atlanta, which also featured Trey Songz and DJ MLK and was hosted by Affion Crockett at Opera Nightclub in Atlanta, Georgia.   (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Heineken)

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Kendrick Lamar Disses Voting - K-Dot sparked a mini firestorm last week when he said he ballyhooed the ballot box. "I don't vote. I don’t do no voting," he said. "What’s going on isn’t really in our hands. If it's not in the president's hands, then it's definitely not in our hands."  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Heineken)

All Gold No Ice On - 2 Chainz received an astounding response when he came out for Nicki Minaj's show in LA in early August. Truuuuuu. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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2 Chainz Rocks the Vote - The Hip Hop Caucus, a nonpartisan nonprofit that aims to empower young minority voters, recently tapped 2 Chainz to be their spokesperson. All I want for my birthday is a registration form. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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Lupe Fiasco Sitting 2012 Out - Lupe Fiasco, perhaps the most popular politically involved rapper today, ironically won't be getting involved in the 2012 election. “No, I don’t vote,” he said in an interview last year. “I don’t get involved in politics. It’s meaningless. If I’m going to say I stand behind this person and write on a piece of paper that says, ‘Yeah, I stand for this person,’ then I have to take responsibility for everything he does cause that’s just who I am as a human being.”  (Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

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Lupe Fiasco Sitting 2012 Out - Lupe Fiasco, perhaps the most popular politically involved rapper today, ironically won't be getting involved in the 2012 election. “No, I don’t vote,” he said in an interview last year. “I don’t get involved in politics. It’s meaningless. If I’m going to say I stand behind this person and write on a piece of paper that says, ‘Yeah, I stand for this person,’ then I have to take responsibility for everything he does cause that’s just who I am as a human being.” (Photo: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

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Beyoncé and Michelle: BFFs? - Bey and Mrs. O are totes best friends, y'all. They joined forces for Michelle's Let's Move campaign. Michelle walked off stage after her speech at the DNC to the sounds of Bey's "Get Me Bodied" (which she also famously did the Dougie to). They even go on dinner dates! And Bey professed her love for Michelle in an open letter on her blog — which she recently read in a video released by the Obama campaign — writing, "Michelle Obama is the ultimate example of a truly strong African-American woman."   (Photos from left: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni/Landov, Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic)

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K'Naan Disses Romney - After Romney bizarrely began using Somali-Canadian artist K'Naan's hit "Wavin' Flag" —  a song about strife in his native Mogadishu — the left-leaning MC-singer threatened legal action. "I have not been asked for permission by Mitt Romney's campaign for the use of my song. If I had been asked, I would certainly not have granted it,” K'Naan said in a statement. “I would happily grant the Obama campaign use of my song without prejudice." (Photos from left: Lefty Shivambu/ Gallo Images, Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images)

Prodigy Endorses Ron Paul - Prodigy surprised little duns everywhere when he said he supported Ron Paul, who unsuccessfully fought for the Republican presidential nomination this year. "I love Ron Paul," he said in an interview. "I love what he represents. I read his books while I was locked up ... I would like to see [him win the presidential election] because I would like to see him shake things up a little bit. I wish him the most success. I hope he does win, to tell you the truth, but they're not going to let that man win." Prodigy was right — Ron Paul's delegates were shut out at the RNC this year.  (Photo: Courtesy of Rock the Vote)

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Prodigy Endorses Ron Paul - Prodigy surprised little duns everywhere when he said he supported Ron Paul, who unsuccessfully fought for the Republican presidential nomination this year. "I love Ron Paul," he said in an interview. "I love what he represents. I read his books while I was locked up ... I would like to see [him win the presidential election] because I would like to see him shake things up a little bit. I wish him the most success. I hope he does win, to tell you the truth, but they're not going to let that man win." Prodigy was right — Ron Paul's delegates were shut out at the RNC this year. (Photo: Courtesy of Rock the Vote)

The DNC Hits High Notes - We all know Democrats have better taste in music. The DNC this year features an all-star roster of performers, including Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Janelle Monae, Foo Fighters and Earth Wind & Fire.  (Photos from left: Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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The DNC Hits High Notes - We all know Democrats have better taste in music. The DNC this year features an all-star roster of performers, including Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Janelle Monae, Foo Fighters and Earth Wind & Fire. (Photos from left: Jason Kempin/Getty Images, Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Questlove Endorses Obama - Drummer-producer Questlove has already hinted at his political leanings during the Roots' tenure as Jimmy Fallon's house band, accompanying Obama's hilarious take on "Slow Jam the News," and musically dissing Michele Bachmann. But he made his views clear in a video posted on the Obama campaign's website earlier this year: "[Obama] needs eight years to finish the mission and we need to have his back," Quest said. (Photo: Desiree Navarro/Getty Images)

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Questlove Endorses Obama - Drummer-producer Questlove has already hinted at his political leanings during the Roots' tenure as Jimmy Fallon's house band, accompanying Obama's hilarious take on "Slow Jam the News," and musically dissing Michele Bachmann. But he made his views clear in a video posted on the Obama campaign's website earlier this year: "[Obama] needs eight years to finish the mission and we need to have his back," Quest said. (Photo: Desiree Navarro/Getty Images)