Philadelphia Hip-Hop event to get out the vote

Who would think voter registration in Philadelphia would draw crowds of thousands?

Granted, perhaps the line that started forming early this morning outside the Liacouras Center on Temple University's North Philadelphia Campus had more to do with the hip-hop headliners that were scheduled to perform as part of the voter-registration and get-out-the-vote event.

Whatever the reason, a long line of mostly 20-somethings had formed by 9:15 for what was billed as the launching of the National Hip-Hop Team Vote 2008 Campaign.

Shortly before 2 p.m., when the extravaganza aimed at amplifying the youth vote was due to get . . . hopping, the 10,000-seat Liacouras Center was nearly half full.

Music was blaring from speakers.

When the much-anticipated artists took the stage, the building filled with raucous applause.

The stars preached to the audience on the importance of voting.

"It's very, very important to fulfill your obligation to your nation," said platinum hip-hop star/actor T.I. By not voting, he added, "you lose your right to complain."

R&B/pop star Ciara said: "You can be part of making a difference."

And that difference could span generations, said Flo-Rida: "Here's the chance to make your children's children's world a better place."

Their message seemed in sync with a number of parents in the audience.

"I want them to know how important it is to vote," said Aqil Young, 33, of Philadelphia, who brought his daughter, Nyjah, 4, and two family friends, boys ages 13 and 14.

John Jackson, 43, of Germantown, brought 20 teens to the event, explaining: "They've got to be aware of what's going on."

In the lobby, attendees had the the opportunity to register to vote - for November's election; registration for this Tuesday's primary is closed.

Benjamin Chavis, president and CEO of the Hip-Hop Research and Education Fund, said the event actually originated after the 2004 election when some suggested that the increase in the youth vote during that contest was "a fluke."

His organization decided to prove people wrong and it has been holding events to increase voter registration ever since.

Since January, Chavis's group has registered 120,000 in Pennsylvania, he said.

Some of those attending today's concert were being bused in from cities as far west as Pittsburgh and from a number of regional universities, including Lincoln and West Chester.