N Less Entertainment, a renowned record label in the hip-hop industry, has unveiled a significant partnership with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Hip Nation for the Mississippi HBCU Tour. The primary objective of this collaboration is to encourage young students to participate in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Get Out the Vote (GOTV) Hip Hop Text-a-Thon, ahead of the crucial November 2023 elections.
The Hip-Hop Text-a-Thon is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24 and will feature hip-hop artists and representatives from N Less Entertainment, SPLC, and Hip Nation visiting three prominent institutions: Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, and Mississippi Valley State University.
Esteemed hip-hop artists such as BIG30, Big Homiie G, DeeMula, Drac Baby, BezzalBoyBlacc from N Less Entertainment, and CMG recording artist Big Boogie will engage with hundreds of students to underscore the importance of voting. They will also raise awareness about changes in community and state laws while actively participating in sending voter mobilization text messages to voters across Mississippi, reminding them to vote on November 7th.
“We are committed to providing Black students with the knowledge and opportunities to empower them to make decisions that affect their futures,” says KeMario Brown, General Manager/Senior Vice President of N Less Entertainment. “We have a responsibility as leaders to raise awareness and with the support from SPLC and Hip Nation, our artists will work to encourage them to be a part of the solution to our communities’ problems and that begins with VOTING.”
The voter turnout in the 2022 elections was alarmingly low, particularly in states like Mississippi, where less than a third of eligible voters participated. Mississippi’s voting landscape is further complicated by lifelong voting bans for individuals convicted of certain felonies and a lack of pro-voter programs, such as early voting and online registration.
“Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy. Yet, there is a long history of political oppression that has led to the isolation of a significant portion of people in this country—namely, Black people” said Waikinya Clanton, State Director of the SPLC Mississippi State Office. “It is important that initiatives like the HBCU GOTV Hip Hop Text-A-Thon, are community-focused, culturally relevant, and responsive, speak boldly to concerns and interests of a high probability voting bloc. The HipHop Text-a-Thon connects culture, community, and cause with the goal of mobilizing and empowering young people to positively impact and influence the electoral process.”
Cameron Trimble, Co-founder of Hip Nation, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing the influential power of hip-hop in driving civic engagement. N Less Entertainment, which boasts multiplatinum hip-hop artists like Moneybagg Yo, BIG30, Big Homiie G, Dee Mula, and super producer Turn Me Up YC, is well-positioned to promote voting engagement through this partnership significantly.
