Diddy, Russell Simmons React to Obama Victory
In what has turned out to be one of the most historic elections in our country's history, Sen. Barack Obama became the nation's fist black president. Mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs has been among the most vocal members of the hip-hop community showing his support for Obama.
"I felt like my vote was the vote that put him into office. It was down to one vote, and that was going to be my vote. And that may not be true, but that's how much power it felt like I had," he said. Election day also marked Diddy's 39th birthday. "I'm not trying to be dramatic, but I just felt like, Martin Luther King, and I felt the whole civil rights movement, I felt all that energy, and I felt my kids," he said. "It was all there at one time. It was a joyous moment."
In a campaign that was heavily endorsed by members of the entertainment world, other members of the hip-hop community also showed their excitement about Obama's victory. "The vision of the hip-hop generation and its young people is in full and glorious effect," Russell Simmons said in a statement. "While many older Americans, who marched and struggled so hard so Senator Obama could run for president of the United States never dared to believe in his candidacy's real potential, young people, particularly the hip-hop community, had faith and their imagination became our reality."
Throughout the campaign Hip-Hop superstars like Diddy, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige showed their support leading up to the election with free concerts promoting voter registration, as well as writing two open letters to voters. Their hard work paid off as Obama swept the election winning 349 electoral votes to Sen. McCain's 173 votes. According to exit polls, Obama also won over voters under 30 with 66 percent to Sen. McCain's 32 percent.
Obamas Top 10 Songs
The Democratic candidate counted down his top ten tunes for Blender magazine.
Bill Pugliano, Getty
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 10: will.i.am, 'Yes We Can'
Interscope
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 9: U2, 'City of Blinding Lights'
Jo Hale, Getty
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 8: Aretha Franklin, 'Think'
David Atlas, Retna
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 7: Frank Sinatra, 'You'd Be So Easy to Love'
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 6: Kanye West, 'Touch the Sky'
Sean Gardner, Getty
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 5: Nina Simone, 'Sinnerman'
Hulton Archive, Getty
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 4: Rolling Stones, 'Gimme Shelter'
Scott Gries, Getty
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 3: Bruce Springsteen, 'I'm On Fire'
Alex Brandon, AP
Barack Obama's Top 10 Songs Right Now
No. 2: Marvin Gaye, 'What's Going On'
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty
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