Russell Simmons Launches ‘Turn Up the Vote’ Campaign

Hip hop heavyweight Russell Simmons launched the "Hip-Hop Team Vote: Turn up the Vote" campaign last week at a rally at the University of Pennsylvania.

"We know that young people answer the call," Simmons said in a statement. "We know that at this critical time our country needs new leadership with new ideas."

The mogul, who announced on March 2 that he's backing presidential candidate Barack Obama, and Hip-Hop Team Vote will hold a hip-hop summit in Philadelphia on April 20, two days before the Pennsylvania primary. The group also plans to target voters in Ohio, Missouri, Texas and Florida.