ALBANY — Expressing frustration that urban issues are not being sufficiently addressed in New York, members of the hip hop community are looking to form their own party line for the coming state elections.
The line, which would be called the New American Party, is being pushed by Jineea Butler, founder of the Hip Hop Union and a Republican congressional candidate against Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan).
Butler said she and others have spoken to rap star Busta Rhymes about potentially running for governor on the line, but he has not committed. Butler said she also has reached out to LL Cool J, but has not heard back.
“We’re looking for somebody that can energize the vote so we can clear the 50,000 votes (needed to secure a guaranteed ballot line the next four years) and someone who resonates with millennials and young folks,” Butler said.
Neither rapper could be reached for comment.
“We’re juggling a bunch of candidates we can look at from the hip hop community,” she said. “Hip hop changed the world 40, 45 years ago when it started. It just gave people an absolute freedom of speech. We want to use that same principle with a strong agenda that addresses economic disparity and prosperity-driven initiatives.”
“This would work right now in America,” she said. “America needs something else. We’re fighting against each other. We’ve come too far in this country to go back to racism. Hip hop brought people together.”
Assisting in the effort is Eric Barrier, who is part of the hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, which was formed in Long Island.
Butler said organizers have also discussed offering the lieutenant governor line to insurgent Democrat Jumaane Williams, who is mounting a primary challenge against Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, and the attorney general line to GOP candidate Keith Wofford.
Williams, a city councilman, and Wofford, a corporate lawyer, are both black.
“The African-American community, we want to leverage our vote,” Butler said. “Right now, we’re just being abused.”
She said blacks traditionally go for Democrats, which leaves the Republicans with little reason to reach out to the minority community, which in turn, has many Dems taking the community’s vote for granted.
To create the line, supporters would have to garner 15,000 signatures statewide on nominating petitions by Aug. 21, a tall order.
Butler, who said petitions have been circulating, believes the goal can be met.
“Part of what we want to show is that we can pull out large numbers in a short amount of time, that people can get involved in the political spectrum, and it’s worth the investment into the opportunity,” she said. “We’ve already got boots on the ground on this.”
Wofford campaign consultant O’Brien Murray said, “We love the energy and excitement this new line could provide to any election.
“For our campaign to have the opportunity to participate in a line that reaches out to the African-American community would be welcome,” Murray said. “The added benefit of the ability to deliver a message from leaders in the hip-hop community to voters who have been taken for granted by the Democratic party would only add to their strength and importance.”
