London, UK (Sony BMG
Music Entertainment UK) -
David Cameron met with US rapper
Rhymefest yesterday to discuss the impact hip-hop has on society. The Tory leader famously spoke out against
Radio 1 this summer claiming that their hip-hop shows encouraged knife and gun violence. The comments inspired
Rhymefest to write to Cameron in response, before a meeting was arranged in London.
The 29-year-old rapper - real name Che Smith - was very positive about the outcome of the meeting, telling reporters he sat down for a cup of tea while he spoke to the Tory boss. He said: "I'm a news junkie and I'm a hip-hop fan as well as an entertainer. Mr Cameron's comments about hip-hop resonated across the Atlantic Ocean. I felt I had to respond."
"I had no idea who he was but it seemed like he was a man who was open to discussion. I read some of the other comments he made, like 'hug a hoodie', and I thought, wait a minute.
"To say that kids who wear hoods need to be understood, but also that the music they listen to is immoral - something ain't right there.
"When he say that the hoodies need love, I asked him did he understand that that's also what makes this music - a need for love, a need for understanding. And I think that I enlightened him."
As The Telegraph reports,
Rhymefest said he found Cameron 'very warm and pretty genuine' and that he was open to providing solutions to the problems. He continued: "He not only had criticisms and questions but solutions. "He suggested to the head of Sony BMG in the UK that the labels and radio stations give money to bring artists like 50 Cent,
Kanye West and myself to do community work all over the country."
Asked whether he though Cameron was trying to cash in on the cool and young people's vote, he responded: "I think he got his finger on the pulse. And I have to commend him for that. But I'm watching him.
"We spoke of balance, but we also spoke of being genuine. Bill Clinton used his coolness to fool a lot of people. It would be unfortunate if Mr Cameron did that. I got his cellphone number. I'd call him and say, 'What the hell are you doing, dude?'"
