As we watched President Obama bestow the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House on February 15, you can’t help but wonder who would be the first legend from the hip-hop world to receive this very prestigious honor. Would it be Russell Simmons or Chuck D of Public Enemy? Or, could it go to someone like KRS-One, Mos Def or Jay-Z?
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest award a civilian can receive and is equivalent to the Congressional Gold Medal, bestowed by an act of Congress. The Medal of Freedom recognizes individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
Based on that criteria, would you say it would go to Simmons, the co-founder of Def Jam, brilliant businessman, humanitarian, philanthropist and author of the urban classic inspirational book, Do You? Or, do you believe that the first hip-hop honor should go to the more militant and outspoken Chuck D, the rap version of Malcolm X who challenged the status quo and injustice through his lyrics and classic cuts like “Don’t Believe the Hype” and the immortal “Fight the Power?” After all, his It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is considered the greatest album of the 1980s by some rock critics [go figure], while Fear of a Black Planet was inducted into the Library of Congress.
If politically-charged songs and contributions to the community is being considered, then icons such as KRS-One and Mos Def would have to enter the conversation. And Jay-Z, an admitted former dope dealer who later rode to the pinnacle of music and became an acclaimed business magnate, would probably be named by some hip-hop heads as an example of how one can transform their lives and inspire millions in the process.
One more thing to consider: the Medal of Freedom can be awarded posthumously, as it was to the late Thurgood Marshall, Civil Rights-era activist Ceaser Chavez, baseball great Roberto Clemente and former President John F. Kennedy.
That would automatically make you consider Tupac Amaru Shakur. As the son of a Black Panther who often exemplified that group’s sensibilities and ethos, 2Pac churned out a bevy of classic cuts with cultural and political themes, including “Keep Your Head Up,” “Dear Mama,” “So Many Tears,” “Americaz Most Wanted,” “Brenda’s Got a Baby,” “That’s the Way it Is” and so many others. His lyrics and career are still being examined as actual college courses at Ivy League institutions like Harvard, Princeton and Stanford.
What do you think? What hip-hop star do you believe is most deserving of the Medal of Freedom? –terry shropshire
