Yo Ali,

I spent some time in Zimbabwe this past summer, working for a grassroot organization called the Elias Fund & I’ve came in contact with quite a bit of people doing similar work and couldn’t help but to notice that I was the only true hiphop head out of a hand full of people that I was working with. Most of the guys were into indie rock bands (which i dig too) who promoted a better well being in places such as Zimbabwe.

So this left me wondering, what is underground/indie hiphop doing to promote these small movements in places like Zimbabwe. And how could real hiphop improve on promoting an improvement on world issues. I know your new album “Us” has been an inspiration in connecting people all around the globe, but what can we as a hiphop culture do more of? and what is next for us? because it isn’t a game when you see the living conditions of people in these societies, i feel responsible as a hiphop head and take it as a task of mine to help establish a better movement to get some things done. Hiphop to me has always been a conscious outlet, something that has made me think…i’m 22 now and got into good hiphop in middle school because i was searching for something more, something that made me feel connected and made sense that improved myself and everything around me.

so when i do benefits to help push issues such as what’s up in Zim and only rock bands support I’m just left confused. I remember sitting in the back of a truck riding through dirt roads outside of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe listening to Black Star on my ipod thinking this is the inspiration that people need and this could really begin a movement like never seen before.

So Ali, I’m just wondering what your view is on all of this? I’ve met you at every show that I’ve been to of yours and have shared a few words and definitely feel that connection like this would be something that you would have something to say about. And complete respects to what you’ve done with the new album, it showed why you’re my favorite emcee…i mean there aren’t many rappers that i can play that even my mom digs some tracks….so you must be doing something REAL…

Thanks man,
hope all is well…
-David