Rhymefest Teams Up With The Future of Music Coalition

In his worn red campaign t-shirt, a long john shirt, jeans, and Air Force 1 Nike sneakers, Che "Rhymefest" Smith is not your typical panelist at the 2011 Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit. No one else is really dressed up, but Rhymefest's casual ensemble belies the fact that he is the most outspoken, engaging speaker on the discussion panel.

Broadcast live via webcast, the Local Matters: Music Scenes and Community Building panel was about how musicians and their supporters can help build and reinforce local creative communities. It was a part of the Future of Music Coalition Policy Summit was held at Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center's Lohrfink Auditorium.

Rhymefest was a last-minute addition to the panel.

In its 10th year, the summit, held Monday and Tuesday brought together musicians, radio show hosts, entrepreneurs, community activists, and anyone else remotely interested in the music business. The summit's discussion panels, networking and information segments, and mentoring sessions engaged open dialogue on the state of music today both in big industry and on a local level.

"It is important for artists to be in creative roles," said Rhymefest, "because artists are creators and with a shortage of resources, you need creative solutions."

Rhymefest himself had some creative solutions when he decided to run for Alderman of the 20th ward of Chicago. His idea of a "whole system solution to a whole system problem" seemed far-reaching, but some innovative ideas garnered him support.

One idea he had on how to give back to the community was to give back 15 percent of his salary as Alderman to the community in the form of small business loans—loans that would be used to reinvest in the community by supporting local businesses. He also suggested keeping schools open until 8 p.m. to help force parents and schools to be involved with one another. Unconventional methods that he hoped would bring unconventional results.

But how does a rapper decide to become a politician? The Chicago native says that last year he stayed in Hawaii for a time with his friend Kanye West while he was creating his album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Upon his return, he was in his home community talking to a young man who told him, "you must have fell off" meaning you must not be what's popular anymore. When he asked the boy why he thought that, the boy responded, "because you're here."

This was eye opening for Rhymefest. Where he is from, it is the norm for people to "get on and then leave the community behind; leave it open to crime and gentrification." The mentality of people, especially young ones, where he is from is that if you are there, then you must not be successful. Hearing and realizing this made him want to change this local attitude. He wanted people to see that they didn't have to look elsewhere for solutions, but rather to start building solutions at home.

Rhymefest told the Local Matters panel how, despite his enthusiasm, when he ran for Alderman, many couldn't see past his occupation as a rapper. He was not only being scrutinized, but also rap music itself. He felt the arts were being put on trail. "I don't know Lil' Wayne," he said, "but I had to answer for all of his songs."

Later he explained what he had to say to older constituents who weren't as receptive to a rapper running for office. "Rap music didn't create the crime and foreclosures that we are seeing," he said, "the people that you kept voting for did. They allowed this to happen."

Brandy Doyle, Policy Director at Prometheus Radio Project, advocates for low power radio stations on a local level. She also knows the importance of keeping the community engaged and involved at a local level. This is a subject dear to her heart, as she got her own start in community radio at WMNF in Tampa, Florida.

In July of this year, the FCC proposed that there be a minimum number of frequencies made available for use in local community radio. This would help keep big radio from taking over all of the frequencies and allow local groups in urban areas to have a voice on public airwaves. She continues to advocate and inform communities to help get as many local stations going as possible.

Rhymefest also spoke on the change in the way industry works for artists now. "You don't get a record deal making good music," he said, "you get it creating a demand for self." This is now done via social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. The demand that is created for an artist is what will get them paid.

Getting paid for their work is a priority for musicians, just like the rest of us, which is why he did work on the H.R. 848 the Performance Rights Act bill which concerns itself with licensing and royalty payments of sound recordings.