Contactmusic - RAPPERS TAKE ON DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE

RAPPERS TAKE ON DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE

Rappers SEAN 'P DIDDY' COMBS and RUSSELL SIMMONS are taking on political big wigs including DEMOCRAT hopeful Senator JOHN KERRY - in a protest against New York's strict drug laws.

The hip-hop moguls are summoning every major rap star to protest against the Rockefeller drug laws outside MADISON SQUARE GARDEN in time for the Republican Convention on 30 August 2004 - although they are also questioning the Democrats' political agenda.

Combs says, "I'm holding my vote hostage until I hear what I expect Kerry to say about health care and computers in schools."

DEF JAM founder Simmons adds, "Kerry is certainly taking the black vote for granted. He doesn't have a master plan yet to make a dramatic overhaul.

"Ninety per cent of the black people will vote Democratic unless people get as angry as I'm getting and they start looking at RALPH NADER.

"If you don't speak to the issues of poverty, you're no different than BUSH. The Rockefeller drug laws require harsh prison terms for the possession or sale of relatively small amounts of drugs.