Rutgers’ #1 Show, “All Politics Are Local”, Uses Hip Hop Culture To Bring Democracy and Politics To The Youth
This past May, All Politics Are Local took the #1 spot over all the shows on the University’s WRNU.INFO internet radio web site.
The university ranks it’s shows by using a numeric 1 through 11 system to judge the listenership of their radio shows. On a monthly basis, most shows receive a rating between 1 through 11. All Politics Are Local received a 27 rating, meaning that over 100,000 online listeners tune in every week to hear the show. The show has been on the air for only three months.
Since it’s inception, the show has been able to book a variety Hip Hop artists, community activists, clergy members, intellectuals, and political leaders, such as Vinny of Naughty By Nature, Conrad Tillard, Freekey Zekey of the Dip set, the former executive director of CHHANGE (Conscious Hip Hop Activism Necessary for Global Empowerment and the current Senior Pastor of Nazarene Congregational United Church of Christ in Brooklyn, New York City, Pastor David Jefferson, the Chairman of Rev Sharpton’s National Action Network in Newark, New Jersey, Donny Nuri Wilson, member and organizer of the Newark Anti-Violence Coalition, Monika Boyd of Parents of murdered Children and VOCAL (Voices of Change and Liberation) Coalition member, James Mtume, world renowned producer, artist, community activist, and co-host of the popular 98.7 KISS FM’s Open line radio talk show in New York City’s tri-state area, and Mitzi Miller, the new Editor -and-Chief of Jet magazine.
This week, Luther Campbell of the multi-platinum Hip Hop group 2 live Crew plans to be a guest of the show to discuss Hip Hop and electoral politics. Just recently, Mr. Campbell ran for Mayor of Miami, Florida, he lost, but he received over 20,000 votes!
The show is led by Ed Riley, the creator, co-producer, and co-host of All Politics Are Local, who is also a Rutgers student. The other co-hosts of the show are the following: Bashir Akinyele-community activist and educator, John Alston-Newark, New Jersey educator, Marcus Reeves- BET.com entertainment journalist and social critic, Allen S. Gordon- Hip Hop journalist and Oakland, California educator, and Bailey and D. Armani -entertainment journalist!
Damien Connors, college youth director of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) says, “The show is content rich and I believe its’ the kind of discourse that will keep us balanced.”
Ed Riley, Rutgers student, creator, and co-host of Rutgers’ All Politics Are Local, says, “I think there is a reason why the show resonates with African Americans, Latino Americans and listeners of all walks of life. We combine Hip Hop culture and politics to make democracy relevant to the youth.”
Callers worldwide can chime into the show’s call-in number at (973) 353-5746. The show can be heard from it’s broadcasted internet web address at www.wrnu.info.
