Hip Hop Boosts Occupy Oakland

MC Hammer and Raymond “Boots” Riley of The Coup have been among the thousands involved in the Occupy Oakland protests in California in recent weeks.

The performers, along with local rapper Mistah FAB, have spent time at protester encampments and participated in rallies. They said that despite their fame, they support the 99 percent who have taken a stand.

“I’m trying to make a soundtrack out there that rallies people around certain ideas about living in this system into motivation,” Riley said. “This movement is only a couple of months old, and if you compare anyone’s favorite social change movement they haven’t accomplished as much as what’s happened already.”

Talib Kweli, Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco have also visited protesters in NYC and other major cities. And OWS has seen plenty of artists other than hip-hop stars, from Crosby & Nash to Tom Morello to Pete Seeger.

The Oakland protests, as well as similar gatherings in other cities, are affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement that began Sept. 17 in New York City.

The Oakland group grabbed headlines after an Iraq War veteran was injured during an Oct. 25 confrontation with riot police.