Battleground Minnesota: Hip Hop, Politics and the Generational Divide
January 3, 2005
“What are you going to accomplish by being involved?” Shakademic, host of the youth-produced video Battleground Minnesota, asks an activist in this get out the vote film. Leading up to the November 2nd election, Minnesota, typically a solidly democratic state, was changing fast. Gabriel Cheifetz, producer of Battleground Minnesota approached Chris Johnson, a.k.a Shakademic, and Glenn Scott - two teenage hip hop artists - with the idea to create a nonpartisan film that would inspire people, especially young people, to talk about political issues.
In Battleground Minnesota teen hip-hop artists take on electoral politics.
The result is a thirty minute documentary following Shakademic and Scott as they paint a picture of Minnesota’s complex political climate. The film is wide in scope featuring interviews with organizations like the Green Party of Minnesota and verité coverage of Republican debate parties and a scratch lesson for Walter Mondale.
“The youth angle is underrepresented,” explained Cheifetz, “it was a matter of telling them that we wanted to get the youth vote out” in order to get access to prominent figures, like Mondale. “The challenge was that I had never talked to politicians. I was nervous before we met them, but then they would open up, and it was fine” added Shakademic.
Opening with the teens freestyling, music is a key component in the film, entertaining and informing at the same time. Sound producer Glenn Scott, who appears occasionally in the film, said that the music “is the main thing that people talk about from the video because it adds an urban twist.” Creating a way to take on issues traditionally understood and guarded by older generations, these youth producers convey the importance of youth civic engagement by being themselves.
Comfortable in his role as host, Shakademic uses humor and spontaneity to create memorable moments in the film, such as the handing over of a studded chain with the letters “GOP” to Norm Coleman. “I would adlib it the whole way,” said Shakademic as he describes the interview process. “Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.” When asked what he learned from making the film he explained “It’s hard to get a mass number of people to focus on a topic, but politics are more important than a lot of things.”
Bridging the generational divide by fusing hip-hop and politics: Shakademic teaches Walter Mondale how to scratch.
Battleground Minnesota uses the clean slate of uninformed youth looking for answers as a platform for discussion. Teens ask pressing questions on camera and politicians are given the space to explain their campaigns. In this way, the film crosses not only the political divide but also the generational divide, putting suits and bandanas across the table in a meaningful way.
Battleground Minnesota employs innovative techniques such as having interviewees watch footage from other interviews that the teens have conducted. “We’re getting the people involved with politics,” answered Shakademic when asked what his motivation was, “It’s a story by the people.” The comments fly and provide raw and real dialogue between the interviews.
This flow is complimented by the thread of music throughout the film. The documentary comes full circle as the teens finish recording the last of their track “Battleground Minnesota,” (hence the title of the film) and they play the song for a representative of the Citizens League. When they ask him whether or not he understood the message of the song, it’s clear that he gets it: “you have the right to vote, so educate yourself and use it.” Scott adds, “It’s a bumpy ride, but you have to know what’s going on with your money.”
Partnering with Phillips Community Television Cheifetz wanted to impact the group of individuals who were least likely to vote - teenagers. Visiting local high-schools, the team puts on live screenings with Q & A sessions afterwards. The show first aired on the Twin Cities public television channel, and after receiving the highest ratings of any time slot it was run two more times.
The Battleground Minnesota blog offers an inside peek into youth media production.
Although the election has come and gone, Cheifetz continues to promote the DVD as an educational tool. “It might be useful for the future of youth voters,” he explains. Copies are available on the film’s website as well as streaming clips and links to participating nonprofit and political organizations. The website also includes a blog, which provides a blow-by-blow of the making of the film, with all its revelations and setbacks, giving aspiring filmmakers a glimpse of the work that goes into making a political documentary.
Any final comments, Shakademic? “You have to know - politics are more important than a lot of other things.” Hopefully, other teens will follow your lead beyond November 2nd.
