It’s safe to say that Obama has the hip-hop vote on lock, but one of the McCain daughters is hoping to change all that. A cursory glance at 23-year old Meghan McCain’s recent playlists reveals that she’s a hip-hop fan — perhaps a new convert. As Election Day draws nearer, her playlists tend to include more and more rap songs. Meghan, who only became a Republican in 2008, says she’s working on her “piece de resistance — the final election day playlist!” I wonder if “Black President” made the cut.

>>Beyonce’s new jawn is called “Put a Ring on It.” Go figure [zshare]

>>John McCain refuses to shake Obama’s hand after debate [YouTube]

>>Paper Trail is #1 due, in part, to T.I. being as omnipresent as possible [Prohiphop]

>> PSL: Politics As A Second Language [Smoking Section]

>>Officer Ross tells us what we already knew about his past [The Boombox]

>>10 hip-hop albums worth checking for in October [About.com]

>>Oh great, another New York hip-hop magazine [Birthplacemag]

>>Wordsmith “Park & Ride: The Sunset Edition” [Rock the Dub]

>>Hip-Hop artists respond to Johnny J’s death [Thug Life Army]

If you’re a hip-hop fan and have been hoping for a groundbreaking music-based game like Guitar Hero and Rock Band, you may be in luck. Scratch: The Ultimate DJ is a new game that incorporates a turntable controller designed by Numark.

More on Scratch: The Ultimate DJ after the cut.
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Buckshot doing the Macarena

Since many of you expressed concern over his health when he was admitted last week, I thought I’d give you an update. Buckshot has now been released from the hospital. (more…)

>>Keri Hilson occupies the cover of Page Six magazine

>>Joel Ortiz - “Can’t You Tell” music video [SmashTube]

>>Bow Wow jumps on the voter registration bandwagon [CNN]

>>Sign of the times: Hugh Hefner on the brink of bankruptcy? [DailyStab]

>>Hip-hop’s birthplace goes up for sale *smh* [NME]

>>JMJ’s murder makes America’s Most Wanted [Thatshiphop]

>>Help Madd Hatta register 5,000 voters before deadline [KBXX]

>>Further proof that you don’t need a record label [Cratekings]

>>Sha Money hints at 2009 albums from Em and Dre [The Money Motivation]

Everytime a reporter lures Obama into talking about hip-hop he seizes the opportunity to rehash these 4 talking points:

1. I’m older than hip-hop
2. Jay-Z and Kanye are my favorites (Luda was stricken from this list after his politically incorrect “Politics As Usual”)
3. I respect the hustle of hip-hop entrepreneurs
4. Rappers need to stop saying “bitches” and “hoes”

Well, not in those words. But you get the point. Anyway, Obama shouting out hip-hop is obviously a big deal. It’s such a big deal that news sites can’t get enough of it. So, in the spirit of celebrating Obama’s historic endorsement of some hip-hop, here are some excerpts of a recent dialogue between MTV’s resident Rastafarian Sway Calloway and Barack Obama.
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>>Tribute Left-Eye album will feature Chamillionaire and 2Pac [Rolling Stone]

>>BGDB presents Da Incredible Rap Team [Boo Goo Doo Boom]

>>Murs performing “Looking Fly” live at Fat Beats [Beats and Bombs]

>>Hip-hop as a political tool [The Good 5 Cent Cigar]

>>Hieroglyphics decodes hip-hop for students with musical movement [The Orion]

>>Muxtape: back “in the service of bands” [P2P Net]

>>Sway’s Signature LP delayed for Kon Live signing bonus track w/ Akon [Prohiphop]

Boot Camp Clik veteran Buckshot has been hospitalized after suffering a series of seizures. Buckshot was scheduled to perform at a sold-out live show in New York tonight alongside Sean Price, Tek, Steele and others, but the show has now been canceled.

Duck Down CEO Dru Ha released a statement on Buckshot’s health:
“While of course we are disappointed to have to reschedule a sold out show, obviously nothing takes precedent over Buckshot’s health.”

No shit. Here’s wishing the BDI thug a speedy recovery.