Some of hip hop’s most influential voices, Lil Scrappy, Big Freedia Mia X, Lee Merritt, Cookie Nasty, and Trae Crockett have joined musical forces to partner with Hip Hop Caucus to release a powerful political cypher as a final push to encourage people to head to polls and vote.

Hip Hop political cypher

Released just under one week before the most important presidential election of our time, these rappers focused on issue advocacy and dropped powerful bars on the importance of voting, voting rights and democracy, civil rights, economic justice, and environmental justice – all issues that affect people of color the most and some of the pressing issues and deciding factors in this year’s election.

The power of voting

Hip Hop Caucus is no stranger to leveraging the power of music, celebrity, and activism, launching their Respect My Vote! Campaign and Tour earlier this year, which included activists to reach and educate communities of color about political and social issues, and mobilize people to vote for the change they want to see on November 5.

The message is clear that we cannot afford not to cast our ballots this election, with Mia X stating, “Say it with my chest, imma step for my rights, 10 toes down …my choice, my freedoms my voice, my votes and “if you don’t vote you don’t matter”.

Watch the cypher

An investigation is underway after at least two ballot boxes were set on fire Monday morning in Oregon and Washington state.

Local authorities said hundreds of ballots were affected.

Ballot boxes on set on fire

Police responded to a call about a fire in Portland about 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement. An “incendiary device” was placed inside the box and security personnel extinguished the fire, officials said.

A second ballot box minutes away from the first was set on fire early Monday morning at a bus station in nearby Vancouver, Washington, according to the Vancouver Police Department. When officers arrived, they found a “suspicious device” next to the box, which was smoking and on fire, police said.

The box in Vancouver is in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, where one of the most competitive races in the country is taking place.

Other locations

Other fires affecting ballots have been recently reported across the country.

Last week, a mailbox outside a Phoenix post office was set on fire, damaging an unknown number of ballots. A 35-year-old man was charged with arson in that incident. The Phoenix Police Department said he told them it was not politically motivated.

Luring Lady, a conservative Black woman who was once one of Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters, has made a public declaration that she will no longer vote for the former president, calling him “unhinged” and a “liar.”

Black conservative woman blogger Luring Lady shares thoughts

Known for her outspoken views on conservative policies, Luring Lady has shared her deeply personal and reflective blog post, shedding light on her disillusionment with Trump.

Her Instagram handle, @Luring_Lady, is now a hub for her evolving political discussions.

In her online blog, Luring Lady reflects on her past loyalty to Trump, describing how she alienated friends and family due to her firm support for his agenda.

She writes, “I lost friends, family, and respect from people because I was a proud MAGA supporter. Now, it’s all so clear.”

What drove her away

While she still aligns with some of Trump’s policies, such as immigration and the “America First” approach, Luring Lady explains that “Trump’s erratic behavior—his refusal to peacefully transfer power, his incitement of violence after the 2020 election, and his divisive rhetoric”—ultimately drove her away. A particularly jarring moment was Trump’s comment about immigrants “taking Black jobs,” which Luring Lady found to be an exploitative manipulation of systemic racism.

Her blog post also critiques Trump’s spreading of misinformation, including a doctored image of Kamala Harris with P. Diddy and his bizarre claim about immigrants “eating pets.”

“I can’t believe I supported him for as long as I did,” Luring Lady writes. “His erratic behavior, constant lying, and willingness to incite violence show he’s unfit to lead. I won’t make excuses for him anymore.”

Black conservatives changing course

Luring Lady’s story adds to the growing chorus of Black conservatives who are reconsidering their support for Trump. Media outlets are encouraged to reach out for interviews and publish her story as she continues to use her platform to discuss political and social issues.