ONE MIND, ONE VOTE KICKS OFF VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

Nothing says hip-hop like voting. Which is why Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, Run of Run-DMC, Jadakiss and others launched a campaign yesterday to register 2 million voters aged 18-34 before the November elections and 20 million voters in the next five years. The event was timed to coincide with the reason you had Monday off from work, of course, to recognize a very important person in American history and politics—the winner of the Iowa caucuses.

The nonpartisan “One Mind. One Vote” campaign plans to reach rap fans via Doug Banks’ syndicated show and booths at the Doug Banks Jam Session tour. At the kickoff in Times Square yesterday, Banks said his show, which reaches 2 million people a day on the ABC Radio Network, would air PSAs from Simmons and others and register voters during live concerts aired on Banks’ morning show.

Said Simmons, who is the chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network: “We have a powerful, powerful initiative. Politicians are starting to recognize that. The more inclusive the political process, the better. We believe if young people are engaged, you'll see positive results. And John Kerry has already asked to guest on the next DMX record.”

Added LL Cool J: “This is not a movement based on anything that can separate us. It's based on the average Joe voting. We're telling people it's like American Idol, only with old white guys."

There are 47 million people between 18-34 who aren’t registered to vote. Which is something else Howard Dean is mad about.