We didn’t win like we wanted to as we were going to press, but the Black community and hip hop played a great role in this year’s national (and local) elections, read about it in our cover story on page 10 which also profiles the dynamic grand crunkster of hip hop, Trick Daddy! Have you checked out my latest website - www.nowrealestate.info – I can lead you to owning your own home! Don’t forget our other exciting articles in this month’s magazine such as Reggae Trax is on page 24, the beautiful Sunshine Girl on page 16, the insightful world of the Horoscopes is on page 20, and hip hop and R&B Trax is on page 22. Also check out the photos in Now In The Mix, which is on page 30.

Looking forward after election time we at least have Obama from Illinois in the Senate although we don’t have Kerry in the White House. Looks like Miz Condi will probably get bigger play if Colin Powell decides to retire, it’s up in the air but there will be some high profile sisters and brothers making some important policy decisions that affect us all. As one friend put it, you couldn’t swing a cat without hitting a celebrity who was involved this year in the election. Besides P. Diddy stumping, there was Christina Aguilera and Andre 3000 from OutKast, who both appear artfully gagged in the "Declare Yourself" voter registration PSAs (the tagline: “Only You Can Silence Yourself.” Other stars who have urged others to exercise their rights include Eminem, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, DMX and Matt Damon.

A must see movie is Ray! Directed by Taylor Hackford, this biopic profiles the life of legendary musician Ray Charles. Despite humble beginnings and the loss of his eyesight due to glaucoma at the age of six, Charles, depicted by Jamie Foxx, would nonetheless become an icon in both the music industry and the civil rights era. While the film delves into his problems with drugs and women, the bulk of the story details his career; among the highlights of that career are 12 Grammy awards and 11 R&B chart-toppers, such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road, Jack," "Georgia," "Doin' the Mess Around," and "Hallelujah I Just Love Her So." Also among the cast are Larenz Tate as Quincy Jones, as well as Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Clifton Powell. Charles' son, Ray Charles Jr. helped produce the film

These are tough economic times, especially for African-Americans, for whom the unemployment rate is more than 10%. However, statistics show we still have an incredible amount of buying power. According to Target Market, a company that tracks black consumer spending, blacks spend a significant amount of their income on depreciable products. In 2002, the year the economy nose-dived; we spent $22.9 billion on clothes, $3.2 billion on electronics and $11.6 billion on furniture to put into homes that, in many cases, were rented! "Knowledge is Power" So, please pass it on. . . Remember: Wisdom will enable us to achieve what we believe. So there is no time like now to put your economic clout to good use and become a homeowner! That’s right, let’s talk about you owning a home of your own - check out www.nowrealestate.info.

Peace!

Paul “Hollywood” Williams