Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.I.Am will have to clear a special spot on his mantel now that he's been honored with the Webby Artist of the Year award. The Grammy-award winner received the award yesterday for the viral music video "Yes We Can" supporting presidential candidate Barack Obama. The video quickly spread around the internet, garnering millions of hits on YouTube.

"It was just a knock in the head to remember that it's not black and white," Will.I.Am said at the annual Peapod show. "That speech, the 'Yes We Can' speech -- he has a lot of speeches that are great [like] Super Tuesday's speech: 'We are the ones we've been waiting for' -- those words are inspirational to me. They inspire you to want to change yourself," the rapper recalled.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama is taking a cue from hip hop mogul Jay-Z. No, the presidential hopeful isn't starting a record label or marrying Beyonce. Instead, Obama is brushing the dirt off his shoulder -- ala the movement made popular by the rap star's 2003 song 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder' -- which means that the senator is letting all negative comments and criticism roll off his back.

Obama's recent move may have shocked folks in the political arena, but the candidate has been exhibiting his hipness since he shook his groove thang on 'The Ellen Degeneres Show.' And Obama admits to being a Jay-Z fan. "Lately I've been listening to a lot of Jay-Z -- this new American Gangster album ...," Obama said in a recent interview.

Looks T.I. is ready to begin "his long road of redemption." The rap star will co-headline the upcoming Turn Up the Vote National Hip-Hop Summit in Philadelphia, along with Russell Simmons and Ciara.

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia to participate in the Hip-Hop Summit," T.I. said in a statement. "We are going to encourage young people to go out to vote. I personally know the value of having the right to vote and it taken away from you, but I will add my voice to help inspire others to take seriously this right and responsibility."

The Turn Up the Vote campaign, which is aimed at educating young adults on the issues in the upcoming Presidential election, will take place two days before the Pennsylvania primary. The HSAN and guest panelists are scheduled to discuss overcoming poverty, healthcare, education and the war in Iraq. Additional panelists include Jim Jones, Flo Rida, Webbie, Lil' Boosie and Styles P.

Like many other artists, Nas admits he's not putting his support behind any particular presidential candidate, but the rap star did have some amiable words regarding Senator Barack Obama.

"I'd love to see Barack Obama become the president. He's the face of America, hands down," the rapper told MTV. "There's no two ways to look at it, man. The man's got what it takes. He's serious."

While the rapper was willing to talk politics, he was a little less forthcoming when it came to divulging details of his much-delayed controversially-titled upcoming album, dubbed '[insert N-word here].' "I don't wanna reveal everybody that I worked with yet," Nas said. "Because I'm still working [and] still finishing up the record. And I think I want that to speak for itself."

In what seems like a strange, not to mention arbitrary, move, Snoop Dogg made some scathing remarks regarding presidential candidate Barack Obama and the senator's campaign in a recent interview with the Guardian. Snoop claims Obama has received funding from the white supremacy group Ku Klux Klan.

"The KKK gave Obama money," the rapper tells the Guardian. "They was one of his biggest supporters." While there's no actual evidence to support Snoop's claim, the rap star seems to be sticking to his personal theory. "Why wouldn't they be? The media won't tell you that. They don't want you to know that. They just want you to know that this n----- befriended this other n----- who be threatening your values. But we all know all presidents lie to get into f---ing office. That's they job," the Doggfather rants.

Meanwhile, the rapper was singing a different tune when he sat down with Larry King to weigh in on the election, while promoting his family oriented reality series, 'Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood.' "I just want to see somebody win that's in the best interest for America," Snoop told King in February. "Whether it be a black man [Barack Obama] or a woman [Hillary Clinton] -- either one is a great move for America, because we need change."

Hip hop heavyweight Russell Simmons launched the "Hip-Hop Team Vote: Turn up the Vote" campaign last week at a rally at the University of Pennsylvania.

"We know that young people answer the call," Simmons said in a statement. "We know that at this critical time our country needs new leadership with new ideas."

The mogul, who announced on March 2 that he's backing presidential candidate Barack Obama, and Hip-Hop Team Vote will hold a hip-hop summit in Philadelphia on April 20, two days before the Pennsylvania primary. The group also plans to target voters in Ohio, Missouri, Texas and Florida.

Artist: Wyclef Jean
Song: 'If I Was President'
Why You Should Watch: The singer-songwriter/producer gives presidential candidates Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain a run for their money while boasting, 'Vote for me,' in the video for his latest single off 'Carnival, Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant.'

A Tribe Called Quest emcee Q-Tip is getting political on his new project. The rapper/producer has tapped presidential hopeful Barack Obama for his upcoming album dubbed 'The Renaissance,' which is set to hit stores in June. Obama won't be rapping on the as-yet-untitled track. Instead, the senator will "speak throughout a song."

"I've got Norah Jones on there, but Barack is the big one. You'll see what happens, I can't reveal too much," Tip told the New York Post's Page Six. Director Spike Lee will also make a guest appearance on the rapper's second solo album.

After checking out pPresidential candidate Barack Obama on the cover of Men's Vogue, rapper turned actor Mos Def had a feeling the senator from illinois could go all the way.

"On an intuitive level I could sense it," Mos said while speaking at New York's 92nd Street YMCA last week. "And when I saw him on the cover of Men's Vogue, even before he threw his hat in, I was like, 'This guy is going to run for president and he's going to win.' And he's going to win because he's an author, and he looks good."

The rapper's instincts would've been on point last week, but the Democratic race has intensified, as Sen. Hillary Clinton is back on course after surprising victories in the Ohio and Texas primaries last night.

Hip-hop heavyweight Russell Simmons announced Sunday that he's throwing his weight behind presidential candidate Barack Obama.

"Obama's leadership, passion and demand for a change resonates effectively with the aspirations of millions of people who want a better quality of life," Simmons said in a statement.

The mogul may have kind words for the Senator now, but last year Simmons went as far as calling Obama a "mouse" when criticizing the candidate's methods of raising money for his campaign.

In the past year, Simmons has spread his support between John Edwards, Dennis Kucinich and Senator Hillary Clinton -- who's worked with the entreprenuer on education and anti-poverty programs.

I guess if you spread the love around enough you're bound to pick a winner.