No, it is nothing like “I’m just a Bill.”
Tyheir Kindred, the rapper known as YelloPain, said he hopes the song "My Vote Dont Count" illustrates why votes do count.
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At the beginning of the video filmed in downtown Dayton, the 25-year-old graduate of Ponitz Career Techology Center expresses the delusion many feel about the way elections work while strolling down the street.
He then flips the script in a classroom setting to explain how power is distributed between the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and why it is important to vote even when it is not a presidential election.
Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, retweet a post about the video Monday, Jan. 27.
This is terrific. Thank you @YelloPain for reminding us why every election matters and thank you @ArlanWasHere for amplifying. Hope you’ll watch: https://t.co/XUduGSvPaI
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) January 27, 2020
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YelloPain said he has many fans, family members and friends who do not believe voting at the local or state levels can make a difference.
Credit: Amelia Robinson
Credit: Amelia Robinson
“They push the agenda that the system is fixed and it is supposed to work against us,” the nationally-known rapper said.
Several of his online videos — including 2019's "Last Time" and "Graduation (Do you have a favorite child?)" — have received millions of views on YouTube and other online platforms.
His work can be found on multiple streaming sites.
He said he did not understand it fully until his cousin, Desiree Tims, broke it down for him a few months ago.
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“Metaphorically, Desiree took me to school. She taught me what I should have learned in school, what they didn’t teach me,” he said. “I wanted to get people in my same position to vote.”
Credit: Amelia Robinson
Credit: Amelia Robinson
Tims, who appears briefly in the video, is running against Eric Moyer in the March primary to be the Democratic party nominee who will compete for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Mike Turner.
John Anderson and Kathi Flanders are competing against Turner to be the Republican nominee.
YelloPain said he is in a unique position to reach those who feel left out of the process.
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“People who are in politics don’t know how to speak the language of people who don’t understand,” he said.
“The reason this video is so powerful is because I speak both languages.”
A rapper since age 7, YelloPain says he derived his moniker from the happiness expressed by the color yellow and the pain he has suffered in his life.
“I think music is therapy for me and other people, and it is the best teacher as far as life (goes),” he said.
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