Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons announced Sunday that he is endorsing Democratic candidate Barack Obama, although he showed his respect for Hillary Clinton.

Simmons said that he was impressed by the national movement of people from all ethnic, racial, political, social and economic backgrounds that back Obama. He said that Obama’s support among young people is very important.  The 51-year-old music mogul has encouraged influential musicians to be more active in the political process.

“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, according to the New York Times.

However, Simmons criticized Obama last year, after the Illinois senator complained about the violence and irreverent language used by rappers in their songs.

“There are a whole bunch of young rappers who look like us, who use the words that Don Imus does, who are on our radio stations,” Obama said during a speech in South Carolina.

Russell Simmons criticized Obama’s lack of understanding of the hip-hop phenomenon, and recommended him, and also the other politicians to look into the real causes that generate these lyrics.

“My response to Sen. Obama is that you have to talk about the poverty and ignorance that creates such a climate that the poets can talk like that. And all the politicians owe them an education and an opportunity for a better life - and maybe they'll say something better,” Simmons told ABC News.

In January 2007, Def Jam Recordings co-founder, described his ideal candidate as having the following qualities: “If you could take Barack Obama's image, add Hillary Rodham Clinton's money and John Edwards' voice, that would be my candidate.”