Jay-Z Begins Final Victory Lap in Support of His Last Solo Album, The Black Album
Wednesday September 24, 10:21 pm ET Madison Square Garden Opens Door to Hip-Hop on November 25th Concert to Benefit Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund

On November 25, 2003, Jay-Z will perform at Madison Square Garden to launch his last nationwide promotional tour. The concert, produced by Clear Channel Entertainment, will benefit the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund.

Joining Jay-Z at today’s press conference were Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Reverend Run of Run-DMC, Roc-A-Fella recording artist Memphis Bleek and renowned DJ Funkmaster Flex.

“The Black Album is my last solo album because I want to go out while I’m hot and strong,” Jay-Z asserted. “The success of my recording career has opened up other opportunities for me which I want to now focus on.”

Russell Simmons, co-founder and Chairman of Def Jam Records and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, stated, “Hip-hop is about giving back to the community. Jay-Z represents the best in artistic talents, as well as contributing towards empowering people. We’re going to register millions of young people to vote and the benefit concert will help us fulfill our goal.”

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, affirmed, “It is more than fitting that Jay-Z, one of the world’s greatest recording artists, begins his final victory lap in the world’s greatest arena Madison Square Garden.”

For more information on Jay-Z and The Black Album, go to www.jayz.net.

To register to vote as part of this effort, go to www.hsan.org .

Tickets for the Jay-Z Madison Square Garden concert go on sale Saturday, September 27th at 9am at the Madison Square Garden box office or Ticketmaster (212) 307 * 7171

     For More Information on Jay Z:
     Jana Fleishman / Sr. Dir. Media & Artist Relations
     Island Def Jam Music Group
     212 * 445 * 3298 / [email protected]
     For Information on Russell Simmons and HSAN:
     Jody L. Miller, Ellen Zoe Golden/JLM PR, Inc.
     212*431*5227
     [email protected] [email protected]

For More Information:
Jana Fleishman / Sr. Dir. Media & Artist Relations
Island Def Jam Music Group
212 * 445 * 3298 / [email protected]
For Information on Russell Simmons and HSAN:
Jody L. Miller, Ellen Zoe Golden/JLM PR, Inc.
212*431*5227; [email protected], [email protected]

JAY-Z BEGINS HIS VICTORY LAP AT WORLD FAMOUS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

PERFORMANCE SUPPORTS FINAL SOLO ALBUM, THE BLACK BOOK AND THE BLACK S.CARTE

PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT HIP-HOP SUMMIT ACTION NETWORK AND SHAWN CARTER SCHOLARSHIP FUND

(New York, NY; September 24, 2003); On November 25, 2003, Roc-A-Fella recording artist, Jay-Z will perform at New York’s world famous Madison Square Garden. Jay-Z chose the world famous venue to kick off his nationwide promotion of his final solo release. The concert supports Jay-Z’s triple threat: his final solo album, The Black Album, his autobiography The Black Book and the black version of his signature Reebok sneaker, S. Carter. The Black Album will hit stores on November 28th, Black Friday. The concert, produced by Clear Channel Entertainment, will benefit the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network,

The Black Album: Jay-Z’s final solo album featured producers include Pharrell, Kanye West and Just Blaze. Jay has released 9 full length albums, all which, at a minimum, have gone platinum.

The Black Book: Published by MTV Books/Pocket Books ; Jay Z opens up about his and talks about the difficult choices he had to make, including the complicated life he led while growing up in Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects and how it prepared him for becoming one of the most successful hip-hop artists of all time.

S. Carter: S. Carter Collection by Rbk” was launched worldwide as a limited edition at key Foot Locker stores, Champs Sports stores, urban retailers and boutiques.

This performance is a testament to the success Jay-Z has had during his past nationwide tours:
Hard Knock Life: Most successful all hip-hop show to date. Sold out 52 city nationwide tour, which featured DMX, Ja Rule, Method Man, Redman, Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek. It spawned the hit “behind the scenes” film and DVD Backstage.

Sprite Liquid Mix Tour: Jay-Z headlined annual festival, which sold-out in it’s 1st year. Artists included N.E.R.D., Hoobastank and The Roots.

Rock The Mic: This summer, 2003, Jay-Z branded the annual Rock The Mic Tour. Jay-Z and featured artists such as; 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot and Sean Paul headlined the sold-out nation wide tour.

This Madison Square Garden performance is a continuation of the many doors that Jay-Z has opened for other artists throughout his career. The entrepreneur, philanthropist and spokesman has been the first in many things.

Roc-A-Fella Records: mutli-platinum music company which houses platinum selling artists Beanie Sigel, Freeway and Memphis Bleek
Roc-A-Fella Films: Have produced films such as “Backstage,” “State Property” and “Paid In Full”
Roc-A-Wear: Multi-million dollar clothing line distributed throughout Europe, Japan, Canada and the US. The line carries men’s, women’s, girls, boys, big and tall, loungewear, hats and belts.

Armadale: Premium two grain, distilled Scottish vodka distributed by Roc-A-Fella in the US

S. Carter: Jay Z is the first non-athlete to have a signature sneaker line. To date, the S. Carter is Reebok’s fastest selling brand

Jay Z MTV Unplugged: 1st hip-hop artist to release all unplugged album.

60 Minutes II: First hip-hop artist to be featured on the news program. The segment was nominated for “Outstanding Interview” at this year’s Emmy Awards.

In addition to his professional success, Jay-Z continues to give back to his neighborhood and community. He formed Team Roc, an organization that creates after school programs for underprivileged children and continues the Annual Santa Claus Toy Drive. Always promoting education, Jay-Z has also launched the Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund, which will offer the opportunity for outstanding students a chance to attend the college of their choice.

About the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network:

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, founded in 2001, is a non-proft, non-partisan national coalition of Hip-Hop artists, entertainment industry leaders, education advocates, civil rights proponents and youth leaders dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns FOR the well-being of youth throughout the United States. Founded by Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, the organization has most recently been committed to improving public education and youth voter registration nationwide. Its Hip-Hop Team Vote is commmitted to registering 20 million young voters over the next five years, and HSAN recently joined forces with the World Wrestling Entertainment’s Smackdown Your Vote to register 2 million more young voters for the 2004 elections than were registered for 2000. For further information on the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and to register to vote, go to www.hsan.org.

“I’m blessed with all the success I’ve had, I know that. But I think anybody that came from the projects can look at my story and say: ‘I can do that too.’ I’m a regular guy. I used to play ball and get into a little bit of trouble. Now I own my own record label. I want kids coming up to see I’m doing my own thing and I’m successful at it. I would love for them to see this as something they can set their sights on.” …. JAY-Z