MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FOR MORE INFORMATION
January 8, 2004

CONTACT:

Linda K. Brown
(713) 737-8321
Jody L. Miller
Ellen Zoe Golden
JLM, PR Inc.
(212) 431-5227
[email protected]/[email protected]

HIP-HOP SUMMIT ANNOUNCED FOR SUPER BOWL WEEKEND IN HOUSTON, TEXAS

RUSSELL SIMMONS & the HIP-HOP SUMMIT ACTION NETWORK PRESENT LARGEST HIP-HOP SUMMIT

Houston…… The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the largest coalition of hip-hop artists and record company executives that was co-founded in 2001 by Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, will host the “Houston Hip-Hop Summit” during the Super Bowl on Saturday, January 31st during Super BowlWeekend at Texas Southern University. The Summit’s theme will be “Taking Back Responsibility: Youth Economic & Political Empowerment.”

A press conference was held today in Houston with many principals involved with the planning of the Summit, music industry representatives as well as prominent local elected officials including: Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis,President/CEO of HSAN, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman Chris Bell, State Senator Rodney Ellis, State Representative Garnet Coleman, Mayor Pro-Tem Carol Alvarado, Council member Ada Edwards,State Board of Education Member Alma Allen, Ira Dodson of Music World Entertainment, Duane “Hump” Hobbs of Sucka Free Records, Jim Jones of Diplomat Records/Rock-A-Fella Family; TSU Board of Regent Paul Johnson;Carmen Watkins, Houston Area Urban

League; Minister Robert Muhammad; Deloyd Parker of SHAPE Community Center, Francis Page, Jr. of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA),Ernest Jackson of Project W.A.V.E.; and representatives from another 25 local and regional music labels.

Dr. Benjamin Chavis stated “We begin 2004 with our national voter registration and get-out-the-vote initiative called “Hip-Hop Team Vote”. The Houston Hip-Hop Summit will facilitate the registering of more than 10,000 new young voters. The City of Houston represents the future of America with all of its diversity and unity of commitment to empower the youth generation. Hip-Hop culture will be celebrated in Houston as we register young people to vote.”

Congresswoman Jackson Lee remarked, “I am extremely elated and excited that Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit is making its way to Houston and the 18th Congressional District because we all recognize that This important voter registration initiative that they have launched is vitally important to the future of our youth as well as our democracy. We also know that the Houston Summit will be the biggest and the best and we welcome the Hip-Hop Family to Houston.”

Congressman Chris Bell said “The whole world will be watching Houston and the Super Bowl but the Houston Hip-Hop Summit will fulfill the promise of what a sporting event is really all about. Nothing can be more positive than to register our youth to vote and I am proud that Houston will be a part of that tremendous effort.”

Participants in the 2004 Houston Hip-Hop Summit will include: Russell Simmons, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Beyonce, Scarface, Master P, Lil Romeo, Damon Dash & the Roc-A-Fella Family, Busta Rhymes, Jermaine Dupri, David Banner, Erykah Badu, Reverence Run of Run DMC, Doug E. Fresh, Solange, Layzie Bone, L. L. Cool J, Jim Jones, Matthew Knowles of Music World Entertainment, Duane “Hump” Hobbs of Sucka Free Records, James Prince of Rap-a-lot Records; local artists including Big Mo of Wreck Shop Records, Baby Beesh of Dope House Records, Slim Thug of Boss Hog Records; the Sucka Free Kids and Dallas of Sucka Free Records, Bloa of Str9-lace Records and many, many others.

The Hip-Hop Team Vote national campaign of the Hip-Hop Action Network has set a goal to register 20,000,000 new voters over the next five years.