RECORD BREAKING HOUSTON HIP-HOP SUMMIT
REGISTERS & ENCOURAGES OVER 20,000 YOUTH TO VOTE

HIP-HOP SUPER BOWL EMPHASIZES YOUTH ECONOMIC
& POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT

(New York. NY) – FEBRUARY 3, 2004 – The Houston Hip-Hop Summit held at Texas Southern University (TSU) Arena in Houston, Texas on Saturday, January 31st, drew an over capacity crowd of newly registered young voters. During an intensive two weeks of "grass roots" registering and internet mobilizing throughout a seven county area of southeast Texas including Houston and Harris County, more than 20,000 youth were registered to vote and encouraged to "get-out-the-vote" on election day.

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) stated, "With all of the lead-up voter registration and promotional activities, the Houston Hip-Hop Summit set the world record. It was the largest and potentially the most impactful Summit and has assisted us in accelerating our national momentum in 2004 to register and mobilize millions of youth to vote".

More than ten thousand youth who actually attended pre-Summit events, which included voter registration rallies at local Houston area high schools, civic centers, sports events and pre-Super Bowl activities at local night clubs as well as "Camp Crunk" (the hip-hop Super Bowl fairground), joined thousands of youth on the day of the Summit at TSU.

The overall attendance in all of the Houston Hip-Hop Summit related events was well over 20,000.

Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network emphasized "The Houston Hip-Hop Summit was another great day in the evolution of hip-hop. I believe rap is God’s sound track. If it’s good, then it speaks the truth. We are grateful to Beyonce and to Master P for hosting this historic Summit."

The long list of hip-hop artists who attended the Houston Summit included: Beyonce, Master P, Ice Cube, Scarface, Reverend Run, Doug E. Fresh, Jermaine Dupri, Damon Dash, Erykah Badu, David Banner, James Prince, Duane "Hump" Hobbs, Kanye West, Chingy, Layzie Bone, D.O.C., Jim Jones, Bun B, Big Tigger, Kid Capri, Crooked I, Nick Cannon and actor Boris Kodjoe.

The Houston Hip-Hop Summit also drew the support and presence of both NFL and NBA hip-hop athletes and sports professionals including Corey Bradford, Marcus Coleman, Aaron Glenn, Jamie Sharper, Fernando Bryant, Byron Chamberlain, Donald Driver, Robert Holcombe, Eric Wright, Victor Hobson, Bryan Scott, Jeremiah Trotter, Marcellus Wiley and Chris Samuels. Booker T and Mark Henry represented the WWE.

The Honorable Mayor Bill White of Houston and the TSU Chairman of the Board of Regents Paul Johnson welcomed the new youthful voters to the Houston Hip-Hop Summit. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, (D-TX), was joined by her Congressional Black Caucus colleagues Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Danny Davis (D-IL). The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Founder/Chairman of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, also rendered words of inspiration to the Summit participants.

The Summit addressed a wide range of issues including support for public education, reparations, youth leadership development and the need to have a more effective national campaign to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network presented special national awards at the Houston Summit to Beyonce and the Knowles Family, Master P, Erykah Badu, Scarface, James Prince, Jermaine Dupri, Terry and Duane "Hump" Hobbs and the D.O.C. for their outstanding contributions to youth and community empowerment.

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Ellen Zoe Golden
[email protected]
JLM PR
580 Broadway, Suite 1208
New York, New York 10012

212-431-5227
212-431-6818–FAX

Russell Simmon’s Hip Hop Summit Action Network; Roc-A-Fella Records and Roc Music along with Rocawear, Armadale Vodka, other corporate ventures from Damon Dash; writer, filmmaker, producer, cultural critic Nelson George

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