HIP-HOP SUMMIT ACTION NETWORK’S ³HIP-HOP TEAM VOTE² NATIONAL INITIATIVE GAINS MORE MOMENTUM
DETROIT, MI – MONDAY, MAY 24, 2004 – Multi-platinum recording artist and Detroit native Eminem joined with Russell Simmons, Dr Benjamin Chavis and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) to host the second Detroit Hip-Hop Summit, Saturday, May 22nd at the Fox Theater. Eminem and more than 30 prominent hip-hop recording artists, recording industry executives, DJ’s and community leaders convened to motivate and inspire youth to register to vote, as well as to address social, economic and political issues relevant to the hip-hop generation. The capacity crowd was welcomed by the honorable Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who passionately affirmed the empowerment of youth and stated, ³They stop this movement.²
Since the first Detroit Hip-Hop Summit in 2003, HSAN’s ³Hip-Hop Team Vote² youth voter registration initiative has documented that more than 75,000 new young voters have been registered throughout the state of Michigan, with the largest percentage in the city of Detroit.
Addressing the enthusiastic audience of young people, Russell Simmons, Chairman of the HSAN, emphasized, ³This is the best generation the world has ever seen. What they will see in November is that this is the most powerful generation the world has ever seen.²
Other participants in the 2004 Detroit Hip-Hop Summit included Proof, Swift, Bizarre and Kuniva from D12, Lloyd Banks and Young Buck of the G Unit, Reverend Run of Run-DMC, the Ying Yang Twins, Obie Trice, Bizzy Bone of Bone, Thugs-n-Harmony, Lil’ Scrappy, Paul Rosenberg, CEO of Shady Records, Chris Lighty, CEO of
Violator, Michael Concepcion, CEO of Grand Jury Records, Duane ³Hump² Hobbs, CEO of Sucka Free Records, Eric Nicks, VP A&R Columbia Records, Bryan Calhoun, CEO Label Management Systems, Sara Stokes of Da Band, Green Lantern, Big Pat, Big Herk, Rita Mosely, Cardi Boys, Phat Cat and Melanie Rutherford.
The Detroit Hip-Hop Summit 2004 was moderated by Clear Channel Radio FM98 WJLB’s MC Serch and HSAN’s President/CEO, Dr. Benjamin Chavis.
The Hip-Hop Team Vote/HSAN.org initiative is continuing to gain momentum across America, with Michigan as a key state in the Midwest. Dr. Benjamin Chavis concluded, ³It’s very encouraging and is a tribute to the energy and perseverance of the youth in the state of Michigan. We are trying to reach more than 2 million new young voters before the November election and the positive response we’ve been garnering means we’re well on our way. Our next Summit will be in Columbus, Ohio on June 3rd.²
National corporate sponsors who supported the 2004 Detroit Hip-Hop Summit were Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Playstation2, Pirelli Tires and Clear Channel Radio.
Another highlight of the 2004 Detroit Hip-Hop Summit was the presentation of two charitable contributions. A $10,000 donation was presented by Anheuser-Busch to the Detroit branch of the NAACP Scholarship Fund. In addition, a check for $10,000 was presented by Eminem and Paul Rosenberg, on behalf of the Marshall Mathers Foundation, to the family of local 6 year old boy, Jaiwan, who recently received a kidney transplant.
For further information on Hip-Hop Team Vote or the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network’s national tour, go to www.hsan.org.
