FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jody L. Miller Gabriel Tesoriero Dave Goodson JLM PR, Inc. (212) 431-5227 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Bridget Russo Rocawear (212)497-2190 [email protected]

ROCAWEAR, THE HIP-HOP SUMMIT ACTION NETWORK AND ROCK THE VOTE JOIN FORCES TO REGISTER YOUNG VOTERS

NEW YORK, N.Y. ­ July 2004 ­ There¹s power in numbers and Rocawear, the premiere urban clothing company founded by Damon Dash and partners Jay-Z and Kareem ³Biggs² Burke, is taking that to the polls as it spearheads a joint collaboration between the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Rock The Vote. In September, Rocawear will unveil the new political cap to own if you¹re young and know what time it is about the importance of your vote.

The cap, which will have the three companies¹ logos and will feature the slogan ROC THE VOTE Œ04 across the front, will be sold on the Rocawear website (www.rocawear.com) and the Rock The Vote website (www.rockthevote.com) and both sites will have a link to the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network site (www.hsan.org) . Young people will be able to register to vote, no matter what state you¹re from, on either the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network site or the Rock The Vote site. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the cap will be split between the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and Rock The Vote, to be used to further both organizations mission to register as many young people to vote as possible prior to the elections in November.

In addition, a limited selection of autographed caps signed by Roc-A-Fella Records recording artists and Damon Dash himself will be auctioned off via the Roc-A-Fella website.

³As I¹ve gotten more involved in voter registration through the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and our own Roc Weekends and events, I¹ve seen how powerful the message of social and political activism has been to the kids we¹ve come in contact with in each city,² commented Damon Dash. ³We always do our best at Roc to put back into the community and to support causes we feel strongly about, and there¹s nothing more important than empowering our kids to make things better. I feel good that Rocawear is bringing everyone together and making this statement.²

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, declared, ³Hip-Hop Vote ¹04 will be the most pivotal vote this year and we¹re pleased to be a part of this national campaign to encourage a massive youth voter turnout in the November 2004 elections.²

³Rock The Vote, through its Rap The Vote initiative, is targeting young African Americans, registering them and sending the message that their vote can be a powerful force in the electon.² said Jehmu Greene, President of Rock The Vote. ³Partnering with two street credible outfits such as Rocawear and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will help us mobilize 20 million young people to go to the polls on election day.²

About Rocawear: Rocawear is a co-venture between Roc-A-Fella Enterprises and The Comet Group, Rocawear, has catapulted to the top of the sportswear industry in only a mere 5 years since its inception in 1999. Diversifying from young men¹s wear to women¹s, juniors, children¹s, infants and accessories, Rocawear defines and advances urban cultural trends while remaining a true reflection of Damon Dash and Jay-Z¹s lifestyles. About the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network: The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the largest non-profit, non-partisan national coalition of hip-hop artists and recording industry executives, was founded in 2001 by Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis. The organization is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of hip-hop music while serving as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the well being of ³at-risk² youth throughout the United States. HSAN¹s national youth voter registration and Get Out The Vote initiative is called ³Hip-Hop Team Vote.² About Rock The Vote: Rock the Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, founded in 1990 in response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression. Rock the Vote engages youth in the political process by incorporating the entertainment community and youth culture into its activities. Rock the Vote mobilizes young people to create positive social and political change in their lives and communities.