Russell Simmons' Hip-Hop Summit Moves Forward and Forms Hip-Hop Summit Action Network With Offices in New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles & Names Board.

Entertainment Editors

NEW YORK--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--July 19, 2001

Creates Political Action Committee to Promote

Political Empowerment of Hip-hop Community;

"Hip-Hop and Political Empowerment" Brain Trust to be Included in

Agenda of Annual Congressional Black Caucus in Washington

Russell Simmons, organizer of the historic Hip-Hop Summit that took place in New York recently and served to galvanize the hip-hop community around the theme of "Taking Back Responsibility," has taken another step forward toward accomplishing its goals and formed the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, dedicating to realizing the initiatives that came out of the Summit.

The national headquarters will be located in New York within the offices of The Source magazine, with field offices in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles. Executive Director of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will be Minister Benjamin (Chavis) Muhammad, who also acted as executive producer of the Summit.

In addition, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network also announces the formation of its board, which will include such members as Russell Simmons, the Reverend Al Sharpton, Sean "Puffy" Combes, Minister Benjamin Muhammad, Dave Mays, Def Jam President Kevin Liles, Motown President Kedar Massenburg, Loud Records CEO Steve Rifkind and Interscope/Geffen/A&M Executive Vice President Steve Stoute.

"The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will be inclusive and representative of the entire hip-hop community, which has emerged on the global scene as the most significant cultural and socio-political force of the 21st century," commented Minister Benjamin.

Added The Source publisher Dave Mays, "Realizing the goals that came out of the Hip-Hop Summit is something we're all very serious about, so we are very happy to extend the use of our offices as the headquarters for the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. We look forward now to working with Russell, Minister Ben and the other members of the board to help our community realize the power it holds to create positive and proactive change and to also celebrate and inform the world about the good works this community already has accomplished."

Unprecedented in its scope and level of cooperation, the Hip-Hop Summit drew together more than 300 hip-hop artists and executives, Congressional Representatives, as well as some of the most influential civil rights leaders and organizations in the country. Martin Luther King III, the NAACP, the Urban League, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Million Family Movement, the Nation of Islam, Nkiru Center for Education & Culture, The Schomberg Center for Research and Culture and Rock/Rap The Vote all lent their support. At its conclusion, the Summit served to "not only bridge generational gaps, but also to link the financial and political acumen of the social groups with the rappers' youth outreach capabilities." (USA Today, 6/18/2001). Through this potent alliance, the initiatives that were created at the close of the Hip-Hop Summit are already being acted upon. The initiatives included Parental Advisory Labeling for CDs and its subsequent marketing and advertising; Industry Adoption of Hip-Hop Mentoring Programs and Political Empowerment of the Hip Hop Community.

Toward that end, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HHSAN) has formed the Hip-Hop Political Action Committee, entitled Nu America PAC, the purpose of which will be to promote the political empowerment of the hip-hop community and to provide political contributions to candidates who take a strong stance on freedom of speech and who are supportive of political issues affecting the hip-hop community. Already on the agenda for the HHSAN will be this year's Congressional Black Caucus, for which a panel on hip-hop has been created, as a direct result of the Hip-Hop Summit. Founded in 1971 by thirteen congressional representatives, the Congressional Black Caucus is a group of over thirty members of Congress whose goals are to create or influence the course of domestic and international policies and legislation to benefit African Americans. While the Congressional Black Caucus has been primarily focused on the concerns of African Americans, the Caucus has also been at the forefront of legislative campaigns for human and civil rights for all citizens.

On September 27th, the newest panel at the Congressional Black Caucus entitled "Hip-Hop and Political Empowerment," will include participation from Summit organizer Russell Simmons, RIAA President Hilary Rosen, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA.), Rep. Earl Hilliard (D-AL), Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and Mario Velasquez of Rock/Rap The Vote. Other participants, including artists, will be announced shortly. The "Hip-Hop and Political Empowerment" panel will address how the hip-hop community will be mobilizing for he 2002 elections.

"The hip-hop community has been incredibly receptive to our attempt to organize and mobilize their efforts toward making young people's concerns a priority in Washington and in US government, in general," commented Russell Simmons. "We're very excited and we are sure their input will help to shape a better America."

Stay tuned for information on the upcoming Hip-Hop Summit follow-up meetings in Los Angeles and Miami.