HIP-HOP ANSWERS RAP CRITICS WITH FIRST-EVER J.A.M. AWARDS & CONCERT

  
HIP-HOP ANSWERS RAP CRITICS WITH FIRST-EVER
J.A.M. AWARDS & CONCERT
www.jammasterjay.org
Hip-Hop Social Responsibility Awards Promote
Jam Master Jay’s Vision of Justice, Arts & Music (“J.A.M.”)

NEW YORK, September 13, 2007 – The Jam Master Jay Foundation for Music in partnership with EPOP International, adidas and Hot 97, announced a landmark initiative today called the J.A.M. Awards.  Built on the foundation of Jam Master Jay and RUN-DMC, the pioneers of hip-hop, this star-studded entertainment special event will aim to show the world the most positive aspects of rap.  The event takes place November 29 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.

Co-host DMC states, “The J.A.M. Awards will let the world know that hip-hop is alive and well and as relevant today as it was when RUN-DMC emerged as a major talent 25 years ago. This unprecedented event is not designed merely for music fans, but also for people who want to see hip-hop answer its critics with a resounding voice of hope and inspiration. I can’t yet mention everyone who will be there; I will go on record to say that it will be historic. I’m proud to be a part of this and I know Jay will be with us in spirit.” Acknowledging the significance of the J.A.M. Awards, Eminem was the first artist to donate money to support the cause.

Confirmed artist Snoop Dogg says, “The J.A.M. Awards will be over the top.  Jam Master Jay and RUN- DMC paved the way for me and everyone I know. As pioneers of hip-hop, their positive message will live on through this J.A.M. concert and future J.A.M. Awards.” Other artists scheduled to perform include Marley Marl, Mobb Deep, Talib Kweli, Dead Prez, Papoose, Raekwon, Q-Tip, Everlast featuring DJ Muggs, De La Soul and DMC, with additional artists to confirm within the coming weeks.

The star-studded benefit concert will be co-hosted by Jam Master Jay’s wife Terri Corley-Mizell.  She said of the inaugural J.A.M. Awards, “These unique awards are built on our efforts to promote Social Justice, Arts and Music (J.A.M.). Every year, one honoree from the hip-hop community will be selected and honored in the field of social Justice, one in the Arts and another in Music.  The winners will be selected based upon the impact they have made in their respective category and their record of helping others in their local community and around the world.”

“This is hip-hop at its best,” said JMJ Board member Lyor Cohen, Chairman and CEO of U.S. Recorded Music for Warner Music Group. “The message we’re promoting with the J.A.M. Awards is simple and unassailable. Many relevant artists I know, including all the members of RUN DMC, were inspired by Social Justice, Arts or Music–those are the necessary elements to build a dream.” 

adidas is pleased and honored to join the Jam Master Jay Foundation in these efforts to promote the best of Hip-hop, as demonstrated by Jam Master Jay, a true pioneer. A dedicated collection of adidas merchandise corresponding to the upcoming J.A.M. Awards event will be available at the adidas Originals and Footaction retailers nationally.

Tickets for the J.A.M. Awards go on sale Thursday, October 4 through Ticketmaster.

THE JAM MASTER JAY FOUNDATION FOR MUSIC (www.JamMasterJay.org) is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization created by Jam Master Jay’s wife, Terri Corley-Mizell, and Jay’s close friends to support music and arts education in rural and urban schools, promoting her husband’s legacy of creativity and community support.  The Foundation operates under the simple social justice premise that regardless of socio-economic status, every child deserves equal access to the arts.  The Foundation supports the idea that social Justice, Arts and Music ("J.A.M.") education should be in every school, in every region of the country, giving children the opportunity to expand their world-view through artistic expression.  Foundation Board Members include: Terri Corley-Mizell, DMC, Russell Simmons, Lyor Cohen, Erik Blamoville, Jesse Itzler, Stephen Nitkin, Rob Principe, Constance Schwartz, Cathy Symeonidis, Ivan Taback and David Weisswasser.

RUN-DMC included the late Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell, Joseph "Run" Simmons and Darryl "DMC” McDaniels.  The group is arguably the greatest in hip-hop history.  They were the first rap group to receive a gold plaque, the first to earn a platinum album, the first to star on MTV, the first to become a household name, and for two generations of rap fans, they are the face and sound of '80s hardcore hip-hop.  The group had an enormous impact on the development of hip-hop and is credited with breaking the genre into mainstream music. 

THE J.A.M. AWARDS was created by EPOP International Founder and CEO David Clark and “Kaves,” a New York graffiti legend and front-man for the band Lordz of Brooklyn.

EPOP INTERNATIONAL (www.EPOPinternational.com): Event producer EPOP International was founded in 2000 by CEO David Clark. EPOP is unique, as it is the only company solely dedicated to creating and producing cause-related properties in all forms of media which raise funds and awareness for some of the most significant causes of our time.  In 2002 EPOP partnered with President Nelson Mandela to create the “46664” HIV/AIDS concert in South Africa.  Globally broadcast on World AIDS Day via MTV, the landmark event featured performances by Bono, Beyonce, Queen, The Corrs, Peter Gabriel, The Eurythmics and Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens).  In 2005 EPOP created the “Anne Frank 75th Birthday Tribute” with her cousin and only living family member Buddy Elias.  The woman who hid the legendary Frank family for over 2 years, Miep Gies, 97, was the person to later find Anne Frank’s Diary. She along with Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter and Senators Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama and Bob Dole, chaired the historic event.  The event featured performances by Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Gere, Natalie Portman, Cindy Lauper, Lou Reed, Laura Linney and more.

adidas GROUP (www.adidas.com):  The adidas Group is one of the global leaders within the sporting goods industry, offering a broad range of products around the three core segments: adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade-adidas Golf. The adidas Originals collection is represented by the Trefoil – the classic three-leafed logo introduced in 1972. Representing a fusion of sport authenticity and global street style, adidas Originals extends the brand’s unique sport heritage creating an aspirational fashion label for today’s lifestyle consumer.

HOT 97 GROUP (www.hot97.com): HOT 97 (WQHT FM) is the world's first all hip-hop station and has held the dominant position in New York for over ten years. HOT 97 is best known for its celebrity on air talent, such as Miss Jones, Angie Martinez (Grammy nominated artist) and Funkmaster Flex (television host, multiple gold records), as well as being the world's premier source for hip-hop music culture.  

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For all press inquires, please contact:   
Mitch Schneider Organization: 818.380.0400  
Shazila Mohammed, x238 – shazila@msopr.com    
Alexandra Greenberg, x223 – agreenberg@msopr.com

For all additional inquires, please contact:
J.A.M. Producer: 917.399.7897
Rocco Giordano – rocco@epopinternational.com