T.I. Kicks Off Voter Registration and “Get Out the Vote” Campaign

The Hip Hop Caucus, www.hiphopcaucus.org, and Multi-Platinum, Grammy Award Winning Superstar T.I. have joined forces to launch a powerful new voter registration and Get Out the Vote campaign that combines the power of celebrity and media with 21st century grassroots organizing tactics to mobilize and educate young people between the ages of 18 and 29, who are not in college.  The campaign slogan, “Respect My Vote!” and t-shirts were unveiled today at a press event in Washington, DC, with DJ Green Lantern, Dawn from Danity Kane, Young Berg, Maino, Wale, Young Steff, Washington Wizard Etan Thomas, Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Killieberew, Immortal Technique, Pleasure P, World Class Sprinter and Champion Michael Walton, BET Executive Vice President Stephen Hill and many others turning out to support.

 

The campaign, led by T.I. will employ other celebrities, athletes and high profile influential figures to get out the vote in a variety of ways including PSAs for radio, television and online use; in person appearances; press events; mobile and email alerts from celebrities themselves; and an aggressive online campaign. Famed photographer Jonathan Mannion has been exclusively tapped to shoot portraits of the famous faces adoring the “Respect My Vote!” slogan and t-shirt produced by forthcoming AKOO clothing line as well as direct and produce the PSA’s. Confirmed participating talent will be announced throughout the campaign leading up to the November election.

 

Grassroots voter registration activities will be led by Hip Hop Caucus community-based street teams in seventeen (17) cities across the nation: CA (Bay Area), FL (Miami), GA (Atlanta), IN (Indianapolis),  MD (Baltimore), MI (Detroit), MO (St. Louis); NC (Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham), OH (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus), PA (Philadelphia), TX (Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston), VA (Richmond), and DC (Washington, DC).

 

Hip Hop Caucus President, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., who helped create VOTE OR DIE! with Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2004, explains “No matter who wins in November, if large numbers of young people do not vote, then we all lose.  It does not bode well for the future of our country, and our Democracy, if young people, particularly those who are not in college, are not engaged or involved in the electoral process.  This campaign is critical in strengthening our Democracy and thus protecting our freedom.”

 

Half of young Americans ages 18-29 have never enrolled in college. According to research done by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), a non-partisan research center, nearly 80 percent of the young voters who turned out on Super Tuesday had college experience. The disparity between college educated and non-college educated young voter participation is also evident by their turnout rates: one in four eligible young voters with college experience voted on Super Tuesday, compared with one in 14 eligible young voters with no college experience.

 

Based on these statistics, the Hip Hop Caucus and T.I. have elected to focus on engaging those individuals who are part of the larger scope of the non-college and non-voting community.

 

T.I., who is gearing up for the release on his highly anticipated new album, “Paper Trail” (Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records) on September 30th and has grown to truly be one of his generation’s most captivating speakers explains, “It’s an honor and a pleasure to be involved with the Hip Hop Caucus and be a part of such a worthy cause and important campaign.  I look forward to urging the masses to take advantage of the right that I no longer have.”

 

This campaign will build on what worked in 2004 by using proven market outreach strategies in an electoral context. With programs including bus tours, street teams to register voters, voter education events during the Democratic and Republican Conventions and other events, we will integrate the audience building capacity of celebrities and media, and the data management and technology available for political organizations. The campaign will provide insights and data into the political behavior of this generally unengaged citizenry, and build sustainable community participation.

 

For more information visit www.hiphopcaucus.org or www.trapmuzik.com or to request press conference b-roll and photos please contact Tracy Nguyen, tnguyen@5wpr.com or Reggie Dance, rdance@5wpr.com at 5W Public Relations, 212-999-5585.

 

About the Hip Hop Caucus:

 

The Hip Hop Caucus was established in September 2004 by activists and organizers who were working to get out the vote. In organizing and mobilizing around the 2004 elections we realized the critical need for a sustainable political organization that empowers the Hip Hop generation to participate in the policymaking process.   Through the Hip Hop Caucus we are challenging the demonization of a generation and culture by creating a space for young people to speak up – to discuss and debate a new vision of a society and a government that works for all of us.  We engage the Hip Hop generation, those born after 1964, through issue campaigns, events, and voter education.

THE RECESSION IS ON : YOUNG JEEZY’s THE RECESSION – NEW CTE/DEF JAM ALBUM – SET FOR SEPTEMBER 2ND RELEASE

Young Jeezy’s newest single, “Put On” (featuring Kanye West), has exploded into the Top 5. ”Put On” is the #4 track at Urban radio, with over 5,300 spins and over 44 million in audience nationwide.

 

            That may not sound like THE RECESSION, but that’s what Young Jeezy is calling the third album chapter in his saga, arriving in stores and online this September 2nd through his CTE/Def Jam Recordings label. 

 

            The run-up to The Recession will include a lot of firsts for Jeezy, including his first-ever appearance on the cover of the latest issue of VIBE magazine. This month he appears on his 4th XXL cover, and will soon appear on his first-ever cover of The Source. Last month, Young Jeezy made his first-ever appearance as a performer at the annual BET Awards telecast, performing “Put On” with a surprise appearance from Kanye. The video for “Put On,” directed by Gil Green, debuted last week on MTV and BET and has quickly become a hit online.

 

            THE RECESSION is the highly-anticipated follow-up to Young Jeezy’s RIAA platinum second album, The Inspiration (released December 2006). The album’s first single, “I Luv It,” jumped inside the Top 15 across-the-board on the Hot 100, R&B/Hip-Hop, and Digital Songs charts, and lit up the Hot Rap Tracks at #7.  The even more successful second single “Go Getta” rose to  #3 Rap, #9 R&B/Hip-Hop, #14 Digital, and #18 Hot 100, while its video moved into Elite 8 Rotation on MTV2.

 

As Young Jeezy readies for the highly anticipated release of The Recession, he will kick off a national promotional tour on August 10th in Houston, TX for 11 city performances which will end on his album release date, September 2nd in his hometown, Atlanta, GA.

            Concurrent with “Put On” and the imminent release of THE RECESSION, Jeezy has launched USDA2Day.com, a new blog and social net­working site to serve as “the official media source for the ’hood.”  The site will provide daily updates with breaking news stories, plus new music by Jeezy and artists signed to his CTE record label, including rapper and USDA member Blood Raw, who recently released My Life: The True Testimony, his debut album as a solo artist on CTE/Def Jam.  Blood Raw made his major label recording debut last year on Young Jeezy Presents USDA: Cold Summer “The Authorized Mixtape”, the first release from CTE, a co-venture with IDJMG (released May 2007).  The RIAA gold album – and multi-platinum Atlanta-based rapper Jeezy’s nationwide “Street Dream” tour – introduced his latest project, USDA (United Streets Dopeboyz of America), a collaboration with Blood Raw and Atlanta emcee Slick Pulla.  Cold Summer debuted at #1 on Billboard’s R&B and Rap charts (and #4 on the pop side), and spun off two singles, “White Girl” and “Corporate Thuggin’.”

 

            TONIGHT, July 29th at 9:02pm, Jeezy will launch new, original content on USDA2day.com, and will do so every Tuesday until the release of The Recession on 9/2.

 

            Meanwhile, THE RECESSION continues the saga of Atlanta’s Young Jeezy, one of the most successful rapper/entrepreneurs on the street today.  It was the massive popularity and major-label sales of mixtapes like 2004’s Trap Or Die that brought Jeezy national attention.  His “million dollar dreams” turned into reality with the RIAA platinum #1 Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101, one of 2005’s biggest debut albums.  Jeezy was named in Rolling Stone’s “New Faces: Artists To Watch” and MTV News’ You Hear It First.  A phenomenal seven tracks from Let’s Get It found their way onto radio and the charts: “And Then What,” “Soul Survivor,” “Trap Or Die,” “Go Crazy,” “Tear It Up,” “Trap Star,” and “My Hood.”  The album topped many critics’ year-end lists, was named the New York Times’ Pop Album of the Year, and Jeezy was named Best New R&B/Hip-Hop Artist at the Billboard Music Awards.

 

            2006’s The Inspiration quickly pushed past RIAA platinum, out-selling nearly every rap album on the charts.  In support, Jeezy hit the road with Jim Jones, Baby, Lil’ Wayne, and Fat Joe for the seven-week, 23-city “Street Dream Tour” of March-April 2007. 

 

            In addition to his success as an entertainer and chief executive of CTE, Young Jeezy has also launched his own clothing line, Eighty Seven Thirty Two (8732).  In December 2007, he gave back by inaugurating Toyz n da Hood, a week-long annual toy drive that gave away 1,000 toys for 1,000 kids at various locations in Atlanta (Fourth Ward) and Macon (Unionville).

 

Tour Schedule (dates subject to change):

 

DATE                CITY                             VENUE

Aug. 10             Houston, TX                   Arena Theatre

Aug. 12             Dallas, TX                      House of Blues

Aug. 13             New Orleans, LA            House of Blues

Aug. 15             Detroit, MI                     Plan

Aug. 18             Chicago, IL                    House of Blues

Aug. 22             Washington, DC            Norva

Aug. 23             Cleveland, OH                House of Blues

Aug. 26             New York, NY                Blender Theatre

Aug. 29             Jacksonville, FL             Plush

Aug. 30             Tampa, FL                     Jannus Landing

Sept. 2              Atlanta, GA                   Tabernacle

DJ REVOLUTION “KING OF THE DECKS” ALBUM IN STORES SEPTEMBER 16th ON DUCK DOWN RECORDS

DJ Revolution said it best in a recent interview, “the connection between the DJ and the emcee has been severed. “King of The Decks” is my attempt at reconnecting it.” DJ Revolution did just that with his new album, as he brought together some of the most talented names in Hip Hop today, who not only produce quality music, but also respect the craft of the DJ Culture.

DJ Revolution has spent 15 years perfecting that craft on the SP 1200. He’s currently behind the wheels of the longest running Hip Hop show in the history of commercial radio, “THE WORLD FAMOUS WAKE UP SHOW alongside Sway & King Tech.

Aside from his weekly duties on the show based out of LA on Power 106, and syndicated Worldwide, he has lent his now infamous scratch techniques to countless records and his production skills to many established artists. REV has also taken his skillz to the far corners as the globe and ripped clubs in locations such as Japan , Europe, Australia and New Zealand . He has also shared the stage DJ’ing for many artists including legends like Rakim all the way to current superstars such as Kanye West. Revolution has released two of his own Full length LP’s (“In 12’s we trust/R2K”) and one with his partners Sway & Tech (“This or That”).

As DJ Revolution readies “KING OF THE DECKS,” in stores on September 16th, he divulged further on the issues of the lack of communication between the MC and THE DJ stating that it “is one of the most obvious reasons Hip Hop has devolved so drastically over the years. Since MC’s in general decided to toss aside the DJ as an asset and integral part of their success from production to performance, the music has suffered tremendously.  My goal is to re-introduce to the world what a DJ is. He or She is not just a celebrity, or someone who plays records, or makes funny sounds with turntables. He or she is all of that and more. I recruited some of the most legendary and also most talented up and coming artists to help me express all of this within the context of the music.  The title of the album is by no means a way of saying I’m the best on the turntables. “King of the Decks” is obviously just a play on words related to a deck of cards. However, it is also a statement that needs to be remembered. The DJ is King.”

Tracklisting and credits for DJ Revolution’s King Of The Decks (all songs produced DJ Revolution except where noted):

1.) Intro f/Jazzy Jeff

2.) King Of The Decks f/ Sean Price & Tash

3.) THE DJ f/ KRS ONE

4.) Do My Thing f/ Guilty Simpson & Royce Da 5′ 9″

5.) LADJ (skit)

6.) Funky Piano f/ Bishop Lamont, Crooked I, Styliztik Jones

7.) For The Kids (skit)

8.) The Big Top f/ Special Teamz

9). Start The Revolution f/ Boot Camp Clik

10.) Scratch Nerds (skit)

11.) Invaders from the Planet Sqratch f/ DJ Qbert

12.) EY! f/ Joell Ortiz and Termanology (Produced by DJ Revolution & DJ Numark)

13.) Casualties of Tour f/ Rakaa Iriscience (produced by Marco Polo)

14.) Damage f/ Blaq Poet & Bumpy Knuckles

15.) Willie Lynch f/ Styliztik Jones and KBimean

16.) The Biggest Up f/ DJ Premier (Skit)

17.) Blow Da Spot f/ Strong Arm Steady

18.) School f/ Planet Asia

19.) Spit Ridiculous f/ Defari

20.) Pro’s & Con’s f/ Evidence

21.) Calling Haul (Skit)

22.) Man or Machine

23.) The Set Up f/ Sway & King Tech

24.) The Re-Match f/ DJ Spinbad

(ALL SONGS PRODUCED, MIXED and ARRANGED by DJ REVOLUTION)

The Core DJ’s 5th Year Anniversary and The Core DJ’s Retreat IX

The Core DJ’s 5th Year Anniversary Celebration at Retreat IX will be a monumental milestone for one of the Nation’s most influential DJ coalitions.  Celebrating their legacy and achievements, hundreds of DJs and industry professionals will converge on Myrtle Beach, SC to unite for a weekend of networking, festivities and honoring some of the past, present, and future innovators of the music industry.

The Core DJs have successfully presented past retreats in Chicago, Miami (2x), St. Louis, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas and New Orleans; and will continue to do so, making their mark in every city that is part of the movement within the music industry.  The Core DJs have decided to bring Retreat IX to Myrtle Beach, SC as their next stop during the weekend of September 5-8, 2008 at the Hilton Resort Myrtle Beach.

The Core DJ Retreat acts as a reunion for all DJs by inviting them to join together, no matter what crew affiliations they have, to network with one another, while attending listening sessions, panels and seminars detailing new industry trends and artists/label performance showcases which have included events presented by Atlantic Records, Def Jam, Warner Brothers, Konvit Muzic, Interscope, J Records, Jive Records, So So Def, Rap-A-Lot Records, Bad Boy Entertainment, Capitol Records, DTP, Grand Hustle, CTE, and a host of others.

For more information regarding registration or sponsorship for The Core DJs and The Core DJs Retreat IX, contact Donata Davis by emailing. donata.coredjs@gmail.com or call 877.333.9940 ext 2.  For press credentials please contact Linda Robins by emailing linda.coredjs@gmail.com or call 877.333.9940 ext 3.

About The Core DJs and The Core DJs Retreat 

Now in its 5th year, The Core DJs, founded by National Mix Show DJ Tony Neal is a premier coalition and acts as a union for DJs.  The Core DJs has over 400 of the countries most influential DJs as well as The Core DJs Latino, The Core DJ Legends, The Core DJs Africa and The Core Models.  The Core DJs Retreat is one of the special added components that reunite these members for a weekend of networking, festivities, and honoring some of the past, present, and future innovators of the music industry.