DALLAS, TX ­ OCTOBER 15, 2002 ­ The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), which held its first major Summit in New York in June 2001 and the second in Los Angeles in February of this year, just completed its third major Summit meeting of hip-hop artists, record industry and business executives, civil rights leaders and elected officials in Dallas, Texas on October 11 and 12, 2002. During the last eighteen months, mini-Hip-Hop Summits have also been held in Queens, New York, Miami, Oakland, Kansas City, Washington, DC, Seattle, and Raleigh, N.C.

Under the theme of Taking Back Responsibility:Empowering our Youth, a special effort to increase youth involvement resulted in a tremendous response from over one thousand young participants. HSAN made the decision to convene in Dallas as a result of an invitation from hip-hop legend and Dallas native, the D.O.C., who was so moved by the L.A. Summit he attended. The official radio station of the Dallas Hip-Hop Summit was 97.9 THE BEAT, a Radio One affiliate.

The Dallas Hip-Hop Summit featured HSAN Chairman Russell Simmons; HSAN President/CEO Minister Benjamin Muhammad; the D.O.C.; Reverend Run from Run-DMC; Motown recording artist Erykah Badu; Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus; former Dallas Mayor and Democratic U.S.Senatorial candidate Ron Kirk,; Dr. Beverly Brooks-Mitchell, President and CEO of the Dallas chapter of the Urban League; State Senator Royce West; Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price; Dallas business consultant Cliff Miller; Silverback Records COO Vernon Norris; Latino Hip-Hop community representatives Rikki Rincon and Synbad and 97.9 The Beat on air personality Action Jaxon.

At the conclusion of the two-day meeting, the Dallas-Ft. Worth Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Youth Council was established, spearheaded by the D.O.C., whose mission it is to coordinate programs utilizing hip-hop culture to improve the quality of life of communities in the Dallas-Ft.Worth area.

"I think it was humble beginnings for great things to come for Dallas-Ft. Worth," commented the D.O.C. "The children are the key. We gotta get them now, while they're young or theyıre going to be plum out of luck. Without the older folks caring about the younger folks and the middle-aged folks caring about the older folks, none of it is going to work. Everyone has to get on the same page. After the turnout at this Summit, maybe the people of Dallas will take that more seriously and we can really make a change here. Iım committing myself to making sure that happens."

Russell Simmons noted the growing positive influence of hip-hop on society. "Jay-Z is more influential than Colin Powell and the large number of youth here today at the Hip-Hop Summit proves that young people are interested in changing society for the better," Simmons stated.

"The Dallas Hip-Hop Summit was a powerful statement from the grass roots, indicative of the return to greater social conscious in the evolution of hip-hop," added Minister Benjamin Muhammad. ³Young people are standing up and young people are speaking out and it is our responsibility, through the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, that the voice and the interests of the youth are served."

Erykah Badu introduced her latest video, "The Love Of My Life," which is included in the sound track of the newly released hip-hop movie, "Brown Sugar." In Baduıs address to the Summit, she chronicled the historical development of hip-hop and noted that hip-hop is about speaking the truth and not being silent in the face of injustice. "We need to bum rush the system with truth," commented Badu.

In addition, the Urban Leaguer Def Jam Reader literacy program, the NAACP/Rap The Vote, the S,I.T.E.S. (Students Information Technology Education Scholarships) program, Bryan's House, an adolescent program to help Dallas-Ft.Worth youth become responsible adults, as well as programs on Hip-Hop Economic Development with Merrill Lynch, Hip-Hop Political Empowerment and the Dallas-Fort Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council were also included in the Dallas Summit.

On the morning of October 12th, Russell Simmons, Minister Benjamin Muhammad, the D.O.C., Erykah Badu, and Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price visited the Dallas County Youth Detention Center, a rehabilitation facility for offenders ages 13 to 17. The Dallas Morning News, in its report on the visit, stated, "When the floor was opened for questions, a youngster asked, Are we gonna get to freestyle?" An impromptu talent show followed. One teen provided the beats by slapping and striking a plastic chair. Several junior rappers showed off their rhymes...They all earned praise and big grins from Mr. Simmons, D.O.C. and Mr. Muhammad. They seemed thrilled by the visit.

"I think it's great they came out here," said Charles, 15. "They took their time out from their busy schedule to come down here and see us. We're locked up and stuff, I just think it's nice they did that for us."

"It made me think what it would take to get me somewhere I want to be,ı said 17-year-old Brandon. Iıve got to put my head into it and everything. Set my mind where I want to go."

The second day also featured a Get Out The Vote rally and special appearance by former Dallas Mayor and Democratic Senatorial candidate, Ron Kirk. Kirk was introduced by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. "Your voice is powerful and will make a difference in the election," commented Mr. Kirk at the Summit. "You have the ability to influence Americaıs direction in policy decisions, if you only vote."