On the eve of when the "Campaign For Respect" was to be launched, an agreement was reached between Pepsi, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network and the Ludacris Foundation. Pepsi and the Ludacris Foundation having entered into an agreement that will distribute million of dollars in charitable contributions from Pepsi to grass-roots, nonprofit organizations serving the needs of disadvantaged youth throughout the United States. This is a multi-million dollar, multi-year agreement reached late yesterday between the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Pepsi, and the Ludacris Foundation.

According to Pepsi Public Affairs person Bart Casabona, Pepsi released the following statement today, "We've come to an agreement where the common ground is young people. We're working together on a multi-year, multi-city effort that will encourage kids to express their creativity in the visual and performing arts.

"What we're planning will be an extension of our longstanding community relations and urban marketing programs. We will focus particularly on young people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to get involved in art and music."

Ms. Roberta Fields, the mother of Ludacris and Chair of the Ludacris Foundation, responded: "This agreement with Pepsi will help us help others. We are committed to the empowerment of youth through helping youth help themselves."

Russell Simmons, Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, stated: "Pepsi's commitment should be followed by others in corporate America who desire to empower youth."

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, commented: "The agreement is a victory because it shows that the respect of hip-hop culture must be taken seriously, and the generation of youth today are taking leadership responsibly. Lastly, I'm going to emphasize that the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network will closely monitor the implementation of this agreement."

Other specific details of the agreement will be released at a later date.

Chino XL has been making moves as of late. He had a film that premiered at the Sundance film festival called 'The Beat' It is now set to premiere in LA at the Harmony Gold Theater [7655 Sunset Blvd] in West Hollywood, this Thursday. Chino also appears in feature films "Loosely Based On A True Love Story" and "Playa's Ball". For more information contact Stacey Castro scastromgt@msn.com.

Eminem's popularity continues to soar. Everything he touches turns to gold. The latest thing involving him are two competing tell all-unauthorized biographies that are now on the market.

One is titled Cleaning Out My Closet by J. R Watkins. Wtakins claimes to be a friend of Eminem and his wife Kimberly. The book, which claims to be "the true story of Marshall Bruce Mathers III as a father, husband and friend," includes all the sensational tabloid fodder you'd expect from a tell-all, including stories about Em's rumored romances with Mariah Carey and "8-Mile" co-star Brittany Murphy.

The second biography is called 'Whatever You Say I Am' by Anthony Bozza and is scheduled to come out this fall. Bozza has chronicled Eminem for Rollingstone and surprisingly has managed to get Em's cooperation on this venture. The book will include interviews from Em and people from his inner circle including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and D12.

Speaking of D-12. They have released a song that has some choice words for Em's former partner in rhyme Royce 5'9. They use the same beat from 50 Cent's 'Backdown'.

In a follow up to the January 14th Community Tribunal that revealed censorship of, and separate standards for Black Music on New York music media, Bob Law of the National Leadership Alliance announced today that a coalition of prominent community leaders, ministers and elected officials including Rev Calvin Butts, Dr Leonard Jeffries, and Rev Richard Ashley, have joined with hip hop activist as well as R&B and hip hop performers, like Chuck D and Dead Prez, in calling for the first major Turn Off The Radio Rally Tuesday February 18.

Charging that New York airwaves that target the Black community are filled with a preponderance of negative, violent, and destructive ideas the coalition of activist, community leaders, and performers will ask the community to on selected days to turn off the radio.

The turn off the radio strategy say’s Law came from the young brothers in the group Dead Prez, "In our conversations with young people in the hip hop community we learned that there is a great deal of music both hip hop and R&B that is positive and nourishing but music radio and music TV simply refuse to play it." The National Leadership Alliance say’s that this programming policy is part of the assault on the spirit and physic of the Black community.

At the rally the organizers will issue an open letter that will articulate the community’s concern and they will announce the first radio off day.

The Turn The Radio Off Rally will be held at 7 PM at Harlem’s noted Abyssinian Baptist Church. 138 street between Adam Powell Jr. and Malcolm X Blvd

People are buzzing about a new book that has hit the stands called New York Ricans from the Hip Hop Zone by Raquel Rivera. It is being hailed as the first book to explore the Puerto Rican dimension of hip-hop. This volume explores the history of hip-hop music from the standpoint of the New York Puerto Rican community, which has been instrumental in its development.

Raquel illustrates in her book how New York Puerto Ricans have been an integral part of hip hop culture since the very beginning: from 1970s pioneers like Rock Steady Crew's Jo-Jo, to recent rap mega-stars Big Punisher and Angie Martinez. Yet, Puerto Rican participation and contributions to hip hop is frequently downplayed, if not completely ignored. When their presence has been acknowledged, it is usually misinterpreted as a defection from Puerto Rican culture and identity into the African American camp. But, Rivera argues nothing could be further from the truth. Through hip-hop, Puerto Ricans have simply stretched the boundaries of Puerto Ricanness and latinidad.

The book breaks down like this...