Hip Hop Press - Hip Hop Press Releases

In 1988, after a multi-platinum group album and numerous production appearances on records from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and 2pac, Daz Dillinger released his first solo project. It was branded an instant classic, full of the west-coast sound fans had come to know and love.

Since then, Daz has released numerous successful records and has experimented with many sounds. Each one has been both a departure and a return to the original, combining his own signature sound with new and experimental styles and instruments, while still remaining distinctly Daz.

Now, with the release of Samplin To The Beat Of The Drum, Daz shares that signature sound with professional producers and aspiring musicians alike. Samplin is a collection of drum beats intended for just that: sampling. These are the beats that make Dazs sound so distinct, and they are a sure-fire way to spice up any production whether it be west-coast or down-south crunk. With additional drums played by Dion Neuble, Samplin will prove to be a valued addition and an invaluable tool for any production studio.

RELEASE DATE
DAZ DILLINGER | SAMPLING TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUM | AUGUST 23

Soren Packer
New Media
SonyBMG/ Red Ink/ Rumm
soren_packer@redmusic.com

* * *
DJ Shy, Longtime Resident DJ at Sunset Strips Barfly,
Scores On-Air Gig at KIIS-FM, In Addition to Stations
Live Events and Gigs for NIKE, PUMA and MAC Cosmetics
* * *
Vinyl Only Personality Recently Spun Outdoor Event at
Hyundai Pavilion For Anger Management Tour starring
Eminem, 50 Cent and Lil John
* * *
DJ Shy Set To Tour Asia in August, with stops at
Exclusive Clubs in Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok,
Shanghai and Hong Kong

One of the hottest female hip-hop DJs in Los Angeles since breaking through doing intros and outros for comics at The Laugh Factory in 2001, DJ Shy recently scored one of the citys most coveted on air gigs, spinning and mixing for top rated pop station KIIS-FM which also features American Idols Ryan Seacrest during the morning show. Filling in for full-time DJ Drew, the talented and charismatic Shy (aka Karen Beck) made her on air debut with a compelling, highly rated hour long mix during the noon hour July 5, followed by a second set during the Friday traffic hour (5-6 p.m.) on July 8.

In addition to her broadcast time, DJ Shy is already spinning her magic for many of the stations high profile live events around Southern California, including a recent live outdoor event at the Hyundai Pavilion in Devore (near San Bernardino) before a concert by the Anger Management tour starring Eminem, 50 Cent and Lil John. She has also spun for KIIS at the Club Deviate, located at Level 3 of Hollywood and Highland.

Popular also from her live gigs for such companies as NIKE, PUMA and MAC Cosmeticsshe first attracted the attention of KIIS-FMs Music Director Julie Pilat at a well-attended date she did for MAC at The Grove shopping mall in L.A.DJ Shy has also been busy this summer doing daytime events for NIKEs Battleground Basketball Tournament. The eight week annual event takes place on Venice Beach and includes ball players such as the R&B singer Brian McKnight and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jr.

Over the years, the consummate vinyl only personality has also done high profile spinning for Missy Elliot (the wrap party for the hip-hop legends UPN show, whose guests included Tweet, Busta Rhymes and Teena Marie) and Jin tha MC, the popular addition to Ruff Ryders who won BETs MC Battle seven years straight.

Next stop for the Pennsylvania born, Korean American USC Alumnus is Asia, where she will tour in mid to late August, hitting five of the hottest hip-hop clubs on the continentClub Mix in Beijing (August 19); Coccolatte in Singapore (August 20); Q Bar in Bangkok (August 21); Park 97 in Shanghai (August 24) and C Club in Hong Kong (three nights, August 25-27).

If we think of hip hop as a recent musical trend in America, in Asia its a very recent phenomenon, DJ Shy says. A lot of the DJs there dont know the style and format very well and they play a lot of older songs. Many havent done it long enough to have the skills to keep the beat going. So its becoming a popular thing to import hip hop DJs from the States. There also arent many DJs around who are female, which makes me even more interesting to them. This is my first real tour in Asia, and Im really excited. I had previously spun at a club in Taipei, Taiwan, where I met three booking agents. I chose RnR Asia who is based out of Hong Kong to help organize the tour.

Aside from her gender and the fact that she sticks to traditional vinyl, DJ Shy also stands out from the competitive field in a few other areasthe amount of discs she carries and her tendency to focus on and appeal to a primarily female crowd. Ive known a lot of DJs who carry 4-5 crates of records, with 100 discs each. I think this is the main reason why a lot of the DJs are converting from vinyl to using CDs or Rane Serrato/Final Scratch. Personally, I think using CDs/Serrato takes away from the authenticity of the art. Im known to kill the crowd with only one crate, she says. Then I really like appealing to the girls in the club because I know what they like to listen and dance to. I always keep Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Missy Elliot, J Lo, Beyonce, and Destinys Child in my crate. Since Im from the East Coast, I also love to throw in some old school and reggae into the mix as well.

I base my song selection and mix on what I would want to hear and dance to if I were going out to hear music myself, Shy adds. I want music thats fun to listen to. Even though I like to speak for the ladies most, I also tailor the set based on age, if there are more men in the crowd and other demographics. I never want to limit myself.

DJ Shy got her start behind the turntables at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood, where she worked as a hostess while attending USC. Her usual shifts were Thursdays through Saturdays, but she later managed to snag a Sunday nightalso known as Chocolate Sundaes for all of the BET comics who would participate. The DJ who spun the intros and outros for the funnymen was a female DJ named DJ Eque, who advised Shy about how to get started and what to buy. Shy made the most of her opportunity to spin at the Laugh Factory and was soon doing similar gigs at The Comedy Store and Haha Caf.

Her success at these clubs, combined with some clever networking, led to her shot to do some spinning at Barfly on the Sunset Strip. The clubs clientele consisted of a virtual whos who in the urban/hip-hop entertainment community, and soon she had a regular Monday night gig for all the VIP and record release parties happening there. Patrons included Evander Holyfield, Shaq, various other NBA/NFL All-Stars, Ludacris, Ja Rule, Too Short, Jam Master Jay and Lil John, among others.
Among DJ Shys goals are to go on tour as a female artist or groups DJ (listen up, Missy!), increase her exposure to the international audience, participate in a companys marketing campaign and do commercials, promotions and advertisements, and DJ for athletic events like basketball and baseball games, BMX or skateboarding. Clearly, with her behind the turntables, the sky is the limit!

I was once one of the resident DJs for a Korean club called the Velvet Room in Koreatown on Normandie and Wilshire, she says. The owner asked me to spin Korean music. I left because I realized I wanted opportunities where I didnt want to limit myself to only doing Korean or Asian clubs. I think what makes a good DJ is the response from the crowd, and whether or not you can pull in your own huge crowd along the way. My job is to keep the dance floor dancing with a good song selection, some hot mixing and scratches in all the right places. Personality, looks and style are important, but in the end, its all about the music.

# # #

For more information on DJ Shy, contact:
Steve Levesque orJennifer Malazarteat Luck Media & Marketing, Inc. at (310) 860-9170
info@luckmedia.com, www.luckmedia.com, www.dj-shy.com

New Album 8WM to be released in Near Future

August 5, 2005- New York, NY- Commemorating their exciting return to the monotony of mainstream Hip-Hop, legendary Rap duo Black Sheep (Dres & Mr. Lawnge) will appear with John Legend, Common & De La Soul as part of the Kool Tour series throughout various venues in the US in August. Black Sheep also plans to release a new album entitled 8WM in the near future. 8WM features collaborative works from Showbiz, Lord Finesse, Kwame, Dinky Bingham, Vitamin D, Dan the Automator, Bean One, and others.

In 1991, Black Sheep gained notoriety in Hip-Hop with "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," which produced extraordinary hits including "The Choice is Yours" and "Flavor of the Month". "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" hit #30 on the Billboard charts and exploded into mainstream audiences of BET, MTV and radio, selling over 1 million units. Although 14 years later, the team has been developing and making music as well as touring and performing around the United States. Black Sheep has recently appeared with the Handsome Boy Modeling School, Alicia Keys, and the Roots; they were also featured performers of the MTV2 Sucker-Free Concert Series with Doug E. Fresh, Lil' Scrappy, Memphis Bleek, Juvenile and others. The Kool tour will take place in the following cities and venues:

August 6: Atlanta, GA @ the Tabernacle

August 8:  Miami, FL @ the Mansion

August 10: New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues

August 13: Houston, TX @ Hush

August 15: Dallas, TX @ Gypsea Tea Room

August 19: San Francisco, CA @ the Fillmore

Recognizing their contribution to Hip-Hop, Dres is pleased to continue the legacy and essence of true MCing. "Our record plays in a party everyday of the year and we are thankful for that, " says Dres of Black Sheep. To listen to new tracks from 8WM, please visit www.blacksheeponline.com.

About Black Sheep

Black Sheep, made up of Dres and Mr. Lawnge, are considered to be one of Hip Hop's greatest duos of all time. "A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing", their first album, is known to be the voice and soul of the Native Tongues movement and considered to be one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time. The group will re-launch its presence formally with their new album, 8WM, to be sold online soon. For more information or booking, please visit www.blacksheeponline.com.

Contact: Nicole Price
Priceless Media
(646) 785-3586 (cell)
pricelessmedia@gmail.com

Full Sail Real World Education named one of top "Best Music Programs" in the country by Rolling Stone Magazine. This comes after being named one of the top Game Design schools in the world by Electronic Gaming Monthly


Winter Park, FL (PRWEB) August 3, 2005 -– Full Sail Real World Education has reconfirmed its place as one of the premier and most acclaimed colleges in the nation today.

Previously named as one of the top five Game Design schools in the world by Electronic Gaming Monthly, as well as one of the best three New Media schools by Shift Magazine - alongside New York University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rolling Stone Magazine has just named Full Sail one of the five "Best Music Programs" in the country. In the August 11 issue, Rolling Stone places Full Sail alongside legendary and prestigious colleges such as The Julliard School and Berklee College of Music.

"Throughout our 26 year history, we are honored that the hard work and dedication that created the exceptional programs that Full Sail has to offer has been heard and noted around the world," said President of Full Sail, Garry Jones. "We have remained consistently committed to excellence. Being recently ranked among some of the most well-known and esteemed colleges and universities further validates Full Sail"s proven reputation."

This recent wave of recognition by world-renowned publications demonstrates a significant sign of the times, as Full Sail establishes that it is not necessary to remain within the traditional boundaries of education or classic structure to reach unprecedented results. "We believe that our innovative style of education combined with our graduates" long track record of success, places Full Sail as a ground-breaking educational leader – one that easily changes and evolves for careers in emerging industries such as entertainment and technology," Jones added.

In addition to this announcement, Full Sail was further recognized in the Schools That Rock: The Rolling Stone College Guide, which also named Full Sail as having one of the nation"s top three music/entertainment business departments.

"Being named as one of the best music programs, combined with the success of our graduates at the GRAMMYs and on Academy Award-winning films, is a resounding
compliment to the quality of our teaching staff, our curriculum, and Full Sail"s amazing production facilities," said Full Sail Recording Arts Program Director, Bill Smith.

Full Sail offers Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science Degrees in seven unique disciplines including: Computer Animation, Digital Media, Entertainment Business, Film, Game Design and Development, Recording Arts and Show Production and Touring.

Full Sail graduates have consistently been making their mark on the digital media and entertainment media industries. Recent graduate credits include work on Oscar-winning films such as: The Incredibles, Million Dollar Baby, and Spider-Man 2, best-selling video games including: Madden NFL 2006, Oddworld Stranger"s Wrath, and The Matrix Online, and GRAMMY-winning albums by Ray Charles, Usher, and OUTKAST. Full Sail graduates have also been involved in creating motion graphics and Web Sites for companies such as ABC, Nike and the Atlanta Falcons, and have been in lead positions in the live event industry with artists and companies such as Madonna and Cirque du Soleil: La Nouba at Walt Disney World.

For more information, please visit www.fullsail.com.
# # #
FULL SAIL REAL WORLD EDUCATION
Kristin Weissman
407-679-0100

South Carolina Rapper Grayco Is Ready to Go. Album Features Talent From DC, Louisana, South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. Video in the works. 'War' is the first single.

(PRWEB) August 5, 2005 -- Qizaar Records is set to release "Grayco: James Willie Gray - the follow up to the South Carolina rapper's first album (Grayco: Say My Name See My Face).

The LP is filled with 19 tracks with producers from Baton Rouge, South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey. The first single will be "War" -an up tempo track capitalize on the growing influence of the Southeast in the music industry. It contains a lot of bounce and is sure to be a hit in the clubs and at radio.

The album will be release nationally this Fall - date TBD, along with a video for the song "War." The video will be shot in South Carolina mid September and will be serviced to all commercial, college and public access video outlets.

Featured talent includes Sharli McQueen, T Dot, Lava and Hass Ali. The Producer line up includes the Evil Dr. O Bender, Dre' Twice, Ray Rug and a Spanish Cat named Juan.

Grayco: Say My Name See My Face was release in 2003 and did very well at retail. Today, it continues to sell internationally. The lead single "For Gangstas" has been used in movies, commercials and showed up on many mixtapes in Europe and Asia.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Quahim Muhammad
QIZAAR RECORDS, INC.
http://www.qizaar.com/
973-280-3804

Lee Iacocca and Snoop Dogg are 'Golf Buddies' in new Chrysler Group commercial

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. and BOSTON, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chrysler Group and the Iacocca Foundation announced today that the Chrysler Group has become an official partner of the Iacocca Foundation's ongoing initiatives to support diabetes research. Chrysler Group and the Iacocca Foundation are in the process of finalizing the details of the fundraising program.

As part of the partnership, Mr. Iacocca is appearing in four advertisements for the Chrysler Group. The fourth and final commercial, "Golf Buddies" which features Mr. Iacocca and hip-hop icon Snoop Dogg, will begin airing on August 6. The first three commercials, "Desk," "Channel Surfing," and "Granddaughter" are currently airing.

Research by Millward Brown, a third party ad testing agency, shows the campaign to be very effective. Hundreds of individuals ranging from 25 to 50+ years of age were polled to measure the commercials. Results of the testing showed that the commercials were at least two times as persuasive as an average commercial and 80 percent of the individuals polled recognized Lee Iacocca.

Mr. Iacocca donated his fees for the commercial to the Iacocca Foundation's JoinLeeNow initiative, which has raised nearly six million dollars to date for a planned clinical trial at Massachusetts General Hospital. The first phase of the clinical trial program will test a potential cure for type 1 diabetes. As of August 2005, the campaign had reached the halfway mark of its $11.5 million goal.

"I promised my late wife that I would help to find a cure for type 1 diabetes in my lifetime. I feel like we are finally close to stopping a disease that affects more than 18 million people in the United States, but I need help. We're halfway there and I know with Chrysler on board, we can't lose," said Lee Iacocca, Chairman of the Iacocca Foundation.

"Chrysler Group is honored to be the Iacocca Foundation's partner in this incredible cause. Mr. Iacocca made a promise to his wife and we have made a promise to him, to help him reach his goal," said Jason Vines, VP, Public Relations, Chrysler Group. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system attacks the islet cells of the pancreas, which are the cells in the body that produce insulin. Dr. David Nathan and Dr. Denise Faustman are planning to test a treatment to stop the destruction by the immune system of the insulin- producing cells. Dr. Faustman and other researchers have demonstrated in the lab that once the destruction of the insulin-producing cells is reversed, the body appears to be capable of regenerating these cells. The treatment that will be tested in humans is based on research by Dr. Faustman that has been almost exclusively sponsored by the Iacocca Foundation. This research has significant implications not only to the future of diabetes treatment, but also to other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and lupus.

For more information about the Iacocca Foundation and diabetes, or to make a donation, go to http://www.joinleenow.org/ .

About Lee Iacocca

Lee Iacocca was the Chief Executive Officer of Chrysler from 1978 to 1992. Prior to Chrysler, Mr. Iacocca spent 30 years at the Ford Motor Company and was President when he left in 1978. Among other accomplishments, Mr. Iacocca is credited with creating the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Minivan, as well as saving Chrysler from bankruptcy. His autobiography, Iacocca (1984), and a second book, Talking Straight (1988), were bestsellers. He dedicated all of the proceeds from his books to the Iacocca Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that promotes diabetes research. In the early 1980s, at the request of President Reagan, Mr. Iacocca spearheaded the campaign to refurbish the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, which raised more than $500 million. Mr. Iacocca is a graduate of Lehigh University and Princeton University.

About the Iacocca Foundation

With the proceeds of his best-selling autobiography, Lee A. Iacocca established the Iacocca Foundation in 1984 in honor of his late wife, Mary K. Iacocca, who died from complications of type 1 diabetes. Since 1984, the Iacocca Foundation has given more than $20 million to diabetes research. More information is available at http://www.iacoccafoundation.org/ .

About the Chrysler Group

The Chrysler Group, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., is a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG, the world's fifth largest automaker. Its brands, including Chrysler, Jeep(R) and Dodge, feature some of the most recognizable vehicles like the Chrysler 300, Jeep Liberty, and Dodge Magnum. In 2004, the Chrysler Group sold 2.7 million vehicles worldwide. The DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund, the Company's philanthropic arm, gave more than $23.7 million in grants last year.

Source: Chrysler Group

CONTACT: Suraya DaSante, +1-248-512-4889, sd114@daimlerchrysler.com ; or
Russell LaMontagne, Iacocca Foundation, +1-212-255-5340,
Russell@corinthgroup.com

Web site: http://www.media.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/
http://www.joinleenow.org/
http://www.iacoccafoundation.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: The video of all the Employee Pricing Plus commercials and still photos of the "Golf Buddies" commercial shoot can be viewed on www.media.daimlerchrysler.com . 1. Select "Chrysler Group" from the left hand menu after logging on to the site. 2. Select the press release titled "Chrysler Group Employee Pricing Plus Advertising Cuts Through the Clutter with 'Hot' Product and 'New' Face -- Lee Iacocca" 3. Click on the video clip link that corresponds to the speed of your Internet connection. Additional information and news from DaimlerChrysler is available on the Internet at: www.media.daimlerchrysler.com .

'Unleashed'

Available in R-Rated Version on DVD, UMD and VHS and New Unrated Version on DVD October 11, 2005 From Universal Studios Home Entertainment

'Unlike any action film you have ever seen! Amazing!' - Jeffrey Lyons, WNBC

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Aug. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Global martial arts superstar Jet Li ("Hero," "Cradle 2 the Grave") stars in the gripping action film "Unleashed," coming to DVD, UMD and VHS and an Unrated extended edition on DVD on October 11, 2005 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Celebrated Academy Award(R) winner Morgan Freeman ("Million Dollar Baby," "Batman Begins") and Oscar(R) nominee Bob Hoskins ("Mona Lisa," "Maid in Manhattan") also star in this brilliantly directed edgy, adrenaline-fueled style spectacular by Louis Leterrier ("The Transporter"). "Unleashed" combines stunning martial-arts sequences with a riveting and compelling story. Choreographed by master fight coordinator Yuen Wo Ping, whose credits include all three "Matrix" films and "Kill Bill Vols. 1 & 2," the state-of-the-art action is set against a heart-pounding soundtrack from multi-platinum hip-hop star RZA (composer, "Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2," "Blade: Trinity") and Massive Attack.

"Unleashed" tells the suspenseful story of Danny (Jet Li), an unrivaled martial arts expert enslaved by a vicious gangster (Hoskins) who uses him as human attack dog to terrorize his victims. Morgan Freeman is Sam, a warm-hearted blind man who befriends Danny and tries to show him another side of life. But renouncing his old existence won't be easy for Danny, especially when his brutal former master unleashes an army of killers to track him down. Loaded with exciting bonus features, the DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP, as are the UMD and VHS versions. Pre-order deadline is September 6, 2005 for DVD and VHS and August 23, 2005 for UMD.

Critics Agree: Unleashed Unlocks Unbelievable Martial Arts Action

America's top critics have heaped two-fisted praise on "Unleashed." "Jet Li is action poetry in motion! He lets fly with his fists and feet of fury," writes Peter Travers of Rolling Stone while People's Leah Rozen lauds the film's "Bone-crushing fight scenes," adding "Jet Li swings into mesmerizing action." Roger Ebert of "Ebert and Roeper" gives "Unleashed" a "Thumbs up!" and praises its "Sensational martial arts sequences." Harry Knowles of Ain't It Cool News calls it "The best performance in Jet Li's career. He strikes with fury, anger and lethal effects." Jack Garner of Gannett News Service gives "Unleashed" four stars: "Action-packed and surprisingly inventive. Excellent performances from Jet Li, Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins" and David Hiltbrand of the Philadelphia Inquirer says "'Unleashed' has one of the great close-quarter fights in movie history, worthy of 'The Matrix.'"

Killer Bonus Features

The "Unleashed" DVD is jam-packed with exciting features that take audiences behind the scenes of this critically acclaimed action thriller.

* Director Louis Leterrier: "Unleashed" -- Director Louis Leterrier
discusses "Unleashed," sharing his thoughts and experiences regarding
casting, storyline, martial arts and locations.

* The Collar Comes Off: Behind the Scenes of "Unleashed" -- Go
behind-the-scenes with the stars and filmmakers of "Unleashed."

* "Atta Boy" Music Video -- Massive Attack music video featuring clips
from the film.

* "Unleash Me" Music Video -- RZA's new video featuring clips from the
film.

Plus, on the "Unleashed Unrated" edition exclusively is included the following bonus material:

* Serve No Master -- Get inside the fight sequences created by legendary
action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping.

* Extended Scenes and Fight Sequences

Synopsis

Martial arts superstar Jet Li delivers a breakout performance in the gripping, action-packed story about a man raised from childhood by a ruthless crime boss (Academy Award(R) nominee Bob Hoskins) to be a violent killing machine. When a blind piano tuner (Academy Award(R) winner Morgan Freeman) takes him in, Danny (Li) tries to start a new life, but his brutal past follows him, forcing him to fight back. Featuring breath-taking fight choreography by Yuen Woo Ping ("The Matrix" and "Kill Bill: Vol. 1 & 2").

For more information please visit: www.unleashedmovie.com.

CAST & FILMMAKERS
Director: Louis Leterrier
Written By: Luc Besson
Produced By: Luc Besson, Jet Li & Steven Chasman
Director of Photography: Pierre Morel
Production Designer: Jacques Bufnoir
Edited By: Nicolas Trembasiewicz
Costume Designer: Olivier Beriot
Music By: Massive Attack
End Credits Songs: the RZA
Cast: Jet Li, Morgan Freeman, Bob Hoskins, Kerry Condon

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: October 11, 2005
Pre-Order Close: September 6, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $29.98 SRP ($19.95 MAP)
Selection Numbers: 26364 (R); 28793 (Unrated/Widescreen); 28994
(Unrated/Full Frame)
Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes (R Version); 1 Hour 43 Minutes
(Unrated Version)
Layers: Dual (Single Sided)
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1); Full Frame (1.33:1)
Rating: R (for strong violent content, language and some
sexuality/nudity) and Not Rated
Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround/DTS
5.1 Surround/Captions; French and Spanish Subtitles

UMD
Street Date: October 11, 2005
Pre-Order Close: August 23, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $29.98 SRP
Selection Numbers: 28622
Running Time: 1 Hour 42 Minutes
Layers: Dual (Single Sided)
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1)
Rating: R (for strong violent content, language and some
sexuality/nudity)
Technical Info: Stereo

VHS
Street Date: October 11, 2005
Pre-Order Close: September 6, 2005
Copyright: 2005 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $29.98 SRP ($19.95 MAP)
Selection Number: 63012
Running Time: 1 Hours 42 Minutes
Aspect Ratio: Full Frame (1.33:1)
Rating: R (for strong violent content, language and some
sexuality/nudity)
Technical Info: Hi-Fi Stereo Surround

For artwork or screeners, please logon to our Web site at www.ushepublicity.com or fax your request to Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity at (818) 866-0226.

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (< www.universalstudios.com >). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.

CONTACTS

Universal Studios Home Entertainment Publicity

Vivian Mayer
Senior Vice President, Publicity
(818) 777-3594

Lea Porteneuve
Vice President, Publicity
(818) 777-1391

Craig Radow
Senior Manager, Publicity
(818) 777-4572

www.unleashedmovie.com.

Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment

CONTACT: Vivian Mayer, Senior Vice President, Publicity,
+1-818-777-3594, or Lea Porteneuve, Vice President, Publicity,
+1-818-777-1391, or Craig Radow, Senior Manager, Publicity, +1-818-777-4572,
all of Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Web site: http://www.unleashedmovie.com/
http://www.universalstudios.com/

Nelly, Russell Simmons, Chingy, J-Kwon, Paul Wall, Tony Austin and Black Buddafly to Headline

NEW YORK, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network's 2005 Financial Empowerment National Tour is set to roll into St. Louis on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at the America's Center. Doors open at 11 a.m. and tickets are available by going onto http://www.hsan.org/ or KATZ 100.3 The Beat, as well as the St. Louis Urban League and the NAACP.

The St. Louis Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment will be the fifth Summit of the tour, and is part of an unprecedented national campaign to raise awareness among millions of young adults 18-35 about the importance of financial literacy. For the first time, one of the world's leading financial institutions, Chrysler Financial, has partnered with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the nation's largest non-profit hip-hop organization, to help young people build a solid financial future. Russell Simmons, Chairman of HSAN and William F. Jones, Jr., Vice President of Chrysler Financial have pledged to work together to coordinate this national campaign under the theme "Get Your Money Right."

The program agenda of the St. Louis Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment will include a focus on financial literacy, basic banking, repairing and understanding credit scores, asset and wealth management, auto financing, home ownership and entrepreneurship.

The title sponsor of the Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment Tour is Chrysler Financial. The presenting sponsor is Anheuser-Busch, Inc. The St. Louis media partner is KATZ 100.3 The Beat.

"This will be the second Summit in St. Louis hosted by Nelly," emphasized Simmons. "His leadership and dedication in helping to rid society of poverty and ignorance have been outstanding. We look forward to celebrating hip-hop in St. Louis, as well as giving invaluable information on how to 'get your money right.'"

"The Hip Hop Summit Action Network, with its pulse on youth culture, and access to millions of young people, is the right partner in our quest to help the next generation of Americans make smart decisions with their finances," said William F. Jones, Jr., Vice President - Chrysler Financial.

Johnny Furr, vice president, Sales Development and Community Affairs for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., said that "More than ever it is important that our youth realize that you can't achieve financial goals tomorrow that you don't begin planning for today." Furr said that the value of the Summits is that they "provide participants with information about key financial issues and opportunities that many haven't begun to think about, but should, in order to create and leave wealth that sustains families and communities."

"St. Louis is in the heartland of America, and has become a powerhouse in producing some of the world's greatest hip-hop artists," stated Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of HSAN. "There is a hunger and a thirst for financial empowerment, and the St. Louis Hip-Hop Summit will enhance the opportunities of young people to fulfill their dreams and aspirations."

About DaimlerChrysler Services North America LLC

The company provides brand-specific financing for automotive dealers' inventories and their retail consumers and does business as Mercedes-Benz Credit and Chrysler Financial. As DaimlerChrysler Services Truck Finance it also finances commercial vehicles for affiliate products such as Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. The company serves as the headquarters for operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, South America and Puerto Rico and has more than 5,800 employees who manage a portfolio of more than $95 billion with nearly five million contracts. DaimlerChrysler Services North America is a member of the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services group of companies. This group is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, and operates in 39 countries with an employee base exceeding 10,800 and a global portfolio of approximately $139 billion. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services group is one of the leading financial services entities worldwide. For more information on DaimlerChrysler Services in the Americas visit http://www.daimlerchryslerservices.com/na .

About Anheuser-Busch

Based in St. Louis, Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. is the leading American brewer holding 50 percent of the U.S. beer market. The company is American- owned and brews the world's largest-selling beers, Budweiser and Bud Light. Anheuser-Busch ranked first in the U.S. beverage industry in Fortune magazine's 2005 "America's Most Admired Companies" and in the top 30 on Fortune's 2005 "Global Most Admired Companies" list. The company is one of the largest theme park operators in the United States, is a major manufacturer of aluminum cans and is the world's largest recycler of aluminum beverage containers. For more information, visit http://www.anheuser-busch.com/ or http://www.africanamericanbud.com/

About Hip-Hop Summit Action Network

HSAN is a non-profit, non-partisan national coalition of artists, entertainment industry leaders, education advocates, civil rights proponents and youth leaders united in the belief that the "hip-hop" phenomena is an enormously influential agent for positive social change which must be responsibly and pro-actively utilized to fight the war on poverty and injustice. For more information on the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, go to http://www.hsan.org/ .

Source: Hip-Hop Summit Action Network

CONTACT: Ellen Zoe Golden of JLM PR, Inc., +1-212-431-5227,
ellenzoe@aol.com ; or Amber Paauwe of Chrysler Financial, +1-248-427-3126,
arp11@dcx.com

Web site: http://www.hsan.org/
http://www.daimlerchryslerservices.com/na
http://www.anheuser-busch.com/
http://www.africanamericanbud.com/

The HitClick Independent Music Network is slated to change name to BandFreaks.Com later this week. This transition comes complete with a new updated look and improved functionality for its reknowned "Band Finder."

Tucson, AZ (PRWEB) August 5, 2005 -- HitClick owners Avallon DeBrill, Julian Rai, and Courtney Odom announced today that the decision had been made recently to make the transition from The HitClick Independent Music Network to BandFreaks.Com. This decision also comes with numerous other site changes and fixes to the Band Finder, now growing in popularity.

BandFreaks.Com will provide the same independent music news, independent music reviews, indie band and artist coverage, and the same Band Finder found at HitClick.Net. The change will be completed by August 1st.

"The reasons for the change I feel is obvious," said Julian Rai, part owner of The HitClick Independent Music Network. "BandFreaks is a much more memorable, exciting and catchy identity for what we're doing. It's also easier to remember, which will certainly provide more word-of-mouth advertising. More than that, it actually describes what we're about more than HitClick.Net ever did."

Avallon DeBrill, HitClick owner and site editor had this to say: "Most of our regular visitors have already seen part of the design shift happening over this past week. In eight or nine days, we've completely changed over our look, added a news section, reorganized our site, fixed some flaws we'd been staring at for awhile, and redesigned the band and artist's section. Since the Band Finder concept is still really new, we also added a support domain just for bands to get help, read tutorials, learn how to use the finder and even communicate with other bands about learning and using the Finder. Aside from being a great resource for fans to find new bands on the Internet, BandFreaks is run by musicians, and is also devoted to the "band side" of things: improving functionality of the Finder, providing resources for bands to keep doing what they're doing, and getting bands the promotion and coverage that excites and motivates bands to get better and get 'out there'."

According to DeBrill, the finder works a lot differently than what people are probably used to. "Bands sign up, add their information and a list of keywords that describe their sound, their location, their 'vibe', influences, or anything else they can think up. We try to make it easy for them. When a fan uses the Finder to search for a new band, the tool matches each of the keywords in their search to all of the bands in the Finder and gives them the top bands and artist for their search. You click on the link and go to the artist's website. A lot of bands have been using this to increase plays at their artist pages, too."

"The idea is that a fan can sort of string together all sorts of terms with virtually no limit to how specific they can get," says Courtney O., one of BandFreak's staff music reviewers and part owner of the online franchise, "you can find yourself in a mood for a 'Romantic moody tribal electronic female driven post rock solo artist from Queens, New York that sounds like Fru Fru and nine inch nails' and use the tool to pin it down. The funny thing is, with all the new bands we've been getting in the Finder, you'll probably find it."

A simple search at HitClick.Net using the finder confirms Courtney's theory -- nearly 213 bands match these terms, including New York's Ailanthus, described as 'Dark industrial infused rock with femme fetale vocals'.

"We're really excited about the transition and the updates," says Rai, "it actually marks a shift in right direction as far as market recognition and growth."

In addition to the band finder, BandFreaks will offer the same daily MP3 singles reviews in every genre, a weekly featured independent band or artist, an active community forum, categorized music links, and other regularly updated content.

http://www.hitclick.net
http://www.bandfreaks.com

Contact:
Avallon Debrill
520.867.6686

CONTACT INFORMATION
Avallon Debrill
BandFreaks
http://www.bandfreaks.com/
520.867.6686

Angelo Ellerbee's PR firm, Double XXposure, launches the Gospel Connection and spreads The Good News.

(PRWEB) August 5, 2005 -- Angelo Ellerbee, the CEO of Double XXposure Public Relations Firm, recently launched a gospel entity to his burgeoning New York City-based company. The Gospel Connection arm of the 20-year-old firm houses such clients as Destinys Childs Michelle Williams, Rev. Floyd Flake, Stanley Brown and the Allen A.M.E. Mass Choir, Jemecia Bennett, J. Isaac, Andra Cross, Donald Lawrence, Gerald Henry, DeWayne Harvey and DeNetria Champ.

Dont expect the same run of the mill campaign if you sign with this public relations firm, as Ellerbee is known for being bold, innovative and creative, and, in this case, spreading the good news of his Gospel roster. Double XXposure has had a winning track record for over 20 years. As a result, we are now concentrating on connecting the dots between mainstream and gospel and filling the void. We are seeking the same radio, marketing and publicity outlets that R&B and pop artists utilize, and the results will be seen by management, artists and the labels.

Although the Gospel market has grown by leaps and bounds, in many instances Gospel artists have not received the attention they rightfully deserve, an issue Ellerbee addressed in a recent interview. What the labels are doing is tunneling this music to churches and church folk. Im simply saying that theres a bigger picture than this. There has to be a connection to the secular community and we have to get bold about doing this.

Using his more than 20 years of expertise in the areas of management, publicity and artist development, Ellerbee, CEO of Double XXposure, one of New York Citys premiere public relations firms, refuses wait for a story to happen. Proclaimed by The New York Times the Henry Higgins of the music industry, based on his keen eye for fashion, his dramatic flair and sharp ear for hits, Double XXposure fully covers the publicity gamut for these artists, garnering a wealth of exposure for clients whose music imparts messages of faith. I have a philosophy about this form of music. Gospel is not just for church folk. The gospel is good news for all; it is a universal message of faith for everyone.

As some of the firms clients past and present are hardcore hip hop artists, there have been some who have wondered if it is truly possible to represent clients whose messages are so diverse. Some people have wondered how I could represent both hip hop artists and gospel clients, Ellerbee admits, but the important factor is not how I got into gospel, but how the spirit and gospel got into me.

The Gospel market has broadened and so has the interest from the consumer, he continues. All of our artists have campaigns which involve elements of marketing and artist development, expanding their growth potential, says Ellerbee. Fashion and beauty spreads, talk show appearances on mainstream television programs and a heavy concentration on media outlets appealing to young consumers remain part of the Double XXposure plan. The industry perception wont change overnight, he predicts. However, I am actively seeking to double the exposure of Gospel artists, so you have to have faith.

About Angelo Ellerbee, CEO Of Double XXposure Public Relations:

Angelo Ellerbee, the CEO of Double XXposure Public Relations firm is a 20-year veteran of the entertainment business, whose expertise in the industry turned into a full service public relations, image consulting and artist development company. He has represented such clients as Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Mary J. Blige, DMX, Ginuwine, Shabba Ranks, Gang Starr and many others. Ellerbee, the executive producer of Fox Searchlights Never Die Alone, has a reality television show, Charm School, debuting on the Discovery Channel this fall.

For more information, contact Angelo Ellerbee or Lisa Baker at 212 629-9404

CONTACT INFORMATION
Angelo Ellerbee
DOUBLE XXPOSURE
212-629-9404

Mixtape award winner can be heard weekly on Shade 45 channel

NEW YORK * August 4, 2005 * DJ Kay Slay is host of a new weekly,
four-hour mix show called Streetsweeper Radio exclusively on SIRIUS Satellite
Radio.

Streetsweeper Radio can be heard Wednesdays from 8 pm to 12 midnight ET
on Shade 45, the uncensored hip-hop radio channel co-produced by SIRIUS
and Eminem.

Being on SIRIUS Satellite Radio is the best thing that can ever happen
to a DJ from the street like myself, said DJ Kay Slay. The listener
gets raw, uncut, no-holds-barred hip-hop. My show is 360 degrees of the
street * exclusives, freestyles, special guests, and, of course,
drama.

New York City native DJ Kay Slay (born Keith Grayson) is one of the
biggest names in the mixtape business. After starting out as a DJ and
graffiti artist, he rose to become one of the citys best known hip-hop
DJs, and is credited with making some of the most influential mixtapes
in hip-hop. He became known as the Drama King from his role in some of
hip-hops most popular and publicized rap battles, such as the one
between Jay-Z and Nas.

DJ Kay Slay has released three albums: The Streetsweeper Vol. 1, The
Streetsweeper Vol. 2: The Pain From the Game, and most recently Game of
Death for the Shaquille ONeal-backed label Deja34, for which he serves
as head of A&R (artists and repertoire). He has also won numerous Mix
Tape Awards. DJ Kay Slay appears as himself in the popular video NFL
Street Game, and his hit single Who Gives A What Where You From from
the games soundtrack has also been featured in ESPN football
highlights.

DJ Kay Slays street roots are important to him, and he is currently
involved with developing and signing new hip-hop talent in addition to
continuing his annual Harlem kids basketball tournament.

DJ Kay Slay joins such other top talent on Shade 45 as DJ Clinton
Sparks, DJ Cipha Sounds, DJ Felli Fel, DJ Muggs, DJ Tony Touch, The
Aphilliates, Tony Yayo and DJ Whoo Kid, among others.

For more info., check out www.sirius.com.

# # #

Andrea Ferguson
Senior Account Executive
Dan Klores Communications
386 Park Avenue S. 10th Floor
Phone: 212-981-5242
Fax: 212-981-5442
Email: Andrea_Ferguson@DKCnews.com

(PRWEB) August 4, 2005 -- Despite being a rap industry tycoon Thug-Armada MogulCEO Artaphac the Kingpin of the streets Announces today that he will launch a world tour dedicated to help Cancer Patients and HIV Prevention.

Proceeds from the tour will also go to UNICEF, and benefit the American Legacy Foundation along with other International Non-profit Organizations.

Calling it World Day, in hopes that this mentality will catch on Internationally, Artaphac hopes to bring together the ever changing International community under one common ground, that is our Love for music.

Earth Day, better known as World Day, is one of the most massive non-profit projects ever conceived. Hoping to reach out to more than 70 impoverished countries Earth Day, will be the worlds largest charity event reaching out to more than one billion people.

Saying, If I dont do it no one will, picking up the reigns where some of the greatest rappers and most influential people in history have left off. Artaphac, anticipating things to come has predicted that, International cooperation on this effort will be substantial because, most people envision a world that loves peace.

Hoping to help fight terrorism and promote equality, Artaphac hopes to raise social and cultural awareness Worldwide. The only way for us to get along with each other, and our neighbors is to put down the guns and communicate we are capable of that in the 22nd century, stated Artaphac, World Day is an opportunity to do that a Art , described it as moment of peace.

CONTACT INFORMATION
KJ
THUG-ARMADA WORLDWIDE
http://www.artaphac.com/
6782334493

** UPCOMING EVENT **

EVENT: The fastest selling debut artist of all time, 50 Cent,
will be on hand for his first book signing at Virgin
Megastore, Union Square. In this first person
narrative, 50 Cent, lifts the veil on his complicated
life -- from the murder of his mother when he was eight,
to hustling on the streets; from the assassination
attempt that nearly finished him to his meteoric rise to
the top of hip hop royalty in his autobiography
"FROM PIECES TO WEIGHT: Once upon a time in Southside
Queens," (MTV Books). 50 Cent will be signing copies of
his book for 300 lucky fans at Virgin Megastore,
Union Square.

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, August 9, at 11 a.m.

LOCATION: Virgin Megastore/Union Square
52 East 14th Street
New York City

MEDIA CHECK IN: Starts at 10:30 a.m.

SIGNING STARTS: 11:00 a.m.

DETAILS: Earlier this year, 50 Cent became the first artist since
the Beatles in 1964 to place at least four songs in the
Top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100, and his second album The
Massacre has sold over 6 million copies worldwide and
counting. He is currently on "The Anger Management
Tour", with Eminem, G-Unit, Lil' Jon & the East Side
Boys. The first 300 customers who purchase a copy of 50
Cent's autobiography, at Virgin Megastore, Union Square,
starting August 9 at 9:00 a.m. will be given a wristband
for entrance into the signing.

ADDITIONAL Info:
"FROM PIECES TO WEIGHT: Once upon a time in Southside
Queens" is a violent and introspective memoir that
reveals not only 50's story but the story of a
generation of youth faced with hard choices and very
little options. A tale of sacrifice, transformation and
redemption, but it is also a one of hope, determination
and the power of self. Told in 50's own unique voice,
the narrative drips with the raw insight, street wisdom,
and his struggle to survive at all costs...and behold
the riches of the American Dream.

PRNewswire -- Aug. 4

Source: Virgin Entertainment Group

CONTACT: Krysty O'Quinn of SJ Communications, +1-818-881-3889,
krysty@sjcommunications.com, for Virgin Entertainment Group

NOTE TO EDITORS: MEDIA: To RSVP for the event, please contact Krysty O'Quinn at SJ Communications (818) 881-3889 or krysty@sjcommunications.com by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9.

New Ringtones, Fun Sounds and Wallpaper From Bow Wow, Omarion and Marques Houston Bring 'Scream Tour' Artists Direct to Fans' Cell Phones

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jamster! the premier provider of mobile content and a wholly owned subsidiary of VeriSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRSN) , today announced that it is the exclusive provider of mobile content for this summer's "Scream Tour IV: The Heartthrobs" tour, which features some of the hottest hip-hop and R&B artists together on one stage.

Jamster! will deliver a variety of entertaining content including ring tones, fun sounds and wallpapers featuring platinum award-winning artists Bow Wow and Omarion, Top Ten R&B star Marques Houston and the brand new group 3on3.

Exclusive Jamster! mobile content for the Scream Tour includes:

-- Jamster! Fun Sounds -- an alternative to traditional music-based
ring tones, featuring original tunes and popular phrases, including
a "You Have a Message!" fun sound announcing the arrival of a text
message and "Wake Up!" fun sounds for the alarm clock function.
-- "Pick up the Phone!" ring tones.
-- 'Real Tones' -- MP3 quality ring tones -- of popular hits from Bow
Wow, Omarion and Marques Houston.
-- Wallpapers of Scream Tour artists.

"Ring tones are quickly becoming the definitive way for consumers to personalize their cell phones to reflect who they are," said Dan Mosher, director of Mobile Content Services, Jamster!. "We're bringing R&B and hip-hop fans a new dimension to the live concert experience by providing exclusive ringtones and wallpaper from popular artists performing in this year's Scream Tour."

Jamster! is a major sponsor of the fourth annual Scream Tour, which began on July 20 in Trenton, NJ, and ends September 4 in Miami, FL, after stopping in U.S. cities including Chicago, IL, Las Vegas, NV, Oakland, CA and Atlanta, GA.

The Scream Tour was created to bring elaborate performances, spectacular visual effects and rap and R&B heart-thumping music to more than one million music lovers across the country. Jamster!'s sponsorship of the Scream Tour also includes radio and television promotions, ticket giveaways and tour backpacks.

All of the Jamster! Scream Tour mobile content is available immediately at www.jamster.com/screamtour.

About Jamster! and VeriSign

Jamster!, operating worldwide, is a wholly owned subsidiary of VeriSign, Inc. Jamster! delivers mobile content services -- including ring tones, popular music, graphics, and games -- to carriers and consumers. Jamster! is a premier provider of mobile content and delivers a robust catalog of downloadable content including ring tones, popular music, graphics and games. VeriSign, Inc., operates intelligent infrastructure services that enable businesses and individuals to find, connect, secure and transact across today's complex global networks. Additional news and information about the company is available at www.verisign.com.

Trademarks

VeriSign, and other trademarks, service marks and logos are registered or unregistered marks of VeriSign, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and in foreign countries.

Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause VeriSign's actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainty of future revenue and profitability and potential fluctuations in quarterly operating results due to such factors as the risk that VeriSign's announced strategic relationships, including the relationship described herein, may not result in additional products, services, customers, profits or revenues; and increased competition and pricing pressures. More information about potential factors that could affect the company's business and financial results is included in VeriSign's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. VeriSign undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

Source: VeriSign, Inc.

CONTACT: Lori Sinsley of VeriSign Media Relations, +1-650-426-4716, or
lsinsley@verisign.com, or Tom McCallum of VeriSign Investor Relations,
+1-650-426-3744, or tmccallum@verisign.com

Web site: http://www.verisign.com/

Web site: http://www.jamster.com/

August 3rd, 2005 -- As perhaps the current hardest working man in hip-hop, 9th Wonder's name has already been attached to several high profile releases in 2005, including albums with Buckshot, Jean Grae, Little Brother, Big Pooh of LB and his work with Destinys Child and Memphis Bleek. Yet, 9th Wonder still took time out of his busy schedule to speak on his recent work with North Carolina's own Splash, who drops "The Ripple Effect" on September 20th 2005.

"He was like the last local artist I wanted to mess with," said 9th. "I knew that after working with Jay-Z on The Black Album, things wouldn't be the same for me, but I made my decision that I wanted to work with him (Splash). The same can be said for The A.L.L.I.E.S, who I'm also working with." And as the story goes, right after 9th's big Black Album gig hit, he liked Splash so much that he said that Splash would be the last local (North Carolina) artist that he'd produce for (for cheap, that is).

9th explained that although Splash was still a virtual unknown, his dedication proved the recording process worthwhile. "He was driving three hours every weekend to meet up. He seemed really hungry and that's part of the reason why I wanted to work with him. A lot of cats will act like they are hungry, but will never show up, Splash wasn't like that. He didn't waste my time, he wanted to get it done," said 9th.

Splash's The Ripple Effect drops on 9-20-05 and out of the fourteen songs, includes nine tracks produced by 9th Wonder, with additional production and guest support from the Justus Leagues Khrysis, and L.E.G.A.C.Y and also guest spots from Jean Grae and Supastition.

Tracklisting and credits for Splashs The Ripple Effect:
1.) Intro (produced by DJ Elementz)
2.) Sun Splash (produced by 9th Wonder)
3.) Bobbn Ya Head (produced by 9th Wonder)
4.) Why (produced by 9th Wonder)
5.) Another Day f/Jean Grae (produced by Picasso)
6.) Do You (produced by 9th Wonder)
7.) So Feminine (produced by 9th Wonder)
8.) Fake Skit
9.) Fake Ones (produced by 9th Wonder)
10.) Home Skit
11.) Hold On (Almost Home) (produced by K Slack)
12.) Right On Time (produced by Khrysis)
13.) Feels Good (produced by 9th Wonder)
14.) Chatter f/L.E.G.A.C.Y. (produced by 9th Wonder)
15.) Life (produced by Picasso)
16.) Last Run f/Supastition (produced by Splash)
17.) Power Moves (produced by 9th Wonder)

# # #

To obtain a press copy of Splashs The Ripple Effect for review or interview purposes, please contact:
Matt Conaway@ Movement Marketing
Business #: 410-903-7568
E-Mail: Matthewbrn@aol.com
Alt E-Mail: mattyc@tmo.blackberry.net
AOL IM: Matthewbrn

Chicago----------------------Comedian Reggie Reg stole the show on P. Diddy's Bad Boyz of Comedy that aired on HBO Friday, July 29, 2005. According to reviews, Reggie Reg, kicked butt doing his impression of Denzel Washington, as Alonzo in Training Day.

Because of his new level of fame, Reggie Reg has new management, A.J. Wright and Associates, Ltd. http://ajwright.com and is preparing for a ten (10) city tour this fall.

For information on Reggie Reg, contact A.J. Wright And Associates, Ltd. at 773-268-6526 or go to their website at http://ajwright.com ---------- click on clients and go the Reggie Reg.
Look for Reggie Reg's website coming soon at http://officialreggiereg.com.

One Week Exclusive Engagement, Opens today!
Wednesday, August 3 Tuesday, August 9
Two Boots Pioneer Theater

YOUNG REBELS / JOVENES REBELDES
A film by Ann Boden & Ryan Fleck
(US, 2005, 70 min. In Spanish with English subtitles)

When hip-hop takes to Havana, Cuban artists spirited beats and rhymes are just as much a product of the troubled economy as of their insatiable revolutionary spirit. The film intimately engages five hip-hop groups and two producers as they negotiate the Havana summer. With Havanas 9th Annual National Hip-Hop Festival approaching, invited performers prepare, battling economic hardship, unsympathetic mothers, and the threat of government censorship. Everyone must decide where they stand, from established groups seeking institutional support to fledgling cooperatives establishing alternative circuits, with allegiances ranging from commercial to feminist vegan.

With unheard of access to some of Cubas best musicians, this documentary witnesses the future of Cuban hip-hop in the making. Official selection New Directors/New Films 2005.
A gowanus projection release.

"Fascinating" - indieWIRE
"As sharp as Buena Vista Social Club." - Robert Christgau, Village Voice

"As young Cuban musicians with few hopes of commercial success embrace rap music, they look at American hip-hop with a mixture of pride (in the purity of their own political and social messages) and envy (at the wealth and fame achieved by American rappers). This informative doc introduces us to a number of these earnest young pop messengers, who barely have the resources to make a CD... but have the wherewithal to organize a rap festival.
- Stephen Holden, The New York Times

One Week Exclusive Engagement!
Wednesday, August 3, 9pm - buy tickets online!
Thursday, August 4, 9pm - buy tickets online!
Friday August 5, 9pm - buy tickets online!
Saturday, August 6, 8pm - buy tickets online!
Sunday, August 7, 9pm - buy tickets online!
Monday, August 8, 9pm - buy tickets online!
Tuesday, August 9, 9pm - buy tickets online!

Two Boots Pioneer Theater
155 East 3rd Street (at Avenue A)
(212) 591-0434 / www.twoboots.com/pioneer

Contact: A.J. Wright
773-268-6526
ajwright@ajwright.com

New Kensington, Pennsylvania - August 3, 2005- Whitaker Entertainment
artist, Lil iROCC will be signing copies of his latest release The
Sequel in
Atlanta's "The Mall at Stonecrest-" on Thursday, August 4, 2005, at 6
p.m.
Lil iROCC will be available to meet fans and fellow hip-hop lovers at
the
mall's Called to Conquer Bookstore before his Friday MegaFest
performance at
7 p.m.

Visit www.lil-irocc.com for more information on Lil iROCC's ministry.

Whitaker Entertainment is the music distribution division of Whitaker
House.
Located outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Whitaker House has more
than 30
years of experience in producing biblically based products that
minister to
the needs of people around the world.

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:
Joy Ike
Whitaker House Publicist.
Phone: 877.793.9800 ext. 283
E-mail: joy@whitakerhouse.com

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Eminem, one of the top-selling artists in music, takes his raw and uncensored concert exclusively to Showtime for a special television event in December, it was announced today by Showtime President of Entertainment, Robert Greenblatt. Eminem's full-length performance will be taped in August at the Madison Square Garden stop on this summer's ANGER MANAGEMENT tour. Eminem will perform songs from his critically-acclaimed latest album, "Encore," as well as the smash hits that made him a star including his Oscar(R)-winning single "Lose Yourself."

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050803/NYW189 )

"Eminem is one of music's most outspoken and talented original artists today. Since you rarely see him in concert, this will truly be an event for our audience," said Showtime President of Entertainment, Robert Greenblatt.

The show will be directed by Grammy(R)-nominated Hamish Hamilton who has produced and directed specials for some of the biggest names in the music industry including Madonna, U2, Peter Gabriel, Norah Jones and also directed the exclusive Showtime hit event, ONE NIGHT ONE STAR: USHER LIVE, in March 2005.

Discovered by hip hop mogul Dr. Dre, Eminem exploded on to the rap music scene in 1999 with his debut album "The Slim Shady LP" which to date has sold almost five million copies and also won two Grammy(R) Awards for the Detroit MC. His explicit, brutally honest lyrics and mic skills quickly catapulted him to the top of the charts and made him a household name. His second album, "The Marshall Mathers LP" and third album "The Eminem Show" have sold close to 10 million copies each and produced a slew of hip-hop anthems such as "Stan" featuring Dido, "The Way I Am," and "Without Me." Eminem's troubled childhood growing up in a rough part of Detroit not only served to fuel his desire to rap and produce music but also was the subject of his feature film debut in "8 Mile." The soundtrack to "8 Mile" featured the multi-award winning single "Lose Yourself" and Eminem became the first recording artist to have a #1 film, #1 album and #1 soundtrack all in the same year. "Encore," released in November 2004, has sold 4.7 million albums in the U.S. and features the hits "Just Lose It" and "Toy Soldiers."

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM) and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM), SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC xtra. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R) and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM). SNI operates and manages the premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is a venture between NBC Universal, Robert Redford, and Showtime Networks Inc. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME(R) PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based Zone Vision.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050803/NYW189
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Showtime Networks Inc.

CONTACT: Chloe Comins, +1-212-708-1708, Chloe.comins@showtime.net, or
Frank Marchesini, +1-310-234-5342, Frank.Marchesini@showtime.net, both of
Showtime Networks Inc.

Web site: http://www.sho.com/

August 24th Street Festival to Merge Old and New Schools of Urban Culture

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Marc Ecko, designer and "Navigator of Youth Culture," is set to recruit the legends of Hip-Hop culture for the upcoming Marc Ecko's Getting Up Block Party. The first-of-it-kind street festival, free to the public and held August 24th on 22nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues from 12:00PM - 8:00PM, will feature graffiti demonstrations, live DJs and surprise musical performances in celebration of the golden age of Hip-Hop. The event coincides with the anticipated release of Atari's graffiti-based videogame, Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure.

As a throwback to graffiti's glory days, "Marc Ecko's Getting Up Block Party" will feature ten 48-foot-long by 8-foot-high replicas of the legendary NYC transit blue-bird subway cars, which will be transformed into contemporary urban works of art by renowned graffiti writers. A lineup of legendary artists, from the notorious 'Bronx bomber and destroyer' COPE2 to T-KID (Terrible Kid), who first started writing on trains as early as 1974, will spend the day doing full color murals on the vintage trains.

Other participating graf writers include DASH, WEST, CES, SONIC, IZ THE WIZ, MIN, DURO, WANE, WEN, DERO, CYCLE, SMITH, PINK, DOC, KEL 1st, MARE139, CRASH, DAZE, GHOST, and the famous TATS CREW.

Blue-birds, a high point of nostalgia for historians and artists alike, were often used as an urban canvas by graffiti writers throughout the 1980s before blasting machines and buffers were used to strip them clean, effectively putting an end to the era of graffiti artwork on the sides of trains.

"Graffiti is without question the most powerful art movement in recent history and has been a driving inspiration throughout my career," said Marc Ecko, Executive Creative Director for Getting Up. "I'm honored to be bringing its pioneering creative forces together to look back on its tradition and to celebrate its future."

In addition to reviving an old school graffiti tradition, the block party will offer guests the opportunity to participate in live demos of Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure and experience the first truly authentic video game based on urban culture and graffiti. The videogame, which is being published by Atari and developed by The Collective for a Fall 2005 release, brings together over 65 legendary graffiti writers, six of whom will serve as in-game mentors to its protagonist, Trane.

Event sponsors include GameStop Corp., Truth (http://www.thetruth.com/), Toy Tokyo (http://www.toytokyo.com/), Montana paint and Mass Appeal magazine.

About Marc Ecko Enterprises

The youngest member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America's board of directors, Marc Ecko is founder of *ecko unltd., the world famous rhino brand. In eleven years since its creation in 1993, the group of companies that comprise Marc Ecko Enterprises has grown to include: *ecko unltd.(R) men's and Eckored(R) women's apparel, as well as outerwear, footwear, watches, eyewear, underwear, belts, bags, hats, small leather goods, formalwear and more. Marc Ecko Enterprises also includes Marc Ecko "Cut & Sew" (a contemporary menswear line launched Fall 2004); G-Unit(R) clothing and accessories (a joint venture with multi-platinum musician, 50 Cent); Zoo York(R) (a line of action sports-inspired clothing and accessories); and Avirex(R) Sportswear Collection (a licensed mid-tier brand debuting Spring 2005). The Company also publishes Complex(R) magazine, a men's consumer magazine with a rate base of 325,000, and is developing Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure(TM), the first truly authentic video game based on urban culture and graffiti art debuting Fall 2005. *ecko unltd. products are available in over 5,000 stores domestically and in over 45 countries internationally, as well as through 34 of its own retail stores across the country. For additional information, please visit http://www.marceckoenterprises.com/.

About The Collective

Part of Foundation 9 Entertainment, the largest independent game developer in North America, The Collective is a leading independent developer of console video games. The Collective has created groundbreaking third-person action adventure games, including the critically acclaimed Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb(TM), Buffy the Vampire Slayer(TM) and the soon-to-be-released, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith(TM). The studio has also developed the world-class Slayer(TM) game engine and SlayEd(TM) tool suite. The Collective, along with Backbone Entertainment, Digital Eclipse, Pipeworks, and ImaginEngine make up Foundation 9 Entertainment. The company's labels have developed more than 250 titles, including more than 50 in 2004 alone. The company employs more than 325 employees, and has offices in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Emeryville, Vancouver, Boston, Eugene and Honolulu. The Collective is based in Newport Beach, California, and can be found on the Internet at http://www.collectivestudios.com/.

About Atari

New York-based Atari, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATAR) develops interactive games for all platforms and is one of the largest third-party publishers of interactive entertainment software in the U.S. The Company's 1,000+ titles include hard-core, genre-defining franchises such as DRIVER(TM), The Matrix(TM), Stuntman(TM) and Test Drive(R); and mass-market and children's franchises such as Backyard Sports(TM), Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues(TM) and Dora the Explorer(TM), and Dragon Ball Z(R). Atari, Inc. is a majority-owned subsidiary of France-based Infogrames Entertainment SA (Euronext - ISIN: FR-0000052573), the largest interactive games publisher in Europe. For more information, visit http://www.atari.com/.

ATARI, the ATARI logo, and classic Atari game titles and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Atari Interactive, Inc. or its affiliates. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Marc Ecko Enterprises

CONTACT: Clint Cantwell of Marc Ecko Enterprises, +1-917-262-1110 or
clintc@ecko.com

Web site: http://www.marceckoenterprises.com/

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2005--OBN Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:OBNH) today announced the launching of a new television series, "Video Music Showcase". The announcement comes in conjunction with agreements entered into with music giants Sony, Warner Brothers, EMI, and Universal Music Group.

The video music show covers a variety of music genres, and can be seen on OBNH subsidiaries Omni Broadcasting Network and POD Channel. Fans can watch up to eight hours of their favorite artists during normal broadcast hours. OBNH is currently seeking a host for what is expected to be a widely popular show.

"We're excited about the new series and our relationship with the biggest names in music and video entertainment," stated Roger Neal Smith, President and CEO of OBN Holdings, Inc. "There is currently no other video show being aired on national broadcast television. We're proud to be the first."

The show is a change in format for POD Channel, which previously focused on airing infomercials. Smith believes the new format will provide OBNH the ability to entertain viewers while continuing to sell various products during commercial spots aired during the show. A majority of the expenditures associated with airing the music videos are not required as was the case for airing infomercials. Revenue generated from airing commercial spots along with the discontinuation of costs associated with broadcasting infomercials is expected to provide a substantial increase in net revenue to the company.
In keeping with the theme of the networks, the series will not feature videos containing explicit sex, violence or language.

About OBN Holdings, Inc.
OBN Holdings, Inc. is a holding company for the wholly owned operating subsidiaries Omni Broadcasting Network, Inc.; All Sports Television Network, Inc.; Eclectic Entertainment, Inc.; POD Channel, Inc.; and Retro Records, Inc., resulting in the company covering all major facets of the entertainment industry.

For the latest SEC filings or past news releases, go to the company's web site at www.obnholdings.com and click on the Media heading. Please direct any questions to Theresia Whitfield, Director of Communications, Magellan Financial Media Group at (317) 867-2839.
OBN Holdings, Inc.: 8275 South Eastern Avenue, Suite 200, Las Vegas, Nevada 89123. (702) 435-0544

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of OBN Holdings, Inc., nor shall there be any sale of any such security in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Forward looking statements: This press release and other statements by OBN Holdings may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act with respect to the outlook for earnings and revenues, other future financial or business performance, strategies and expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "believe", "expect", "estimate", "potential", or future/conditional verbs such as "will", "should" and "could".

Contacts
Magellan Financial Media Group
Theresia Whitfield, 317-867-2839

Ladies and Gentlemen Introducing...Vegoose!!!

Initially Confirmed Acts Include Dave Matthews & Friends, Jack Johnson, Widespread Panic, Flaming Lips, The Shins, Primus and The Meters

NEW YORK, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Superfly Productions and A.C. Entertainment, creators of the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, are proud to announce: VEGOOSE. The inaugural multifaceted music festival will take place in Las Vegas over Halloween weekend. Tickets for two-day passes to the events at Sam Boyd Stadium will go on sale Saturday, August 13 at 10:00AM Pacific through http://www.vegoose.com/.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050803/NYW143LOGO )

Vegoose is set to be a dynamic event with a broad range of entertainment and amusement options. The music programming will concentrate on acts that build upon the already festive Halloween-in-Vegas atmosphere with an eclectic lineup representing genres such as rock, funk, hip-hop, and more. Performers include Dave Matthews & Friends, Jack Johnson and Widespread Panic, the southern rock stalwarts whose annual Halloween weekend shows are always a highlight. Other notable rock acts include the Flaming Lips, Ween, Primus, and the Shins. The hip-hop world will be represented by classic and current acts such as Digable Planets and Lyrics Born. Vegoose will also host a rare performance by the original members of legendary New Orleans funk band The Meters. A complete list of confirmed acts follows, with more to be added in the coming weeks.

Beyond music, Vegoose will draw inspiration from Halloween and Vegas to create a unique visual and interactive experience. Utilizing the expansive resources of Las Vegas' entertainment community, the festival will include a multitude of performance artists, attractions and art installations.

A central festival complex at Sam Boyd Stadium will host two days of music and activities on Saturday and Sunday from noon into the evening. The event will also utilize a 20-acre grassy field behind the stadium. When the stadium performances end at around 10:30 pm, the festival will continue in a series of separately-ticketed late night shows in such venerable Vegas venues as House of Blues, The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel, The Orleans Arena and others. The late night shows will run for four nights, from Friday, October 28 to Monday, October 31. The initial round of late night shows and ticketing info will be announced soon.

With a seemingly endless selection of music and activities, Vegoose will be the ultimate fall destination for live music fans. The fact that it will take place in Las Vegas on Halloween weekend ensures an unparalleled entertainment experience. "This is about having a great big party," says AC Entertainment's Ashley Capps. "It's Halloween, it's Vegas, and it's an amazing collection of music and unique attractions."

The official Festival Website is http://www.vegoose.com/ .

Vegoose Confirmed Artists:

Dave Matthews & Friends
Jack Johnson
Widespread Panic
The Flaming Lips
Phil Lesh & Friends w/ special guest Ryan Adams
Primus
Trey Anastasio
The Shins
Ween
The Meters (Art Neville, Zigaboo Modeliste, George Porter, Jr., Leo
Nocentelli)
The String Cheese Incident
Spoon
moe.
Digable Planets
North Mississippi Allstars
Michael Franti & Spearhead
The Decemberists
Lyrics Born
The Magic Numbers

Many more acts will be announced shortly.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050803/NYW143LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: Superfly Productions; A.C. Entertainment

CONTACT: Ken Weinstein at Big Hassle Media, +1-212-619-1360,
weinstein@bighassle.com

Web site: http://www.vegoose.com/

Tour to showcase Savvy with live performances and DVD screenings.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) August 4, 2005 -- Savvy, the hot, new, high-energy pop/hip-hop recording group, will headline this summers Simon Brand Ventures Feeling Groovy national mall tour presented by Radio Disney and Sam Goody. Feeling Groovy promotes healthy life choices among kids and families, and will visit 88 malls across the country. Savvy will perform at 16 of the tours mall visits.

Touring in support of their new music CD, Road to Fame, and instructional dance and concert DVD, Every Body Moves, Savvy will perform four, super-charged concerts at each event, and teach a few of their dance numbers to the audience. The groups live Feeling Groovy mall performances include:

July 30: Jacksonville, Fla. The Avenues
July 31: Orange Pak, Fla. Orange Park Mall
August 6: Brea, Calif. Brea Mall
August 7: Laguna Hills, Calif. Laguna Hills Mall
August 13: Saint Paul, Minn. Maplewood Mall
August 14: Buford, Ga. Mall Of Georgia
August 20-21: Wichita, Kan. Town West Square & Town East Square
August 27: Livingston, N.J. Livingston Mall
August 28: Toms River, N.J. Ocean County Mall
September 10: Peabody, Mass. North Shore Mall
September 11: Marlborough, Mass. Solomon Pond Mall
September 17: Waterford, Conn. Crystal Mall
September 18: Auburn, Mass. Auburn Mall
September 24: North Attleboro, Mass. Emerald Square Mall
September 25: Chestnut Hill, Mass. Square One Mall

We are extremely excited about headlining the Feeling Groovy tour, said Lauren Story, 14-year-old Savvy group member. This is our first tour, and were really looking forward to getting on the road to perform for our fans.

Having recently exploded onto the music scene, Savvys mission is to present pop music with clean, wholesome lyrics and fun messages, while entertaining audiences with the latest hip-hop, dance moves. Savvy members include four girls and four boys from Texas, aged 8 to 16, who incorporate mainstream choreography, catchy songs, outgoing personalities and cultural diversity.

Already enjoying enormous success in limited distribution, Savvys first album, titled Road To Fame, will be released this summer in conjunction with the mall tour. It includes the hit single True Believer, which was recently selected as a pick on Radio Disneys Pick It or Kick It program. Road to Fame also has includes other catchy tunes such as, Jump On It and Youre Something. In addition to promoting Road To Fame, Savvy also will be promoting their brand new instructional dance/concert DVD Every Body Moves, which encourages kids to exercise through positive music and the latest hip-hop moves. Road To Fame and Every Body Moves will be available exclusively at nationwide Sam Goody and Suncoast stores beginning July 30.

Savvys pop music and hip-hop dance moves also will be showcased at the other Feeling Groovy mall visits where the group will not appear live. At these locations, kids will be treated to screenings of Every Body Moves featuring Savvy dance demonstrations and instructions (See attached tour schedule for exact dates and locations).

Kids and parents will love this tour because it is a fun way to encourage a healthy lifestyle in a cool way, said Christine LeMaire, Savvys manager and CEO. And kids will love the concept since they can be actively involved in the instructional dance numbers and music videos, which makes for hours of wholesome, constructive fun.

About Savvy
Ethnically diverse and ranging in age from 8 to 16 years old, Sarah, Nikki, Lauryn, Mariah, Alan, Andrew, Drew and Berto bring a collective enthusiasm, unprecedented degree of professionalism and talent which is rarely found in pop groups today. The groups professionalism and rapport transcends their young ages and their dedication and positive attitudes have proven to be a welcome alternative to current pop music offerings.

The Savvy production team includes renowned choreographer, director and teacher Shaun Dante Royer who worked with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake during their early days at Disney; and renowned producer/songwriter Justin Gray, who has done work for superstars such as Joss Stone, Sum 41 and The Backstreet Boys.

Visit the Savvy Web site at www.savvymusic.biz for more details.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Dayna Ghiraldi
THE STEVEN STYLE GROUP
212.465.1290

'Simon DTour Live' and 'Feelin' Groovy' Crank Up the Volume on Experiential Marketing

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Simon Brand Ventures, the business-to-consumer arm of Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG) , today announced the August 2005 launch of two major marketing events targeting teens and children: Simon DTour Live(TM), a national roadie trip of hot pop stars and hip brands, and Feelin' Groovy, an upbeat national celebration of 'health and swellness' that teaches young children to play their way to healthy living.

"We've upped the quality and impact of our experiential marketing with more hot new pop music acts, programming and entertainment from Radio Disney, and even more of the best sponsors," said Stewart Stockdale, chief marketing officer of Simon Property Group and president of Simon Brand Ventures. "Teens and children are obviously vitally important segments. Teens visit Simon Malls an average of nearly five times per month, so we know youth are looking for entertainment as much as great shopping and access to the latest, coolest brands. And in a three-month period, Simon reaches over one quarter of adults with children aged 2-11 in their households," Stockdale said.

Simon DTour Live is a proprietary teen marketing program that fuses tailored brand sponsorships with creative and interactive on-site entertainment, events and contests sponsored by eight top teen brands including title sponsor Visa Buxx, music sponsor Coca-Cola, ELLEgirl magazine and Playtex Products (all returning from last year), plus new sponsors The N Network, Nintendo, Square Enix and L'Oreal Paris.

The tour launches August 5 in Jersey City and will conclude October 23 in Austin, visiting 25 premier Simon shopping destinations throughout the country. A local extension event to Simon DTour Live, including an amateur music competition for teens with prizes, will be launched at additional Simon malls.

Each Simon DTour Live event will feature free live performances by one of several popular singing sensations, including teen heartthrob and MTV show star Ryan Cabrera; singer and WB actor Tyler Hilton; power pop group The Click Five; pop singer and actress (from Lizzie McGuire) Lalaine; breakout pop vocalist Kaci Brown; hip hop crossover boy group B5 and JD Natasha, a pop Latina teen artist. The featured artists will take turns appearing across Simon DTour Live's national tour stops. In addition to the main stage performances, Simon DTour Live will also offer teens the chance to check out the latest games, gizmos, fashions and premiums, including:

* Coca-Cola brings its new website, http://mycoke.com/ , to life through a branded pavilion where teens can experience all of the features of the new site and taste the new Coke with Lime.

* Visa Buxx, the reloadable Visa card specifically designed for teens to help them learn about responsible spending, hosts a free henna tattoo parlor where teens can choose their own design, painted by professional artists. Visa Buxx will also present an interactive game show to arm teens with insights on responsible money management in a fun and upbeat way.

* The N, the nighttime network for teens, introduces its new TV series from the creators of Degrassi, "Instant Star." The N will get teens ready for their "close-up" with one-minute makeovers and a walk down a red-carpeted paparazzi-flashbulb alley. A picture will be taken in front of a screen with other celebs, and each teen is entered to win a fabulous evening out complete with limo, dinner, concert tickets and a Simon Visa Giftcard.

* Nintendo showcases its highly anticipated game for Nintendo DS, Nintendogs. Players can train their puppies, teach them new tricks, compete in obedience and agility trials and walk their dogs in the virtual dog park -- all by using voice commands and the unique touch screen of the Nintendo DS. The innovative "Bark Mode" enables players to interact with other owners and their puppies wirelessly. Nintendogs is the ideal pet for people who can't have the real thing.

* Square Enix(TM) unveils its exciting, award-winning PlayStation 2 role- playing game, Dragon Quest(TM) VIII: Journey of the Cursed King(TM), at the events. Teens will have a chance to enter into the beautiful, vast Dragon Quest world and experience the fun and rewarding gameplay. Dragon Quest VIII is entertaining for both young men and women and is easy to pick up and play. There will be premium, free Dragon Quest gear available to those who try out the demo.

* L'Oreal Paris is offering one-on-one hair color consultations and complimentary Color Pulse hair color. The Color Pulse hair color experts are equipped to give coloring tips that will enhance your personal style. As consumers wait, they can create their personal Color Pulse photo greeting card to share with their friends.

* ELLEgirl magazine showcases the latest fashions and accessories from select brands, such as Guess Jeans, Le Sport Sac, Lady Enyce, Plugg Jeans and Sweetooth handbags at their popular fashion "lab."

* Playtex Products gives each young woman a micro-branded baby T with a choice of iron-on transfer designs to reflect her personality. Young women may also register for a "Renew the Real You" sweepstakes with the chance to win a trip of their choice.

"Last year, approximately 65,000 teens and their parents were introduced to Visa Buxx through Simon DTour Live," said Steve Diamond, vice president, prepaid products, Visa USA. "Visa continually looks for ways to offer consumers insights on the choice of payment products available to them. Simon DTour Live's mix of live music and fashion provides a fun, interactive platform to communicate the importance of budgets and responsible money management, building teens' confidence in making financial decisions."

"Being part of Simon DTour Live allows us to showcase fresh new talent, a fresh new website and a fresh new product, Coke with Lime," said Mike Stern, director cold drink customer marketing, Coca-Cola North America. "Coca-Cola recognizes the passion that teens have for entertainment, so an interactive experience wrapped around popular music makes Simon DTour Live an ideal event."

Feelin' Groovy is a national back-to-school celebration of 'health and swellness' that teaches kids to play their way to healthy living. Simon and Radio Disney are teaming together to encourage children to learn good health habits that will last a lifetime. The national 77-mall Simon tour will feature continuous upbeat music, a family-friendly Radio Disney emcee, game show-type wellness activities for families and numerous giveaways, plus interactive health-oriented stations designed to appeal to moms and kids 2 through 12 years of age. The tour launched July 30 and concludes September 25. In addition, a number of Simon malls across the country will host a Feelin' Groovy extension program combining both national and local sponsors.

"Feelin' Groovy is a multi-dimensional interactive experience that delivers meaningful, relevant and memorable messages about 'health and swellness' in a family-friendly atmosphere that both children and their parents will enjoy," said Cathi Weiner, senior vice president, business development, for Simon Brand Ventures.

Feelin' Groovy events include:

* Radio Disney - Provides a Master of Ceremonies and offers continuous entertainment and giveaways during each four-hour event.

* Savvy - An instructional dance DVD by Savvy, a wholesome pop band of eight kids, 8-16 years of age, is featured at each mall. In addition, Savvy presents live performances at select malls as part of the event.

* RedOctane's "In the Grove" Dance Station - Invites kids to join the newest active dance game from Sony PlayStation 2.

* Cabbage Patch Kids/Child Medical Station - Encourages kids to bring their Cabbage Patch dolls in for a quick check-up and simultaneously learn to be more comfortable when visiting the doctor themselves. A Cabbage Patch costumed character also adds to the fun.

* Mom's Resource Center -- Offers moms valuable tips on kids' wellness, exercise and weight management, plus product samples from Kimberly Clark.

* Other health-oriented stations will be added, tailored to the local markets.

Regional sponsors (which will vary by market) include Roomba, which will discuss the importance of air quality in the home; The Weather Channel, which will enable kids to learn about sun safety, pollen counts and the importance of clean air; Tempus International, which will present information on the importance of family fun and relaxation; and Hyperion Publishing, which will present a story time and discussion about how reading helps a child's development.

Feelin' Groovy is one of several programs and events held throughout the year presented by Simon Kidgits Club, which focuses on children's health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for kids aged 3-8.

"We are excited to launch this national tour at Simon Malls because we want all kids to understand that it's fun and easy to develop healthy lifestyles," said Peggy Iafrate, integrated marketing, Radio Disney. "Feeling Groovy is a fun way for families to get up, move around and have some fun together."

Simon DTour Live Featured Artist Websites:
B5 (Bad Boy Records)- http://b5online.com/
KACI BROWN (Interscope Records) - http://kacibrown.com/
RYAN CABRERA (Atlantic Records) - http://www.ryancabrera.com/
THE CLICK FIVE (Lava Records) - http://theclickfive.com/
TYLER HILTON (Maverick Records) - http://www.tylerhilton.com/
LALAINE (Warner Bros. Records) - http://lalaine.net/
JD NATASHA (EMI Records) - http://natashaville.com/

About Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, development and management of retail real estate, primarily regional malls, Premium Outlet(R) centers and community/lifestyle centers. The Company's current total market capitalization is approximately $41 billion. Through its subsidiary partnership, it currently owns or has an interest in 295 properties in the United States containing an aggregate of 201 million square feet of gross leasable area in 40 states plus Puerto Rico. Simon also owns interests in 51 European shopping centers in France, Italy, Poland and Portugal; 5 Premium Outlet(R) centers in Japan; one Premium Outlet(R) center in Mexico; and one shopping center in Canada. Additional Simon Property Group information is available at http://www.simon.com/ .

About Simon Brand Ventures

Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's business-to-consumer arm, has pioneered the transformation of shopping malls into a medium where consumer brands can build one-on-one relationships with shoppers who make approximately 2 billion visits to Simon Malls each year. Simon's vast franchise of market- leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous consumer ventures. SBV has engaged in a number of consumer business initiatives, including the Simon Giftcard(TM), launch of Simon platform programs such as Simon Kidgits Club(TM), Simon Super Chefs Live!(TM), Simon DTour Live(TM), Simon Mall for You(TM) and Simon Evening of Giving(TM); a national media delivery channel including experiential marketing methods, and multiple national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola, Visa U.S.A. and Cingular Wireless, among others.

About Visa

Visa is the world's leading payment brand and largest consumer payment system, enabling banks to provide their consumer and merchant customers with a wide variety of payment alternatives. Nearly 21,000 financial institutions worldwide rely on Visa's processing system, VisaNet, to facilitate $2.5 trillion in annual transaction volume with virtually 100-percent reliability. Consumers in more than 150 countries carry more than 1 billion Visa-branded cards, accepted at millions of locations worldwide. Within the United States, nearly 14,000 financial institutions issue 429 million Visa cards, accounting for more than $1.1 trillion in annual transaction volume. Visa offers a trusted, reliable and convenient way to access and mobilize financial resources -- anytime, anywhere, any way. For more information about Visa, please visit http://www.visa.com/ .

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company. Along with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five soft drink brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light soft drinks, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, visit http://www.coca-cola.com/ .

Source: Simon Property Group, Inc.

CONTACT: Sarah Heffernan, +1-314-982-8680, hefferns@fleishman.com , for
Simon Property Group, Inc.; or Billie Scott of Simon Property Group, Inc.,
+1-317-263-7148, bscott@simon.com

Web site: http://www.simon.com/
http://www.visa.com/
http://www.coca-cola.com/
http://mycoke.com/

Sharing Similar Goals and Mission, UGA and My Music Mission's Combined Efforts Will Further Strengthen and Empower Christian and Gospel Artists

San Francisco (PRWEB) August 3, 2005 -- Urban Gospel Alliance (UGA) and MyMusicMission.com are pleased to announce the formation of their alliance which will provide affordable tools and resources for Christian artists that will further empower them in their careers/ministries. UGA will offer a discount membership to all MyMusicMission.com members, as will MyMusicMission.com for UGA members.

MyMusicMission.com is a rapidly growing artist/musician member-based community that provides many fantastic self promotion tools and resources for artists. "Our Partnering with UGA will add even more value to members by giving them access to more opportunities via UGA and the ability to submit their Artist Portfolios{tm} ( popular tool which has been compared to Sonicbids) to booking opportunities UGA regularly provides it's members", states Hazel Nieves, President of MyMusicMission.com.

Based in Oakland, California, Urban Gospel Alliance is a member-driven organization that was created to provide opportunities for individuals whose ministries focus on nontraditional areas, such as holy hip hop, urban contemporary gospel, reggae, jazz, and Christian comedy.

Together, both organizations plan to support one another's efforts as well as provide joint membership opportunities and benefits for artists. We are excited about this partnership and what it will do for the members of both organizations and for the Christian music community in general. Empowerment of Christian artists has been the goal of UGA since its inception.

By joining forces with MyMusicMission.com, we are combining forces to provide increased resources that will allow Christian artists to work in their ministries/careers with more efficiency, organization, and with increased opportunities. Anytime we can partner with an organization whose mission is similar to ours and that will provide our membership base with tools to help in expanding their ministries, we are excited about that, said Evelyn Mack, Partnership Coordinator for UGA.

ABOUT MYMUSICMISSION.COM
MyMusicMission.com seeks to provide Christian artists and musicians with biblical based business skills and knowledge as well as facilitate personal development, career management and promotion skills within the artist. MyMusicMission.com is an online member based community providing artists valuable career management and self promotion tools, resources, guidance and support, as well as access to music industry buyers and service providers.

For more information on MyMusicMission.com, contact at:
MyMusicMission.com
563-367-3320
http://www.mymusicmission.com

ABOUT URBAN GOSPEL ALLIANCE
UGA is membership based organizations with chapters throughout the country. It provides a forum for all urban gospel artists to unify. They incorporate education, entertainment, social programs, conferences, retreats, and more to help unify and open doors that are not readily opened for performers of urban gospel music. For more information or to join UGA, visit:
Urban Gospel Alliance (UGA)
call 510-472-0177
http://www.urbangospelalliance.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Evelyn Mack
MANAGING DREAMS ENTERTAINMENT
415-756-8532

With Reaxion's platform, Hudson can offer The Source fans a new way to customize their handsets for new services, such as The Source Masters.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 2, 2005-- Hudson Entertainment is now able to deliver The Source Masters "true tones" to Hip-Hop fans using Reaxion's Multimedia Content Delivery Platform. San Mateo-based Hudson Entertainment is the wireless publisher of The Source Magazine for mobile, which combines Hip-Hop news with interactive games and purchasable content (ringtones and wallpapers). Hudson's new The Source Masters offer real vocal performances of actual songs, in contrast to the standard polyphonic ringtones, which are merely simplified electronic copies of songs.

Reaxion is a major supplier of end-to end solutions for mobile entertainment delivery. The Reaxion Multimedia Content Delivery Platform cuts Hudson's time-to-market for new services. For example, rolling out the Source Masters true tones was seamless for Hudson because Reaxion's plat