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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 1999
Press Contact: Jolyn Matsumuro
(323) 653-4330
CHUCK D ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF RAPSTATION.COM
Full Service Website For The Global Hip Hop Community
Established To Enlighten, Entertain and Empower
Los Angeles, CA (September 29, 1999) - Chuck D, founder of seminal rap group Public Enemy and leading proponent of MP3 technology and new music download technology,announces the launch of Rapstation (www.rapstation.com), a definitive, full-service website for rap music and the global hip hop community.
The groundbreaking site will feature several different areas specifically chosen by Chuck D, each of which will echo Rapstation's objective as being a open forum for enlightenment, entertainment and empowerment for hip hop fans around the world. Chuck's commitment to the musical genre and outspoken support for the Internet and MP3 technology prompted him to create this vital outlet for hip hop culture.
Rapstation.com includes:
| Inside The Rhyme | Celebrity interviews featuring hip hop's biggest names and personalities including Puff Daddy, Mary J Blige, Everlast, The Roots and Michael Franti
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| On the Real | A regular political commentary by Chuck D covering a wide range of topics
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| Rapstation TV | Exclusive music videos and "Rock Da Houze" programming, with graphics by Image That Productions
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| Rapstation Radio | Streaming Internet radio
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| Digital Affairs | An opportunity for aspiring artists to gain insight on how to enter and succeed in the emerging digital music industry. Unsigned artists are encouraged to send in their CD demos to:
MP3 Jamz @ Rapstation.com, 16 W. 19th Street, New York, NY, 10011.
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| MP3s | Upload, download, trade and discover the latest MP3s
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"Rapstation is opening new levels of access and communication," says Chuck D. "We will break down the wall of silence and provide a forum where people can share and speak about their concerns. And we want to provide artists with valuable information about the record industry and how this new technology can enable you to connect with a rap and hip hop audience that is underserved. The revolution has started."
Rapstation.com will be the major sponsor of Public Enemy's upcoming fall tour, and has entered into a strategic alliance with House of Blues Digital. The joint venture will produce an online pay-per-view rap concert series.
"HOB.com is thrilled to be working with Rapstation. We have worked with Chuck for years, both online and off, and have always been excited about developing projects with the most innovative, pioneering spirit in hip hop and rap today," said Phil Fracassi, VP of Programming & Operations, House of Blues Digital. "HOB.com and Rapstation are going to be working closely together on programming and events, bringing together the most powerful broadcasting channel on the Internet and what's sure to be the definitive destination for urban, hip hop and rap music," he added.
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ABOUT THE COMPANIES
Creamwerks Multimedia is the producer and owner of Rapstation.com, and was formed to develop, produce and distribute music and music-related content and original programming on a worldwide basis, utilizing state-of-the-art digital technology on the Internet. It was co-founded by Chuck D, Lathan Hodge and Walter Leaphart, with Hassan Miah serving as Chairman.
SLO Media.com, Inc. is a business accelerator focusing on unleashing the potential of Internet start-ups involved in New Media and entertainment. The Company provides expert business and strategy advice and world-class web site engineering. SLO Media.com, Inc.was founded by Hassan Miah and Dean Kaplan, who most recently guided Xing Technology into the leading developer of MP3 technology and applications and subsequently sold the company to RealNetworks, Inc. Rapstation.com is the company's first client to publicly launch a service.
Iguana Studios Inc. is a prominent New York-based interactive design and production company, focusing primarily on the youth/young adult market, developing material in entertainment and sports-related areas.
House of Blues Digital, Inc. is a division of HOB Entertainment, Inc., and is committed to the production, capture, promotion, and digital distribution of live music content taking place at House of Blues', HOB Concert venues and other select premiere venues worldwide. House of Blues Digital, Inc. has the ability to broadcast digital content through various media including the Internet, broadband cable, HDTV, satellite, DVD,and traditional media. House of Blues Digital, Inc.'s expertise in promotions and programming supports artists and labels through the entire on-line marketing medium.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Jason Jercinovic is President and CEO of Iguana Studios Inc. where he has overseen video and audio production, presentation services, video conferencing and interactive design and production for clients such as Ernst & Young, J Walter Thompson and Andersen Consulting.
Gary Edberg is Rapstation.com's webmaster and technical support chief. He is also Web Engineer at SLO Media.com Inc, and he formerly worked as Webmaster at Xing Technology.
Walter Leaphart is co-founder of Creamwerks Multimedia and manager for Chuck D. He is a former television producer and director, working on the 1993 and 1994 NAACP Image Awards, created a docu-tainment music special for NBC, as well as special on Mayor Harold Washington (NBC).
Hassan Miah is the founder and Chairman of SLO Media.com, Inc. as well as Chairman of Creamwerks Multimedia. He is the former CEO of Xing Technology (recently sold to RealNetworks), the marketshare leader in MP3 encoding software. Over 90% of all MP3s are made using Xing software. Miah established SLO Media.com, Inc. to develop web engineering for entertainment and media related companies. He previously ran the New Media department at Creative Artists Agency, where he founded the CAA Intel media lab, the first major Hollywood investment by Intel. The CAA Intel media lab was exclusively devoted to showcasing the potential of new technology and next generation entertainment.
Lathan Hodge is co-founder and co-executive producer for Creamwerks Multimedia. An Emmy-award winning producer, he is a former executive producer for Black Entertainment Television and has been awarded honors by the NAACP, Black Enterprise magazine and has received a National Education Award for his work on children's television shows.
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