VH1 Partners With NYC Big Events for First Ever 'VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week' in Connection With VH1's 3rd Annual 'Hip Hop Honors' Show

Special Events and Performances in All Five Boroughs Begin Thurs., October 12

'VH1 Hip Hop Honors' Event to Honor New Yorkers Wu-Tang Clan, Afrika Bambaataa, Russell Simmons, MC Lyte, Rakim and Beastie Boys as Well as Ice Cube and Eazy E

NEW YORK, Oct. 5 -- Having transformed music and pop culture internationally, hip hop gets its props in the city where it all began.

VH1 is partnering with the City of New York's NYC Big Events to create the first-ever "VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week" in connection with the network's 3rd annual "Hip Hop Honors" telecast hosted by Ice-T on Tuesday, October 17.

"Our Hip Hop Honors Week takes the party out of the Hammerstein and into the streets so New Yorkers can touch and feel the excitement," said Maureen J. Reidy, President & CEO, NYC Big Events. "The Week leading up to the show's telecast is packed with opportunities for New Yorkers and tourists to learn about hip hop history and culture through a variety of events in all five boroughs."

"The tremendous depth of activities during 'Hip Hop Honors Week' confirms how this music has become the dominant force in pop culture," said Tom Calderone, Executive Vice President, General Manager, VH1. "New York City is truly the only place in the world where we could hold our 'Hip Hop Honors' event, and we're proud to have partnered with NYC Big Events to create such an extensive week that celebrates hip hop."

The event, hosted by Ice-T, will honor Wu-Tang Clan, Afrika Bambaataa, Russell Simmons, MC Lyte, Rakim, Beastie Boys all representing all five boroughs of New York City as well as Ice Cube and Easy E. Additional performers include Lil' Kim, Diddy, Fat Joe, Lil Jon, Da Brat, Xzibit, Talib Kweli, Remy Ma, Q-Tip, Common, The Roots, George Clinton, Young Jeezy, Erykah Badu and KRS-One with appearances by Outkast and Mike Epps.

The City of New York, through NYC Big Events, worked with VH1 to create a jam packed week of events, performances, exhibits, workshops and retail specials in each of the five boroughs that recognize and celebrate the heritage and tremendous impact of Hip Hop since its birth decades ago on the streets of New York City.

Beginning Thursday, October 12 and culminating with the "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" telecast on VH1 on Tuesday, October 17 at 8 PM, VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week will be anchored each day by a different theme including: Education Day, Restaurant Day, Culture and Music Day, Sports Day and Fashion & Shopping Day.

Highlights of the week include the "Hip Hop Honors Celebrity Hoops" exhibition featuring half-time performer Fat Joe, celebrity MC Doug E. Fresh and a team including Ice-T, Kurtis Blow, Whodini and Grand Master Mellie Mel. In addition, VH1 is producing an NBA Store Event where shoppers can meet NBA legend John Starks and Fat Joe and compete to win a "VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week" gift bag. The special week also ties into numerous hip hop-themed events and seminars that were already scheduled.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12 - EDUCATION DAY

The week kicks off today with hip hop artists conducting "master classes" in public schools in each of the city's five boroughs throughout the week. The classes are presented by the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, a long- time supporter of New York City's public school music programs.

Other events today that tie into "Hip Hop Honors Week" include:

NATIONAL AMUSEMENTS HIP-HOP MOVIE SCREENINGS Check out Hip Hop Movie night at three theaters in the boroughs -- for only $3! All proceeds will benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. Catch classics on Thursday (10/12), Sunday (10/15) and Monday (10/16). For other movie titles and show times at Linden Boulevard Multiplex Cinema, College Point Multiplex Cinema and Jamaica Multiplex Cinema visit http://www.nationalamusements.com

SCRATCH DJ ACADEMY CLASS - 7:00 p.m. 434 Sixth Avenue, 2nd Floor, Manhattan (212) 529-1599 Ext. 5 Scratch.com

Founded by the late Jam Master Jay from Run-DMC, Scratch DJ Academy hosts a free 60-minute workshop on the DJ basics hosted by GrandWizzard Theodore.

SCREENING OF THE HIP HOP PROJECT - 5:00 p.m. Brooklyn Museum of Art, 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn http://www.hiphopproject.com

Q-Tip hosts a screening for this inspirational film about Kazi, a formerly homeless teenager turned youth mentor who helps a group of NYC teenagers transform their lives into powerful works of art, using hip hop as a vehicle for personal discovery. The Hip Hop Project features Russell Simmons, Bruce Willis, Sway, Sarah Jones and Doug E. Fresh. Q&A with Q-Tip, Kazi and cast members to follow

powerHouse ARENA OPENING NIGHT GALA - 6:00-10:00 p.m. No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn Exhibition 37 Main Street, Brooklyn Tickets are $25 at (212) 604-9074 Ext. 100 http://www.powerHousebooks.com

Hosted by Kool DJ Red Alert from Power 105.1, the powerHouse Arena hosts a 30-year retrospective exhibition of hip-hop culture to benefit the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, featuring works by over 45 artists.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 - RESTAURANT DAY

"HIP HOP CELEBRITY-AT-YOUR-SERVICE" EVENT -- 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Junior's Restaurant, Times Square 1515 Broadway and 45th Street at Shubert Alley, Manhattan (212) 302-2000 http://www.juniorscheesecake.com

Hip Hop's Remy Ma dishes it out and serves it up at this ultimate hip hop dining experience. 98.7 KISS FM will be on site providing the soundtrack to the event and giveaways. In addition, dozens of restaurants in all five boroughs will offer discounts and specials tied into "Hip Hop Honors Week." Check out http://hiphop.vh1.com.

Additional hip hop events tying into "Hip Hop Honors" today include:

BRASILINTIME FILM SCREENING - 6:00 p.m. Bronx Museum, 1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx (718) 681-6000 http://www.bronxmuseum.org

The Bronx Museum screens the film Brasilintime, a documentary that tells the story of a group of DJ's who travel to Brazil to show how Brazilian beats influence hip hop.

WHITNEY LIVE PRESENTS: ZIMBABWE LEGIT w/ SPECIAL GUEST GRANDWIZZARD THEODORE -- 7:00 P.M. Whitney Museum, 945 Madison Avenue @ 75th Street, Manhattan (800) WHITNEY http://www.whitney.org

"Whitney Live" kicks off its new season with a tribute to the golden age of hip hop. Pioneering hip-hop duo Zimbabwe Legit -- brothers Akim Funk Buddha and Dumi Right -- create a unique fusion of African aesthetic and urban American dialect that returns hip hop to its pre-commercial roots. With special guest hip-hop legend GrandWizzard Theodore. Free with pay- what-you-wish museum admission.

HIP HOP KARAOKE -- Sign-up: 9pm/Showtime: 10pm Knitting Factory, 74 Leonard Street, Manhattan (212) 219-3132 http://www.hiphopkaraokenyc.com

Designed for the inner rapper in us all, amateur MCs are given their chance to rhyme and shine.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 - MUSIC AND CULTURE DAY

"BLACK STYLE NOW" Exhibit - 3:00 p.m. Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan (212) 534-1672 http://www.mcny.org

This exhibition explores African-American style and highlights the hip-hop revolution and its transformative impact on fashion and design. The exhibition focuses on such iconic designers and style setters as Sean "Diddy" Combs, Tracy Reese and Russell Simmons.

LADIES FIRST RAP and DJ DEMONSTRATION and DISCUSSION - 3:00 p.m. Michaela Angela Davis moderates an afternoon of hip-hop conversation and culture for and by women presented by "Black Girls Rock!" Board members DJ Beverly Bond, Mitzi Miller, Joan Morgan, and others discuss images of black girls and women in mainstream hip-hop media. Also, Toni Blackman ("I Rhyme Like a Girl") gives a demonstration with her freestyling group of young female MCs.

POP-UP MUSEUM: THE HIP HOP CULTURE CENTER -- 10am-10pm (October 12-17) AMC Loews Harlem USA 2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd., Manhattan (212) 234-7171 http://www.gacny.com

Global Artists Coalition (GAC) hosts a temporary hip-hop museum and culture center at Magic Johnson's Harlem movie theater that celebrates the history, style and music of hip hop over the last three decades with performances, interactive exhibits, including photojournalist Jamel Shabazz's collection of rare hip-hop handbills and snapshots that chronicle the transition from old school to hip hop today.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 - SPORTS DAY

HIP HOP HONORS CELEBRITY HOOPS - 3:00 p.m. Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus, Wellness, Recreation & Athletic Center Ashland Place and DeKalb Avenue http://www.ticketmaster.com

VH1 has partnered with Entertainment Basketball Classic (EBC), the nation's largest basketball tournament of Rucker Park fame, to present this "old school" vs. "new school" exhibition game featuring Fat Joe as the halftime performer and Doug E. Fresh as the celebrity MC. Players include Ice-T, Whodini, Chris Brown, Bobby Valentino, Busy Bee, Kurtis Blow, Grand Master Kaz, Grand Master Mellie Mel and more. Presented by VH1, EBC, Long Island University and radio station Hot 97. General admission $20 tickets and "gold circle" $50 tickets are available via Ticketmaster and by calling LIU at 718/780-4072. Group sales through Gemstone Management.

powerHouse Arena: JAMEL SHABAZZ AND JOE CONZO -- 4pm-7pm 37 Main Street, Brooklyn (212) 604-9074 http://www.powerHousebooks.com

Join premier street photographer Jamel Shabazz and hip-hop documentarian Joe Conzo as they present the music that inspired their work and a presentation and slideshow that explores their work over the past 30 years. Evening also includes a Q&A session and a screening of the trailer from their forthcoming documentary.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16 -- FASHION AND SHOPPING DAY

NBA STORE EVENT WITH JOHN STARKS AND FAT JOE -- 3pm-5pm 666 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan (212) 515-6221 http://www.nbastore.com

Visit the world's only NBA store to meet NBA legend John Starks and Fat Joe! Get an autograph with any NBA store same-day purchase of $10 or more (while supplies last). Take a free shot at Center Court for a chance to win the official "VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week" gift bag. And check out the "VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week" mini boutique featuring Mitchell & Ness, as well as signature kicks and giveaways from HOT 97 who will be on-site spinning hip hop tunes.

JIMMY JAZZ FASHION EVENT -- 4pm-7pm 520 Fulton St., Brooklyn (718) 243-9181

Features winners of a hip hop celebrity "make-me-over" shopping spree

SEAN JOHN SHOPPING SPECIAL Mon-Wed and Fri-Sat, 10am-7pm; Thurs, 10am-8pm; Sun, 12pm-6pm 475 5th Ave, Manhattan (212) 220-2633 http://www.seanjohn.com

Be one of the first 200 people to buy $200 worth of Sean John merchandise from the Sean John Fifth Avenue Store during VH1 Hip Hop Honors week and receive a ticket gift with purchase to the Sean John VH1 Hip Hop Honors VIP Party on Monday, October 16th. Get 10% off your Sean John purchase with VH1 Hip Hop Honors Week Code HHHW1016.

Additional Hip Hop Honors Events this day:

KING OF THE BEAT WITH PERFORMANCE BY BIG DADDY KANE - 8 pm Hosted by Doug E. Fresh Canal Room, 285 W. Broadway, Manhattan (212) 941-8100 http://www.canalroom.com

Check out Scion's King of the Beat regional competition in search of the next great music producer. Eight contestants from across the nation square off in the regionals, held at the Canal Room. Hosted by Doug E. Fresh and including performances by Big Daddy Kane.

powerHouse Arena: WOMEN IN HIP HOP -- 4pm-7pm 37 Main Street, Brooklyn (212) 604-9074 http://www.powerHousebooks.com

Held in conjunction with Black Girls Rock, this event is designed to give women their due while creating a forum for critical discussion and a positive approach to problem solving. Features a panel discussion with acclaimed female artists and writers, a film screening, and a performance from local Brooklyn songstress Maya Azucena.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17 - HIP HOP HONORS DAY

The week culminates with the 3rd annual VH1 Hip Hop Honors. Far more than just another awards show, this event celebrates one of the most significant and innovative forces in our culture today. They represent -- and we recognize with a night of LIVE performances and special appearances. This year's honorees include Wu-Tang Clan, Afrika Bambaataa, Russell Simmons, MC Lyte, Rakim, Beastie Boys, Ice Cube and Eazy-E. Special appearances by Diddy, Lil' Kim, Lil Jon, Fat Joe, Xzibit, Common and more ... Be sure to tune in Tuesday, October 17 at 9pm.

SOURCE VH1
http://www.vh1.com