August 14-20, 2003

mixpicks

Hip-Hop Summit

Hip-hop is gonna turn 25 soon, and with age comes wisdom, right? Not always. MTV and BET are still blasting thong-clad video vixens and MCs still spit tired lyrics about bitches, hos and how big their guns are, but the winds of change are blowing. Look now: Hip-hop's biggest name, mogul Russell Simmons, is taking a break from walking down the Phat Farm runway or hawking his new blue energy soda to do this weekend's altruistic Hip-Hop Summit. It is free and open to the public. No velvet rope. It's not who you know, but whether you're registered -- to vote -- that grants entry. With panelists Simmons, Wyclef Jean (pictured), DMX, Rev. Run (of Run-D.M.C.), Damon Dash, Doug E. Fresh, Jazzy Jeff, Black Ice and more kicking knowledge on hip-hop's political power, entrepreneurship, wealth management and then some, it's a rousing call to the hip-hop generation to get up, stand up and hit the polls.

Hip-Hop Summit, Thu., Aug. 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (registration begins at 8 a.m.), free with voter registration card or after registering to vote on-site, Liacouras Center, Temple University, Broad and Montgomery sts.

—Ainé Ardron-Doley