The Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem, a fully integrated entertainment and educational complex that uses hip-hop as a tool for teaching youth topics as varied as politics, history and economics, today announced the dates it will be holding general auditions for its second annual Rapathon, a 25-hour event taking place Saturday, May 3rd. Tryouts will be held at the Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem on April 8th, April 10th, April 14th, April 18th and April 21st, between 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. The Center is located at 2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd. at 124th Street , on the second floor of The Magic Johnson Theater.

Organizers are interested in seeing rappers of any age, who can rap for 90 seconds straight, with no vulgarities or degrading language. Last year's Rapathon assembled 117 emcees, who rhymed non-stop for 24 hours.  The goal this year is to create a bigger, longer, and even more history-making showcase.

In that spirit, the Rapathon planners are also seeking the participation of groups and individuals for what it hopes will be New York's largest electric slide exhibition. The display will take place before the Rapathon on May 3rd at 3pm, on 124th Street between Frederick Douglass Boulevard and St. Nicholas Avenue . To take part, just show up with your dancing shoes and a can of food. The donations will be delivered to the impoverished people of Haiti .

For information about and highlights from last year's Rapathon, visit:

http://www.globalartistscoalition.org/rapathon_page/index.html  or

http://video.nymag.com/index.jsp?fr_story=41d583c26915901f8299672e6784db17ce18cb94

For additional information concerning this year's Rapathon, please contact Natassia Seward.

212-234-7171