Thug Life Army

Arriving in St. Louis on Saturday, August 20, 2005, The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network’s 2005 Financial Empowerment National Tour at the America’s Center and the long lines out the door revealed how great a desire there was for young people to get their money right.

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network joined forces with its title sponsor Chrysler Financial, presenting sponsor Anheuser-Busch, Inc, media partner KATZ 100.3 The Beat, the St. Louis Urban League and the NAACP to deliver a powerful, informative and inspiring interactive panel discussion. Artists like rap artists Nelly (who co-hosted his second Hip-Hop Summit in his hometown of St.

Louis), Chingy, Paul Wall, Penelope, industry executives Russell Simmons, Tony Austin and automotive finance experts Chrysler Financial’s Peter Guthrie, James Whitlow and Gerrod Parchmon and Anheuser-Busch executive Johnny Furr shared personal stories of financial empowerment along with enlightening tips and practices to help young people take control of their financial futures.

Everybody take out your book on financial empowerment, said Dr. Benjamin Chavis, President/CEO of HSAN, referring to the 88 page workbook given out to participants at each of the Hip-Hop Summits along the tour. That's why we''re here.

How many people out there really set a budget? Nelly challenged. I remember when I was living paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes paycheck to the following two paychecks and having to decide whether this month the heat would be on and we''d have to drive to friends houses to see if they’re home or the telephone would be on and we''d be boiling water, Nelly emphasized. “You have to have a plan and stick to it. When your homies want you to be hanging out, save your money and stay focused on where you¹re going”.

Simmons, Chairman and co-founder of HSAN and a yoga practitioner for 10 years, stressed the importance of putting out into the world what you want to come back to you and how that relates to getting your money right. It’s all about the work, Simmons declared. Nothing is going to fall into your lap. If you want to be a lawyer, see yourself as a lawyer, go to the library and start learning the law. If you want to be a rapper, start rapping and get out there. Live your life as if you already are where you want to go.

St. Louis native Chingy made reference to his Chingy For Change foundation. “We give out scholarships to students who would not normally qualify, but who demonstrate a desire to learn. Our helping students graduate from college allows us to give back to the community”.

And Houston chopped and screwed hip-hop rap star Paul Wall emphasized the importance of staying in school and getting a college degree for financial success.

Topics addressed at the St. Louis Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment included basic banking, repairing and understanding credit scores, asset and wealth management, auto financing, home ownership and entrepreneurship.

The St. Louis Hip-Hop Summit on Financial Empowerment was 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 nation¹s 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.

Why is this message being received so overwhelmingly by young people around the country? “Young people like to see their heroes as philanthropists and as people interested in social change, Simmons explained. You''ve got to get it from your hero, and fortunately, we get the heroes to teach them what they’ve learned”.

Visit www.hsan.org.