Thug Life Army

The influence of Hip Hop media on violence will be discussed at the upcoming Hip Hop Journalism Summit during the Black Press All Star Awards, which takes place in Chicago, IL on September 16-17, 2005. A special Hip Hop Media Ethics Town Hall Meeting will address the role of media professionals, including the August 28th shooting of rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight during an MTV Awards party to repeated violence at urban radio station HOT 97 in New York.

"From video game sex to controversial images of women in music videos and magazines, Hip Hop media violence is off the chain," said Livers, managing editor for the event. "But is it fair to blame Hip Hop media or should the blame be shifted elsewhere? Hopefully, we''ll find the answers to these issues during our town hall meeting."

The list of panelists for the Hip Hop Journalism Summit, which is moderated by Lee Bailey of EUR Web, reads like the who's who in the Hip Hop industry. Other issues that will be discussed include how to break into the Hip Hop media industry and overcoming the effects of providing information to authorities. Wendy Williams from the popular radio show, "On the Down Lo with Wendy Williams" and Confessions of a Video Vixen author Karrine Steffans, both are alleged victims of Hip Hop violence and/or threats when they told their stories. A Mix Tape competition is also planned.

"It's disturbing that someone can let off six shots in a packed club and can escape without being arrested," Elliott Wilson told reporters in response to the shooting of Knight in a posh club on Sunday. "The Hip Hop community doesn''t trust the police...and they have done little to make us feel like they [care]...It's a vicious cycle."

Confirmed panelists include rap star Lil Zane, Kanye West music video director Morocco Vaughn, choreographer Solo and hip hop journalists. Invited panelists include David Mays from The Source, Elliott Wilson, editor-in-chief of XXL, representatives from MTV, BET and other Hip Hop media outlets. Early bird event registration and hotel discounts ends on September 1, 2005.