Upcoming Controversial PBS Documentary Critiques Sexism, Violence, and Hyper- Masculinity in Hip-Hop Music and Videos; Advance Screening Part of a National Media Literacy and Responsibility Campaign

LOS ANGELES, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Independent Television Service) - A special preview screening of the groundbreaking new PBS documentary HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes connects young consumers, producers, artists, and other entertainment industry professionals to discuss key issues raised in the film: how do limited perceptions of masculinity play into a culture of violence? What roles do misogyny and homophobia have in hip-hop culture - as well as in wider mainstream cultures? And are the media and music industries really to blame? Part of a larger nation-wide campaign, the event will generate national conversation on an increasingly violent, materialistic and sexually explicit American culture using hip-hop culture as a point of reference.

WHO:
- Rapper, TALIB KWELI
- BET's Vice President of News and Public Affairs, KEITH BROWN
- Grammy-award wining recording artist BLACK THOUGHT, of The Roots
- HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes filmmaker, BYRON HURT
- Emmy-winning MacArthur "genius" Fellow and executive producer of HIP HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, STANLEY NELSON
- Dr. CATHY COHEN of University of Chicago's Center for Race, Politics and Culture - who will preview results from the Center's much-anticipated "Black Youth Project."
- Independent Lens, series producer, LOIS VOSSEN

WHAT: Special advance film screening of HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes - airing on the Emmy-Award winning PBS series Independent Lens, February 20, 2007 - is part of a nation-wide community engagement campaign featuring 20 leading community-based, public media, and social service organizations designed to educate both young consumers and media makers about issues of gender, race and community values, support media literacy and encourage young men and women to reflect on the impact of frequently violent and sexual imagery on themselves, their relationships and their communities. Participating organizations include the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Firelight Media, Youth Movement Records, National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC), The Center for American Progress/Campus Progress, and more than a dozen others. For more information on the campaign and the film, visit itvs.org/outreach/hiphop/.

WHERE: Pacific Design Center/Silver Screen Theater
8687 Melrose Avenue
West Hollywood, CA

WHEN: 7:30 PM, Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Note: To schedule interviews in advance, please call Voleine
Amilcar at the above listed phone number.