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Hip-Hop Summit’s 5th Annual Action Awards:
Snoop, Ciara, Doug E. Fresh & more Honored
The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) held its Fifth Annual Action Awards to a sold out crowd at Capitale in New York City last night. HSAN President/CEO Dr. Benjamin Chavis, HSAN Executive Director Valeisha Butterfield and media personality Egypt welcomed the honorees- Snoop Dogg, Ciara, Doug E. Fresh, Chris Lighty, Jim Jones and Mellody Hobson- to the stage to receive their Action Awards. Monami Entertainment CEO, Mona Scott-Young, served as honorary chair of the dazzling benefit. LL Cool J, Pharrell Williams, George Lucas, Andre Harrell , Lyor Cohen, Damon Dash, Chrisette Michele, Bryan-Michael Cox, Tiffany Evans, BET "106 & Park"’s Rocsi and Terrence J, New York Times best selling authors The Three Doctors and many more were on hand to celebrate the honorees' outstanding contributions to the empowerment of others and to their communities.
Ciara explained to a music industry packed room, "If I don’t give back all my success will be in vain," in reference to her positive effect on her community at large. Doug E Fresh captivated the crowd with his beat boxing skills, as well as with his words of wisdom and rhyme, "There is a lot of bad talk when it comes to hip-hop. We have to show people our virtues, not our vices. I appreciate the organizers of HSAN and all the artists that participated. They take time out to stop and talk to a kid on the street. They give back. I have 6 boys. I know the importance of leadership." Pharrell Williams presented Snoop with his Action Award and emphasized Snoop’s importance to hip-hop and empowerment. "Snoop represents reinvestment, he reinvests in himself, in his community, and he puts his money where his mouth is. We should do the same," emphasized Pharrell. Snoop brought the star-studded gala to a close by sharing with the audience his real reason for success, "No one like myself was coming back to the hood. I said when I got to a certain level, when I made it my mission would be to keep one foot in the hood and one foot out. If you keep one foot planted then you won't fall."
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Ciara and LL Cool J
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HSAN CEO & President Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Ciara & HSAN Executive Director Valeisha Butterfield
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Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams
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Snoop Dogg and Star Wars director George Lucas
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