ADVISORY/Alex Thomas and Angie Martinez to Co-Host the First Annual Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

Business Wire, August 24, 2001

Entertainment Editors & Music Writers

ADVISORY...for Thursday (Aug. 30)

--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)

Actor and comedian Alex Thomas and radio personality and Elektra Records recording artist Angie Martinez will co-host the first-annual Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, to be held Aug. 30, at the New York Hilton.

The duo will play host to R&B and hip-hop's elite, as the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards show pays tribute to the top acts in the genre. The awards are based on actual performance on Billboard's weekly R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts since the start of the current chart year. Artists scheduled to perform at the show include Jaheim, Tank, Tha Liks, Ruff Endz, Bilal and Mystic. Confirmed presenters include Naughty by Nature, Lil' Jon & the East Side Boyz, Rza of the Wu-Tang Clan, Dante, Rell, Glenn Lewis, Michael Franti, Joe, Rah Digga, Chico DeBarge, Robert "Kool" Bell, Professor Griff and Bootsy Collins.

WHO:     Actor and comedian Alex Thomas

WHAT:    Co-host the first-annual Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

WHEN:    Thursday, Aug. 30
         8:00 p.m.

WHERE:   New York Hilton, 1335 Avenue of the Americas, NYC

MORE:    Thomas is currently promoting his upcoming films "Two Can
         Play That Game," co-starring Vivica A. Fox, Morris Chestnut,
         Gabrielle Union and Mo'Nique, and "The Wash," the new Dr.
         Dre/Snoop Dogg comedy, and is set to appear in his own
         one-hour comedy special, "Straight Clownin'," airing on cable
         television this fall. The films are due out Sept. 7, and Oct.
         3, respectively.

Host of last summer's "Up in Smoke Tour," the biggest hip-hop tour in history, Thomas built a name for himself as a comedian with his raucous stand-up routine. He has also launched a successful acting career, with featured roles in major films including "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," and Ice Cube's "The Players Club," and on television's "The Jamie Foxx Show," "The Parkers," "Martin," "Def Comedy Jam," and "Moesha." Thomas is also a writer and has penned scenes for the likes of Will Smith, "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "Independence Day" and "Men In Black," and Damon Wayans and his popular ABC-TV series, "My Wife and Kids," starring Wayans and Teisha Campbell.