Hip-Hop Luminary Reverend Run & Rap Impresario Russell Simmons to Host Exclusive Event Celebrating the Launch of RUNATHLETICS

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 2003--

Two of the Most Influential Figures in Modern Music to Introduce a Brand New Clothing Line

On Wednesday, November 5, 2003, President of Phat Farm Footwear and co-founder of the legendary hip-hop group Run DMC, Reverend Run and his brother, entertainment mogul, Russell Simmons will host a star-studded party to commemorate the official launch of their new fashion venture, RUNATHLETICS. The event is being held at New York's newest hot-spot, 40/40 Club, which is owned by Grammy Award winning rapper Jay-Z. With the gracious help of sponsors, The House of Courvoisier, Club CV and Motorola, Reverend Run and Simmons will celebrate this clothing line's inception alongside a Who's Who list of entertainers, athletes and industry executives.

Earlier this year, the brothers partnered with the Kellwood Company, a $ 2.2. billion marketer of apparel and consumer soft goods, to develop RUNATHLETICS, a men's activewear collection that will include jogging suits, T-shirts, jerseys, fleece wear, baseball caps and more. Currently available in specialty and department stores nationwide, RUNATHLETICS was designed to offer young men a variety of affordable yet quality styles. Its pieces feature signature details and embellishments like, color blocking, screen-printing, direct embroidery and patches.

About Reverend Run

Reverend Run, born Joseph Simmons, brought hip-hop music to the forefront of the music scene with the pioneering rap super group, Run DMC. The first rap group to establish themselves with the mainstream public, they broke down barriers such as being the first rap act to ever have their video aired on MTV and being the first rap group to have gold and platinum selling albums with Run DMC and King of Rock respectively. After achieving monumental success in music, Run was inspired to found Zoe Ministries and take on the moniker, Reverend Run, as a proclamation that he was both a man of God and a man who was called to express himself through hip-hop music. In addition to his ministry, Reverend Run currently serves as President of the flourishing Phat Farm Footwear line and has decided to expand his entrepreneurial sights with the conception of RUNATHLETICS.

About Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons is a master visionary who has shaped the cutting edge of hip-hop, the preeminent force in American popular culture for the past two decades. He is the founder of Def Jam Records, the most successful hip-hop label in history and Phat Farm clothing which has become one of the most popular lines on the fashion market. While maintaining his status as the "godfather of hip-hop", Simmons has transformed himself into the ultimate political activist and philanthropist working tirelessly to energize and motivate today's youth, the hip-hop generation, to make their voices heard.