The HSUS Announces Winners of Hip Hop for Hounds Contest

May 5, 2008

The Humane Society of the United States announced the winners of its "Hip Hop for Hounds" contest designed to find the best rap song that stands up for dogs — and against dogfighting. Rap legend Darryl "DMC" McDaniels chose the first and second place winners while the people's choice award winner was selected through a voting contest on the Hip Hop for Hounds MySpace page.

The contest generated entries by talented artists from across the country, ranging from elementary school students to professional rappers.

"Hip hop is an expression of what happens in the streets," said Laurie Maxwell, deputy campaign manager of The HSUS' animal cruelty and fighting campaign. "The Hip Hop for Hounds contest was designed to give people the opportunity to speak out against dogfighting and speak up for humankind's best friend."

The first-place winning entry is "Dog Fight" by Dwayne "Dagha" Simmons. Simmons, a Boston native, is the education director of America SCORES New England, a subsidiary of America SCORES, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing soccer and literacy to kids across the country.

Andrew Chambers and Jarrod Thorpe, 5th-grade students at Fairfield Intermediate School in Fairfield, Ohio, won second place for their rap titled "Hip Hop for Hounds."

A voting contest on MySpace yielded the people's choice award-winning song: "Broken Hearts" by the Chicago-based group Comatose in2 Addiction.

A compilation CD of selected Hip Hop for Hounds entries will be available for purchase later this year. All of the contest entries can be found on the Hip Hop for Hounds MySpace page: myspace.com/hiphopforhounds.

-30-

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization — backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty — On the web at humanesociety.org.