Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Teen's hip-hop radio show tells youths the truth about tobacco  

So you want to know the truth about tobacco? Just tune in to TRUTH SM-FM, the only nationally syndicated underground hip-hop radio show in the country.

Aimed at teens, this one-hour show brings the anti-tobacco message to urban youth. The show features top hip-hop DJ's spinning live and interviews with the industry's elite — the rappers and recording artists like Common, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot and Cee-Lo, who dominate the scene.

These artists share their personal stories about successfully fighting nicotine addiction and tobacco use. “I used to smoke,” said rapper Cee-Lo of the Goodie Mob during a recent interview on TRUTH SM-FM. “I have asthma, too, and I've had to spend some time in the hospital. I actually almost died.”

“I was obligated to stop,” Cee-Lo continued. “Unless I wanted to sacrifice my entire life for a pack of cigarettes.”

TRUTH SM-FM launches today and will be heard in Atlanta on WHAT-FM; in Birmingham on WBHJ-FM; in Charlotte on WPEG-FM; in Cleveland on WZAK-FM; in Detroit on WDTJ-FM; in Los Angeles on KKBT-FM; in Memphis on WHRK-FM; in Philadelphia on WPHI-FM; WQUE in New Orleans and in Washington D.C. on WKYS-FM. The program aims to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking and tobacco use.

TRUTH SM-FM was created with input from teens around the country. “When we were trying to come up with ways to promote truth to teens, the idea of a radio show came up several times,” said Jason Chase, national teen spokesman for the TRUTH SM campaign. “Radio is a great way to reach teens and using hip hop music to do it makes it really fun.”

Top underground DJs J-Bird, Jackie Christie and Cha-Cha Jones host TRUTH SM -FM. “I am so excited to be part of this show,” said Jones, also known as “The Queen of the Underground,” a personality on WRA and Hot 97.5 FM in Atlanta.

“Tobacco smoking is killing generation after generation of our African-American youth,” Jones continued. “We've got to get the message across that tobacco use is dangerous and TRUTH SM-FM will do that.”

The entire show will be available on demand on the Web. Visit TRUTH SM-FM at www.thetruth.com

TRUTH SM is a national movement launched by America's youth who have united to combat the manipulative tactics of the tobacco industry. Its mission is to inspire America's youth to counteract these tactics and to reduce youth tobacco use; reduce exposure to second-hand smoke; increase the successful quit rate among teens and decrease the rate of tobacco consumption among youth of all ages, cultures and races.


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