Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Issue Statement Declaring Neutrality in Tony Yayo/Czar Entertainment Dispute

Russell Simmons and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network have issued a statement denying their participation in a press conference scheduled for today by Cynthia Reed, the mother of James “Lil Henchmen” Rosemond, 14. On Friday (March 30) representatives for Reed issued a press release announcing the gathering which is intended to protest the alleged actions of rapper Tony Yayo of G-Unit. Yayo was arrested on March 24 after Rosemond, the son of Czar Entertainment principal Jimmy Rosemond, claimed that he was assaulted by the rapper on a New York Street. Pamela Lipshitz of JLM Public Relations issued the following statement on behalf of Russell Simmons and the HSAN.Russell Simmons, Dr. Benjamin Chavis and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN) will not participate in the press conference being called for Monday, April 2nd, by Czar Entertainment and Cynthia Reed, mother of Jimmy Henchman's son. HSAN is impartial and will not take sides in this dispute. Russell Simmons and Dr. Benjamin Chavis hope the issues between Tony Yayo and Jimmy Henchman and Czar Entertainment will be resolved peacefully and as soon as possible.