Media Only Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195

Today, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced that its Marvin Gaye Park, 5214 Foote Street, NE, will be the host site for the 2008 Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest. On Saturday, July 26, 2008, from 11 am to 8 pm, Liberated Muse Productions (LMP) will hold the festival to highlight hip hop and soul acts from the Washington, DC area, as well as feature well-known artists from around the world.

The festival will take place in Marvin Gaye Park (formerly known as the Watts-Branch Park) which was renamed last year in honor of the Motown soul legend who grew up in the District’s Deanwood community. Gaye began his musical life as a teenager while living at #12 60th Street, NE, in East Capitol Dwellings, and later performed next to the park in the former Crystal Room, owned by Barnett’s Caterer’s.

Special appearances will include DC Council Chair Vincent Gray, Councilmembers Yvette Alexander and Kwame Brown, and Miss District of Columbia Teen, Ivana Grace. Artists scheduled to appear include hip hop artists Substantial, Christylez, Cool Cee Brown and Mello D & the Rados, as well as soul artists Rogiers, Afi Soul, Robyn Janelle, Dee Stone, Mycah Chevalier, and Jua.

The Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest will promote the theme “Vote For Soul and Real Hip Hop” which will be the moniker used to encourage participants to register to vote and participate in civic engagement. Organizers of the festival hope that the event will allow local metropolitan artists to connect with their audiences while promoting enjoyable events targeting those in a 25-40 year-old age group who may be young professionals.

This event is sponsored in part by East of the River publication, the Washington Informer, Peace Corps, The Deanwood History Project, SMYAL and the Law Offices of Donovan Anderson.

For more information visit www.capitalhiphopsoulfest.com.

About Liberated Muse Productions
Liberated Muse Productions (LMP) is an arts-based events planning group based in the Washington DC and Baltimore, MD area. LMP was created in 2007 by writers and community activists Maceo Thomas and Khadijah Ali-Coleman. The intent was to create events promoting artistry and awareness of issues pivotal to urban communities. LMP has become a network of dedicated artists and patrons of the arts. The Capital Hip Hop Soul Fest is an LMP landmark event.