The Humane Society of the United States recently launched a Hip-Hop themed program, aimed at protecting animals from cruel treatment.
Hip-Hop for Hounds, a new HSUS program, is dedicated towards protecting animals from abuse and cruelty, according to the new HSUS animal cruelty and dig fighting prevention campaign.
According to campaign manager Laurie Maxwell, Hip-Hop provides a perfect vehicle for standing up against dog fighting.
Rap icon Darryl “DMC” McDaniels was among the judges who chose the winners of the HSUS Hip-Hop for Hounds contest.
The contest featured artists from around the country, who composed rap songs that expressed their love of dogs as well as their opposition against dog fighting.
“Hip-Hop is an expression of what happens in the streets,” Maxwell said. “The Hip-Hop for Hounds contest was designed to give people the opportunity to speak out against dog fighting and speak up for humankind’s best friend.”
Legendary rapper Darryl “DMC” McDaniels was on hand to choose the competition’s first and second place winners.
Dwayne “Dagha” Simmons, an education director of America SCORES New England, took first place for his song “Dog Fight,” while Andrew Chambers and Jarrod Thorpe, a pair of 5th grade students at Fairfield Intermediate School in Fairfield, Ohio, won second place for their rap titled “Hip-Hop for Hounds.”
The peoples choice award, which was decided via a voting contest on the Hip-Hop for Hounds Myspace page, went to the Chicago-based group Comatose in2 Addiction for the song “Broken Hearts.”
The award-winning songs will be featured on a compilation CD of selected Hip-Hop for Hounds entries.
The release is scheduled to be available for purchase later this year. To hear all of the Hip-Hop for Hounds contest entries, visit myspace.com/hiphopforhounds.