Friday, June 08, 2001

PRESS RELEASE

Legendary Graffiti Artist Carlos "MARE 139" Rodriguez Crafts Unique
Masterpieces for Inaugural BET Awards on June 19

Amazing vocalist Whitney Houston will receive the first ever BET Lifetime
Achievement Award hand crafted by revered graffiti artist/sculptor Carlos
"MARE 139" Rodriguez and Ferra Design studios in Brooklyn NY. The two
meet at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel as part of BET's live start-studded
telecast recognizing artists in Music, Film and Sports.

All award winners will receive a unique and beautiful BET award
sculpture. The fluid style of the award was conceived and designed by
Carlos "MARE 139" Rodriguez. Designed to express a sense of Aspiration,
Ascension and Achievement the award is symbolic of Black Star Power and
progress. The award is fashioned from brushed stainless steel to embody
beauty and strength it Ýincorporates BET's signature colors Black and
Platinum.

Carlos "MARE 139" Rodriguez is founder and president of Mirame Media
Group, Inc. a consulting, design and development studio for internet
solutions and multimedia. Mirame Media has teamed up with BET to launch
RAP-IT-UP.com an HIV/AIDS awareness website for the African American
Community. Clients include Tribeca Films, Ecko Unlimited Clothing, Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame and other corporate enterprises. Website:
www.miramemedia.com

Rodriguez's roots are in the very early years of Hip Hop culture in the
South Bronx, since 1976 he has participated and expanded the methodology
of expressing and educating artists and people about Urban Culture. He
and his brother Randy are regarded as pioneers and the first to bring Hip
Hop culture online with the launch of voiceoftheghetto.com in 1990. He is
also regarded as a pioneer and the preeminent sculptor of his generation
for transforming Wild Style subway art into sculptural objects. Since
1985 his sculptures have been exhibited and collected for their
uniqueness and importance to the culture.

His approach to the BET award was inspired by a new concept called
"transitism" which deals with the intellectual interpretation of Wild
Style art, movement, forms and light. "Elements of Transitism were
utilized in the creation of BET's award", said Rodriguez. " I wanted the
award to elude to excellence, understating a rise above diversity with
the intersecting of star powers to represent will and force.