LOUISVILLE, Ky ., Dec . 6/ 2000

PRNewswire! -- Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation announces the first half market finals for the KOOL MIXX program, a national competition for up-and-coming DJs.

The annual competition began in August 2000 with "MIXX OFFs," where DJs

competed in an open-mic atmosphere to showcase their mixing abilities . Based on

audience response, creativity, originality, and accuracy, four winners were

chosen to move on to the final competition . Finalists will open for De La Soul,

Cam'ron, Prodigy and other platinum artists in the KOOL MIXX Final Event .

"Performing with a national artist will provide exposure for the DJs that they

might not otherwise receive and allow them to perform in front of larger

audiences," said Darryl A . Dunham, brand associate with Brown & Williamson . "We

are proud to have A-list talent such as De La Soul and Cam'ron for KOOL MIXX,

whose audiences are a perfect fit for the program ."

"Although this is the first year for KOOL MIXX as a nationwide program, the

crowds are really curious and responsive," said Dunham . "One of the key goals

of KOOL MIXX is to provide talented DJs with an outlet to demonstrate their

abilities . We are proud to support talent that doesn't always get the

recognition they deserve ." During the first KOOL MIXX events celebrities such

as Juvenile and Carl Anthony Payne made guest appearances .

The 10-city KOOL MIXX Final Competition kicks off in Detroit and includes

visits to Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, San

Francisco, Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans .

The crowned champion for each event will take home additional prizes,

including $2,000 .00 cash and clothes from Lifted Gear, a DJ-inspired clothing

line that will be launched in the spring of next year . Lifted Gear clothing

will only be available to KOOL MIXX DJs until its national launch .

The KOOL MIXX competition takes place in clubs such as Club 2000 in Detroit,

Park West in Chicago, and House of Blues in New Orleans . Consistent with Brown

& Williamson's policy of directing its marketing programs only to adult

consumers, admission is limited to those of legal age .

With headquarters in Louisville, KY, Brown & Williamson is a leading cigarette

manufacturer and marketer of tobacco products . In addition to its KOOL brand,

the company's leading cigarette brands include : LUCKY STRIKE, PALL MALL

CARLTON, CAPRI, GPC, MISTY, and VICEROY . Additional information on Brown &

Williamson can be found on the company's Web site, www .brownandwilliamson .com .

KOOL MIXX 2000 FINALS

FINAL DATE -- CITY VENUE FINALISTS HEADLINER

December 10 -- Detroit CLUB 2000 F/ DE LA SOUL

G SWING 

DJ LYNN SWANN

DJ DON Q

CHEWIE

December 11 -- Chicago PARK WEST F/ DE LA SOUL D DOUBLE 

AGENT 86

DJTASHA

DJ NORM ROCKWELL

December 12 -- Washington DC 2K9 F/ CAM'RON DJ JAY ZAP 

DJ PRECISE

DJ WAAH-HEED

DJ SPIN

December 13 -- Philadelphia PEGASUS F/CAM'RON DJ EXCELL 

DJ OB 1 I

DJ SHIZZ

GHETTO

December 14 - Atlanta CLUB 112 F/ PRODIGY OFMOBB DEEP

DJ JAY CEE 

DJ LOGIC 

PARALAX

DJ LORD

December 19 -- New Orleans HOUSE OF BLUES F/PRODIGY OF MOBB DEEP

DJ SPIN 

RAJ SMOOVE 

"DYNAMITE" DAVE SOUL

DJ SLAB I

Miami TBA

Los Angeles TBA

San Francisco TBA

New York TBA

*Dates and venues subject to change .