Youtube Passes The Mic To Users In New Music Promotion

YouTube, the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos, today announced its second major music promotion, theYouTube OntheRise Rap Edition. This follow up to last year's highly successful YouTube Underground contest is the first of three genre specific music competitions. This first installment seeks to discover the best rap and hip-hop artists in the United States, inviting unsigned talent who aspire to be professional artists to submit their own original music videos to http://www.youtube.com/ontherise.

Artists can submit original videos that best represent their talents from Friday, August 10 through Friday, August 17. 50 Cent, Common and Polow da Don will help judge the contest and will select 20 finalists to be presented to the YouTube community on Wednesday, August 29. The YouTube community will then vote on a final winner who will be unveiled on Friday, September 7.

"So many talented artists use our platform to share their music with the world and these competitions will recognize artist's incredible work and creativity," said Jamie Byrne, Head of Product Marketing, YouTube. "The genre-specific format will give artists the opportunity to compete with and be judged by others in their own field who share a common musical interest."

"There are top shelf artists on YouTube that haven't been heard. This contest will give them a chance to rise to the top of the game," said 50 Cent. "There will be some great stuff coming out of this contest. It's a shot to claim a spot as an MC."

The winner will be awarded a trip to New York City to professionally record a single for G-Unit/Interscope Records, a $10,000 gift card from Guitar Center, and their video will be featured on the homepage of YouTube.

The YouTube OntheRise Rap Edition DetailsSubmissions begin for the YouTube OntheRise Rap Edition Friday, August 10 and end Friday, August 17. Artists are encouraged to submit original videos that showcase their personalities and creativity. Each video entry must include a full, original song that is five minutes or under. All entrants must be 18 years or older and residents of the U.S to participate.