Bridging Hip Hop, spoken word, poems, lyrics, and classic literature with adolescents' passion for the technology and the Internet, Hip Hop Reader encourages high school students to read via www.hiphopreader.com, an online book club where readers redeem points for sponsor donated merchandise. Hip Hop Reader is a partnership with Russell Simmons, Verizon and New York City High Schools.

Students can register to participate through the program website. The site launched in 2004 and features a teen reading list of books, lyrics, poems and speeches compiled by the Hip Hop Reader Leadership Council, as well as surveys, polls, teachers' guide and quizzes that students can take to earn prize-redeemable points. Prizes have been donated by merchandise sponsors including Microsoft, Sean John, Roc-Ap-Wear and Run Athletics. For more information, visit www.hiphopreader.com.