Russell Simmons, Valeisha Butterfield, Dr. Benjamin Chavis and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the world’s largest coalition of hip-hop artists and entertainment industry executives, announced today the upcoming Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball, a black tie charity gala, on January 19, 2009 at 8:00pm, at The Harman Center for the Arts in Washington, DC.

Russell Simmons, HSAN Chairman and Co-founder, emphasized, “The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball will be a fantastic gala and upscale party in celebration of Barack Obama being inaugurated President of the United States. We are also recognizing the outstanding contributions of T.I., LL Cool J and Young Jeezy in helping to turn out the largest young adult vote in American history.”

The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball is a fundraiser with all ticket proceeds going to the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network to continue its non-profit work in helping to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and other empowerment programs for young adults throughout the United States.

Tickets can be purchased on a first come, first served basis by going to www.Hiphopinaugural.org or www.HSAN.org.

The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball will kick off with a star-studded red carpet and celebrity sponsorship reception at 8pm at the Harman Center, followed by an awards presentation and a VIP black tie gala and party on all four levels of the venue. DJ D-Nice will serve as the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball Celebrity DJ throughout the whole night.

Heineken is the Presenting Sponsor and MySpace Music Hip-Hop (www.myspace.com/hiphop) is the Platinum Online Sponsor of the Ball. The exclusive radio partner for the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball is CBS Radio WPGC 95.5 FM. The magazine partner is Vibe Magazine. The premiere online media partners are the online news and information epicenter for the Hip-Hop community, Global Grind, www.globalgrind.com, and the celebrity, gossip and entertainment news site Young, Black & Fabulous, www.TheYBF.com.

The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball Host Committee is a select group of hip-hop leaders and artists who have expressed their endorsement and support including: T-Pain, Akon, Bryan-Michael Cox, Big Jon Platt, Fat Joe, MC Lyte, Terrence J, Devyne Stephens, Mario, Ginuwine, DJ Don Cannon, Winky Wright, NFL players Baltimore Ravens’ Terrell Suggs, San Francisco 49ers’ Vernon Davis and Free Agent All Pro Defensive End, Simeon Rice.

A fight between Chris Brown and rapper T.I. almost broke out when Chris became disruptive while T.I. and Rihanna were rehearsing for their VMA performance.  According to an insider for MediaTakeout.com,

There was almost a fight at the [VMA] rehearsals.  T.I. and Rihanna are doing a duet and when they were trying to practice, but Chris Brown was there messing things up.

Apparently Chris was distracting everyone by messing around on the stage making it impossible for T.I. and Rihanna to rehearse.  The insider said,

At first it was funny.  But after a while it was disruptive.  T.I. was like - can someone get this little [dude] out of here.  And Chris Brown said something smart under his breath - I couldn’t hear it.  T.I. was like, ‘I’m not playing with that boy, I’ll hurt him.’  And security quickly got Chris out of there.  T.I. was definitely NOT joking.

Was Chris Brown just a little bit jealous?  Did he think he should be the one doing the duet?  What do you think his problem was?