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Epic Recording Artist Sean Kingston Cuts New Cover Version of “I’m Eighteen"

Press Release

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Doug Piwinski
BNC
310/ 854.4834

Elizabeth Rosenberg
Epic Records
310/ 449.2875

MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING EPIC RECORDING ARTIST SEAN KINGSTON CUTS NEW COVER VERSION OF “I’M EIGHTEEN” FOR DECLARE YOURSELF

Song to Make Its World Premiere on Ryan Seacrest’s American Top 40 Show and will be Available Free at iTunes and MySpace
Popular Artist Turns 18 on February 3 and Immediately Registers to Vote at www.DeclareYourself.com

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 3, 2008) – In anticipation of his 18th birthday on Sunday, February 3, one of the country’s most popular young music artists, Sean Kingston, has created a new version of Alice Cooper’s classic rock track, “I’m Eighteen.” The song was recorded in Los Angeles for the national nonpartisan, nonprofit youth voting initiative, Declare Yourself, to encourage America’s 18-year-olds to register and vote in the 2008 presidential primaries and general election.

Kingston’s catchy-yet-powerful cover of “I’m Eighteen, ” provided by Epic Records, will make its world premiere during Ryan Seacrest’s syndicated American Top 40 radio program airing on Saturday, February 2. The song will be repeated on Sunday, February 3 and land for a limited time on the homepage of iTunes as a free download. It will also be prominently featured and streamed – along with exclusive additional content and video outtakes – on MySpace, the site that helped create some of the incredible success surrounding the young superstar.

“Turning 18 is a big deal,” said Kingston, “not just for me but for every young person in this country. It means all of a sudden you can do a lot of things, and one of those things is voting. I hope if someone checks out this song, it will make them want to hear more, learn more or do more – whether they’re 18 or 80. One of the first things I’m going to do on my birthday is register, which is pretty easy, at DeclareYourself.com.”

Originally written and recorded by Alice Cooper in 1971, “I'm Eighteen” proved to be the band’s breakthrough hit. The song has stood the test of time as a defiant and liberating coming-of-age anthem that fans have sung together for over three decades. Cooper’s “I’m Eighteen” was ranked # 39 on VH1's 40 Greatest Metal Songs, and #482 on Rolling Stone magazine's 500 greatest songs of all time. It also appeared on Guitar magazine as one of the 50 heaviest riffs of all time.

Timed at 3:07, Kingston’s arresting new version carries forward the song’s signature guitar riff, with the young performer adding his own elements of rap, reggae, dancehall and psychedelic pop. In Kingston’s hands, “I’m Eighteen” has been re-imagined as a contemporary reflection of the empowerment and confusion found in the song’s lyrics. Not coincidentally, Kingston declares during the track, “I’m just a vote away!” harkening to both the Super Tuesday primaries on February 5 and the 2008 U.S. presidential election in November as well.

Founded by Norman Lear, Declare Yourself features a powerful, multi-tiered platform aimed at engaging Americans 18-29 to vote, including media partnerships, celebrity spokespeople, the sports arena, and most importantly mobile and Internet technology. Declare Yourself’s campaign blankets the landscape of popular culture, as well as universities and high schools, with a simple, clear message: REGISTER AND VOTE! “We couldn’t be more pleased that Sean Kingston, one of the hottest young talents today, is choosing to register to vote through Declare Yourself and serving as a model to young people across the country,” said Norman Lear.

In addition to its partnerships with Myspace and iTunes, Declare Yourself is enlisting an unprecedented array of partners for the 2008 election, including Cricket Wireless, Yahoo!, , Google, Clear Channel, Comedy Central, Spike TV, American Eagle Outfitters, Harper Collins, Starbucks and Voto Latino. Easy registration is available through www.DeclareYourself.com or by texting VOTE to 55355 on your mobile phone.

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