In a unique effort to connect with potential recruits, during October 2003 the U.S. Army partnered with one of the vanguard publications of Hip-Hop culture, Source Magazine, to sponsor a series of “Campus Combat” events at the University of Pittsburgh, Maryland University, Temple University, DePaul University and Stony Brook University. The events featured MC battles as well as performances from such popular Hip-Hop artists as Nappy Roots, Memphis Bleek and Black Moon.
A team from Walls Communications provided extensive media relations support for the Source/Army “Campus Combat” tour. Resultant media coverage included articles in the Baltimore Sun, Chicago Tribune, Newsday and ALLHIPHOP.com. Radio coverage for the events included the American Urban Radio Network (AURN), the Southern Urban Radio Network (SURN) and a number of urban and Hip-Hop oriented radio stations nationwide.