New York, NY – January 30, 2003 – Lugz latest announcement extends the footwear category – a category that now brings together a love for cars, looking cool and Funkmaster Flex himself. Throw in the world’s coolest driving shoe, and the fact that Flex will help you try them on, well, now we’re talking something the average set of toes doesn’t get to experience every day.

Well, feet don't fail me now, because a special event will take place at Foot Locker, the leading retailer of athletic footwear and apparel, in the store located at 1530 Broadway (between 44th and 45th streets) on Thursday, January 30 from 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm.

The event will feature Flex:

• Signing autographs and schmoozing with the crowd to pump up the new FMF-1 driving shoe.
• Acting as an “honorary” Foot Locker striper – Flex will help customers try on shoes!
• Doing his music thing… spinning records and entertaining the crowd (DJ’s Enuff and Mister Cee will also be performing).

The introduction of the FMF-1 shoe helped expand the footwear category – a category around stylin’ shoes fit for driving or hanging out on the town. After playing an integral role in Lugz advertising campaigns over the last two years, Flex expanded their relationship and began working closely with the company to design the first-ever urban driving shoe.

“Cars are my passion – I love getting involved in everything from creating a completely unique customized car to organizing my annual celebrity car show,” said Funkmaster Flex, hip-hop’s number one DJ. “For me, this shoe is a true labor of love; it represents everything I feel when driving around town – energy, comfort and class. I wanted to help design a shoe that catered to the driving and racing crowd but that was also great for just hanging out.”

The exterior of the shoe boasts all-over supple full grain leather complimenting the folded leather appointments and laced Lugz “L” alloy hardware. The light-weight shoe comes with a molded cushion footbed and roomy interior for optimal comfort and comes in three colors: wheat/cream nubuck; white leather; black/silver leather.

The FMF-1 driving shoe retails for $70 and will be available nationwide.

About Funkmaster Flex
Funkmaster Flex has quickly evolved into a one-man entertainment conglomerate. A multiple gold recording artist, on-air personality/mixer at New York’s premier Hot 97 radio station, club DJ, and founder and CEO of Franchise Marketing as well as his own record label (Franchise Records), Flex shows no sign of slowing down. Flex also created and hosts the “Funkmaster Flex Celebrity Car Show” – an annual automotive exhibition and celebrity drag race. This year he has planned a 15 city national tour, which will feature a number of celebrity vehicles. Celebrities who will be showcasing their cars include Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Busta Rhymes, Wyclef Jean, Master P, among others.

About Lugz
From its auspicious inception in 1993, Lugz has been an innovator in the footwear market from its trend-setting styles and rich endorsement history of hip hop entertainers to the well-known animation character themes famous today. As a fashion-forward brand, the corporate mission is dedicated to offering fashion, quality and style – product that is built for the city – at competitive price points. Over the years, these marketing concepts reinforced the Lugz brand helping it to become a leader in urban footwear with sales in excess of $150 million.

About Foot Locker
Foot Locker is part of Foot Locker, Inc., a specialty athletic retailer that operates stores in 14 countries in North America, Europe and Australia. Through its athletic group of specialty retail stores, including Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker and Champs Sports, as well as its direct-to-consumer channel footlocker.com/eastbay, the Company is the leading provider of athletic footwear and apparel.

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Funkmaster Flex is available for interview.