A line of condoms will join the growing hip-hop market of fashion lines and magazines in select drug stores in early 2004. Dubbed "Jimmie Hatz," the condoms are held in graffiti-style packages, and come in three selections - XL Great Dane (extra large condom), Mixed Breed (contoured condom with dotted and ribbed texture) and the Rottweiler (standard size condom). Harry Terrell, CEO of Common Ground USA, the condom's manufacturer, said the condom line is a "full blown effort on our part to save our community." Terrell says he was inspired to start the grassroots campaign when he was coaching high school baseball and one of his students got infected with HIV. "I wanted to be supportive of him as possible. I wanted to learn as much as I could about HIV and AIDS." The company's aim has been to spread the word in high schools and colleges about abstinence and protection. "Jimmy hat" is a commonly used slang word for condom. Terrell says he wanted to make wearing condoms "cool or the 'in' thing to do." "The problem is really miseducation or lack of education," Terrell says. "I wanted to save the subculture called hip-hop."

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