Lupe Fiasco Joins higi as Creative Director, Challenges South by Southwest Attendees to Live a More Healthful, Engaged Life

Artist, activist and entrepreneur to provide ongoing counsel beyond FestivalChicago, Ill. – Chicago-based higi announced today that Wasalu Jaco, better known as the artist, activist and entrepreneur Lupe Fiasco, has joined the company as creative director. Lending direction and support for its cloud-based tools, Lupe will join higi at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival in Austin this weekend where the company will feature its new iPhone app that helps users boost their higi Score in an effort to look, live and feel better.Using cloud-based tools accessible by web or mobile device and at higi Stations located at the Festival, higi encourages people – health fanatics and couch potatoes alike – to approach personal health from a broader perspective by focusing on lifestyle choices and community interactions along with standard physical aspects like diet and exercise. The tools produce a higi Score between one and 999 generated by measuring a person’s body stats, social engagement and personal interactions.“Living a healthy life is a real challenge but it goes way beyond the surface of things like eating right and hitting the gym,” said Lupe. “To be in top condition, people have to look at health from a global perspective that incorporates lifestyle choices, community activity and real involvement. I want to help people recognize those aspects and rise up to the bigger, more important challenge of living a great life and that’s what attracted me to higi’s endeavor. “Lupe has already provided direction in the creation of the higi “900 Club,” a feature for users whose higi Score tops 900. To reach that Score, higi users are encouraged to visit higi Stations, check in and verify their body stats. The more they check in, the more they Score. Downloading and using higi's new app, released on the Apple store yesterday, and the “higi Shots” camera feature allows users to photo-journal food, activities and social interactions to further increase the score.

“Just like climbing a mountain, real life is about facing physical obstacles and getting over lifestyle or mental barriers in increments, but you have to check in and stay engaged in order to reach your peak,” said Lupe. “The view from the summit of the ‘900 Club’ is worth the effort.”The Grammy-winning artist will be at the SXSWi Festival this weekend to lend support at the higi Hub at the Austin Sheraton and the higi trade show booth at the Austin Convention Center, as well as during the “Future 15” presentation on Sunday, where higi will be featured.“No one captures the energy and purpose of the higi Score like Lupe does,” said Michael Ferro, creator and founder of higi, who will present at the “Future 15” series. “His voice and creative input will make the challenge, the engagement and the endeavor of living a better life accessible and frankly more fun for all. With the higi Score, ultimately, everyone wins.”About higiChicago-based higi is a consumer-centric health engagement company. Through social and interactive tools – web, mobile, and higi Stations located in retail pharmacies – higi makes it easy for people to measure and track their health and lifestyle through their higi Score. higi Stations can be found in select retail locations in 18 states and counting. To learn more, visit higi.com and follow us on Twitter.Media ContactHeather Sabharwa202-349-7016hsabharwal@kglobal.com