With the housing market in a slump, foreclosures on the rise and lenders keeping a tighter grip on mortgage money, about 2,000 interested consumers turned out Friday night to get real-estate advice from ... music stars.

Hip-hop music pioneer Russell Simmons, along with mortgage consultants and entertainment figures such as Ludacris, Yung Joc, Gorilla Zoe, D. Woods of the girl group Danity Kane and music executive Kevin Liles, spoke to the crowd at the event billed as the Hip-Hop Summit at Clark Atlanta University. It's tied to the Oct. 23 BET Hip-Hop Awards show.

The theme: "Urging People to 'Get Your Money Right!"'

Simmons believes now is the best time to buy a home because the property will eventually appreciate.