Over this past week the Hip Hop community from coast to coast has been stepping up and doing fundraisers, prayer vigils, townhalls, teach ins etc for and about Haiti. The response has been tremendous. Thus far we’ve seen the Washington based Hip Hop Caucus who spearheaded many of the events hold a large nationwide conference call which included notables like long time Civil and Human rights activist Ron Daniels, David Banner and MC Lyte among others..This past Monday we saw Houston artist like Bun B, Slim Thug, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Trae and dozens of others hold a successful event for Haiti.
Last night in Oakland, Dwayne Wiggins of Tony Toni Tone brought together a who’s who of Bay Area artist and athletes with the goal of raising 100 thousand dollars. Wiggin’s noted that he intends to go on tour w/ the Tony’s to raise even more. Last night’s line up included Mistah FAB, Blackalicious, The Coup, Too Short, Ise Lyfe, Goapele and thats just the short list..Here’s Dwayne Wiggins talking about his plans for Haiti relief
Below is a link to the radio interview we did with Mistah FAB just a couple of hours before the show in Oakland… He talked to us about the importance of rappers using their influence and platform wisely. He said it would be foolish to sit by and not speak up when seeing injustices. He noted that if he can get people to buy sneakers, drink beer and hollar at someone through a rap song, then he sure well better be able to get people to be active participants in their communities and ambassadors for change.
Here’s our interview w/Mistah FAB http://bit.ly/a2JvF1
Also in Oakland at a seperate event was a community gathering that featured Mystic and Reverend Yearwood from Hip Hop Caucus.. We caught up with both of them to get their take on things..Mystic spoke about the importance of being a decent human being and not trying to politicize everything when there are immediate needs. She also speaks on the history of Haiti and why its important to get involved. Reverend Yearwood also spoke to those issues..
Here’s our interview w/Mystic http://bit.ly/dAGK04
Here’s our interview w/Rev Yearwood http://bit.ly/9kZvqd
Last night in Pittsburgh, the Hip Hop community came together with artists like Jasiri X, Formula 412, Vanessa German, Jahi, Sha-King, Living Proof Paradise Gray and Brother J from X-Clan stepping up and holding it down. I been getting lots of good feed back from that event..
On Saturday in NYC.. NY Oil has stepped up and gotten a who’s who of rap artists to come together for a Hip Hop 4 Haiti event. We spoke with him the other night and he talked about being tired of artist just talking and not doing. He was moved into action after seeing a young girl pulled from the rubble only to die on her way to the hospital… NY Oil talks this as well as Saturday’s show in this interview here:
Here’s Our interview w/ NY Oil http://bit.ly/aa9DS5
In Chicago a coalition of people have come together to form a grassroots organization called Every Drop Counts to help Haiti.. Their line up includes; performances by:
Fred Hampton Jr., M1 [of Dead Prez], Jean Grae, Mystic, Rhyme Fest, The Cool Kids, BBU, FM Supreme, Mic Terror, Mikkey Halsted, He Say She Say, Kids These Days, Haki Madhubuti, DJ Sean Mac, DJ Izzo, and appearances by countless surprise guests
hmm, i was at the oakland show last night. i didnt see the Coup or Goapele, and the “Blackalicious” performance was actually Lateef doing one song and Kween performing solo later on. it was still a good look, though.