Plies Establishes Foundation & Scholarship Fund

Plies recently announced the establishment of the nonprofit Big Gates and Plies Power Of Visions Foundation, Inc.:

"The organization's first effort will be the "Somebody Loves You" Scholarship Fund 2008 (named after the song "Somebody (Loves You)" from his current album), which is designed specifically for students attending an accredited college or university, who have a parent(s) that is presently incarcerated and who is financially disadvantaged. The scholarship is open to students who are currently enrolled or who will be entering school this fall. Two scholarships will be awarded to one male and one female in the amount of $5000 each."

Application information:
"Somebody Loves You" Scholarship Fund

Rev Run: Kool-Aid/KaBOOM!, Icon Sneaker

Rev Run is the new brand ambassador for the Kool-Aid/KaBOOM! playground project:

Over the next year, Kool-Aid and KaBOOM! will build 24 playgrounds in cities around the country, provide grants toward building 20 more, and work with local communities, parents and children to encourage healthier and more active lifestyles...

Joseph Simmons (a.k.a. Reverend Run)...will serve as the new brand ambassador for the Kool-Aid KaBOOM! initiative. He and his family will don hard hats and wield shovels as they join the brand on local community build sites. Additionally, Kool-Aid will include Reverend Run in POS displays and other promotions, and he will speak directly to consumers about healthy lifestyle choices and the benefits of play.

To be honest, I don't associate the "benefits of play" with Rev Run.  I mean, see how happy he is about his new Icon sneaker?

But play is important in young people's live and adults could benefit from rediscovering play themselves.

And maybe getting into a playful spirit explains that whole Pimp Von Dracula routine.  It's like Halloween every time he does a show! 

Official Site:
KaBOOM!

AIDS/HIV Awareness: Common's Lyric Contest, Who's F**kin' Wit' Us, HHEAL Fest

Grammy Winner Common, MTV, and Kaiser Family Foundation Launch Lyrics Contest to Promote HIV Testing

In terms of big stars who chart, Common continues to top the list of those who give something back to a world that has given them so much.

Who's F**kin' Wit' Us

Sound Bar Recordings and the New York Department of Health are partnering on the Who's F**kin' Wit' Us which sounds like a positive educational project.  Hopefully the ambiguity of the project's title will be resolved by the graphics.

HHEAL Fest: Hip-Hop Educates and Advances Lives!

The Hip-Hop Association, Social Services of Hip Hop, We Got Issues! and the Afro-Latin Project are teaming up for HHEAL Fest, a "three-day celebration with interactive workshops, panels, film screenings, and performances that will focus on Hip-Hop as a tool for education, immigrant history, media literacy, life skills and youth empowerment."

Tupper-Bowl: Ice-T & Coco Throw Tupperware Party

Coco & Ice-T at the Tupper-bowl

Earlier this week, Ice-T and his wife Coco threw the Tupper-bowl, a Tupperware party intended to benefit the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club of America:

"The party was held in a private lounge at Jay-Z's 40/40 club in New York and was the place to see and be seen. Over 200 guests were in attendance and celebrity highlights included: Oscar-winner, Tatum O'Neal; Sex and the City star, Chris Noth; Law and Order SVU stars Adam Beach and B.D. Wong; Frank Whaley from The Wire, and NBA players Vince Carter of the New Jersey Nets and Jason Williams of the Miami Heat."

Ice-T & Tatum O'Neal at the Tupper-bowl

The press release quotes are hilarious:

""Tupperware unites us all. Tupperware's going to save the world," proclaimed party host, Ice-T..."

Plus, the party sounds fun:

"Guests enjoyed "Tuppertini" cocktails and "bowl-food" themed hors d'oeuvres served in Tupperware, and danced to music provided by celebrity DJ, D-Nice. The crowd was treated to impromptu performances by Ice-T and renowned hip-hop legends such as Positive K, Smoothe Da Hustler, Khrist, Grandmaster Caz, Kool Herc, and Melly Mel."

ProHipHop Note:
I was actually more excited about this news when I thought Coco and Ice-T were becoming Tupperware reps.  But I'm funny like that.

Press Release:
Law & Order: SVU Star Ice-T Hosts 'Tupper-Bowl' Party

DMC, Rhymefest, Dres, Killer Mike, Malik Yusef & DA Smart Join HipHop vs. The World

Poster for HipHop vs. The World

HipHop vs. The World is a concert featuring a variety of hip hop artists that is part of a larger weekend kicking off the 'R' Literacy Campaign:

a city wide book club that will start with youth detained at Cook County's Juvenile Detention Center, seeks to encourage literacy and reading; engage dialogue; and decrease the rate of recidivism among youth offenders in the juvenile justice system. Weekly teach-ins and discussions will be lead by educators, authors, artists, advocates, and other volunteers.

Ludacris at the 46664 Concert on Worlds Aids Day

Ludacris & Annie Lenox at 46664 Concert

Ludacris joined a bunch of folks at the 46664 World Aids Day Concert December 1st in Johannesburg, South Africa.

More background on the 46664 concerts and the origin of the name at Wikipedia:

46664 is the prisoner number of Nelson Mandela from his imprisonment in 1964 to his release in 1990, and the title used for a series of AIDS charity concerts (the motto: "Aids is not a disease it is a human rights issue"). Mandela is sometimes referred to, reverently, as prisoner 46664; the Nelson Mandela Foundation is located at the website address 46664.com. The number was assigned because Mandela was the 466th prisoner to come to Robben Island in 1964.

Common Ground Foundation to Support Urban Youth

Common has [re]launched the Common Ground Foundation with Jodie Blum as Executive Director:
The foundation will be overseen by Executive Director Jodie Blum, and is dedicated to the empowerment and development of urban youth through education...

Additionally, The Common Ground Foundation supports and focuses on AIDS/HIV prevention programs targeted towards youth and young adults, reaching beyond our national borders to serve communities throughout Africa.

A quick look at the Common Ground Foundation website reveals some serious looking community programs plus additional interests in Katrina relief.

This looks solid and it appears that the programs were already in motion and this is the next step organizationally or that a lot of planning and development occurred in the buildup to this announcement.  Either way it's a great start.

Update:
The Common Ground Foundation has been around for awhile and I have no idea why they're not calling it a relaunch.  For example, here's an event they did in 2005.

Piaget's Ludacris Fingerprint Timepiece Auction Benefits National Runaway Switchboard

Modeling the Ludacris Fingerprint Timepiece by Piaget

Piaget has created the Ludacris Fingerprint Timepiece, valued at $28k, featuring Luda's fingerprint in the design.  The watch is on auction at the National Runaway Switchboard and all proceeds will benefit the Switchboard, the "federally-designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth".

Ludacris' previous support of runaways includes the single Runaway Love featuring Mary J. Blige which would be even more effective if Universal allowed embedding of this video.

Atlanta Rapper Sean P. Supports H.E.A.T.

Sean P. Gives Big Check to H.E.A.T.'s Staci Bush

Atlanta rapper Sean P., formerly Sean Paul of The YoungBloodz, recently contributed to the Heating Energy Assistance Team or H.E.A.T., an organization that helps impoverished Georgians with their energy needs.  He is also encouraging other entertainers to support this organization.

Official Site:
Heating Energy Assistance Team

Snoop Dogg Contributes Exotic Erotic Fee to Healing Circle

Snoop Dogg Contributes to The Healing Circle

[Photo L to R: JT The Bigga Figga, Sheila Burton, Mattie Scott, Snoop Dogg and Judy Hughes.]

Snoop Dogg has contributed his $45,000 performance deposit for a scheduled appearance at the Exotic Erotic Ball to The Healing Circle:
Snoop Dogg will perform live at a benefit concert at the Cow Palace on Friday evening, October 26, 2007, during the hours of the Exotic Erotic Expo. The Ball's initial $45,000 deposit for Snoop's services was committed to The Healing Circle in a personal presentation made by Snoop on August 12, 2007.

Additional funds for the Healing Circle will be raised when Snoop Dogg performs live on Friday, and then returns Saturday night at the Ball, where he will join Tera Patrick and Danny Bonaduce as judges of the Ball's World Famous Costume Contests.

Also from the release:
The primary mission of The Healing Circle Soul Support Group is to promote sharing, healing, education, and action for survivors of homicide and victims of inner city violence.

Kevin Liles Dr., Starbury Giveback Day, Hip-Hop Helpers

blackgivesback has photos of a recent street renaming ceremony in Baltimore honoring Kevin Liles for his "philanthropic efforts" plus pics of Starbury Giveback Day in East Meadow, NY.

For a list of hip hop related philanthropical organizations see Hip-Hop Helpers.

Ludacris Auctions Motorcycle, Supports Crest & Runaways

Ludacris and the Donated Fat Boy

Harley-Davison has donated a 2007 Harley-Davidson FLSTF Fat Boy decorated with celebrity autographs, including that of Luda, to an eBay auction to benefit the Ludacris Foundation.

Luda has also been busy with Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, appearing in The Simpsons as product placement specialist dental hygiene advocate Luda-Crest and shooting PSAs for the National Runaway Switchboard.

Good PR: Bow Wow, UNK, Lloyd, BG & The Chopper City Boyz, Yung Joc, Timbaland, DJ Hapa, Wyclef Jean

Bow Wow performs in support of sobriety at a MADD and Nationwide event.

BET's benefit Block Party [for New Orleans' area universities] documentary features UNK, Lloyd, BG & The Chopper City Boyz and Yung Joc.

Timbaland performed at last month's McDonald's All American Games to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The Epilepsy Therapy Development Project has been getting some serious help from DJ Hapa.

Wyclef Jean continues his work on Haiti's behalf.

Red Cross: Wyclef Jean, Jermaine Dupri, Daddy Yankee

Wyclef Jean, Jermaine Dupri and Daddy Yankee have created PSAs for the Red Cross including tv commercials and radio spots.

Stomp The Yard's Box Office To Benefit MLK Memorial

Sony Pictures is donating 2.5% of the Stomp The Yard box office receipts from its opening weekend to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation.  Since the flick brought in around $26 million, that puts the donation at approximately $650k.  Nicely done.

Memorial Project Site:
BuildTheDream.org

Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Stomp The Yard: Top Box Office, Promo Contests & Art

Soles Of New Orleans To Benefit Hurricane Survivors

Just got word from Richard at Mictap that the custom designed Soles of New Orleans sneaker is now on auction at Ebay.  Custom painted by The Dassler Rebellion, the shoe is intended to benefit survivors of hurricanes Rita and Katrina.

SkyBark Promotes Dog Care Benefit

Dj imagery is used to promote SkyBark, an event to benefit dogs via Much Love and the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Masta Killa Says "Go Veg For Life"

In honor of this week's release of Made In Brooklyn, let's revisit Masta Killa's ad for PETA and the related interview shown above.

Good Looks: Ads For Orangutans, Fire Ball Weekend

ChocolateMagazine Launches 'Ads For Orangutans' Charity Project:

The hip hop and R&B online magazine will be offering cheap advertising rates to raise money for the Orangutan Foundation UK charity. All money raised will be donated to the charity.

Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, Hip-Hop Legend DJ Doug E. Fresh, Among Other Celebrities, Join to Re-Ignite Fire Ball Weekend 2006

The Fire Ball is a sizzling fundraiser for the museum slated to blaze on Aug. 11- 12, 2006. In addition, Hip-Hop legend DJ Doug E. Fresh will provide searing musical sets for the fiery fundraiser, which raised approximately $150,000 last year for the museum. . .

The Fire Ball continues to draw a distinguished list of supporters including sponsors such as General Motors, Greektown Casino, House of Courvoisier, and Pepsi. Ticket prices begin at $200 for this fiery event, with all access VIP weekend packages available on a limited basis.

Good Looks: Summer Camp, Youth Summit, Allen Iverson's Party, Chase Card/Army Tour, KRUGZ Foundation, Remy Ma, CWC Entertainment Group, J5, J-ROC

Fifth Annual RHAPSODY Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp to be Held July 31-August 11, 2006
During the RHAPSODY Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp, participants will develop an appreciation for hip-hop culture and history as they experience first hand hip-hop as a dynamic contemporary art form; explore self expression through the various elements of hip-hop; and grow in a fun environment that enhances teamwork, respect, self esteem and presentation skills. PAA artists/educators will facilitate workshops, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Camp participants will explore the four artistic expressions of hip-hop that include DJing, using two turntables and a mixer to create music; MCing or rapping, speaking in rhyme with rhythm; dance; and aerosol art, or graffiti.

Televised National Hip-Hop Youth Summit Combats the Glamorization of Violence
TanzAmer Incorporated, a non-profit organization, and "The Cipher Show," a hip-hop television program, will produce a televised National Youth Summit on the fairgrounds of The Golden Gate Community Center, located at 4701 Golden Gate Parkway in Naples Florida. The event will be produced on August 12, 2006 and the theme is “Hip Hop in Progress: Changing the face of hip-hop.” It will feature live on-stage performances from hip-hop bands ranging in ages from 13-18 years old.

Mad Power Unit Gears Up for Allen Iverson's Celebrity Summer Classic Kick Off Party in Washington, D.C.
Although lots of events have gone down in the past, it's the platinum coated affair at Mad Power Unit's larger-than-life Opium, which will take the prize. There, Allen is slated to be joined by some of the biggest names in the sports and entertainment arenas including Terrell Owens, Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Garnett, Jagged Edge, Vivica A. Fox, Steve Francis, Sanaa Lathan, Hoops, Fat Joe, Carmelo Anthony, Nelly, Lebron James, Gabrielle Union, Jermain Dupri and many more.

DC-based Media Company, Brand Nu Words, Teams with the Allen Iverson Celebrity Summer Classic to Show that Philanthropy is Still Thriving
At a time when many small business owners have been sheepish about the economy, DC-based independent media company, Brand Nu Words, is teaming with Allen Iverson and Crossover Promotions to demonstrate that the spirit of generosity is alive and well in Washington, DC.

Chase Card Services Co-Sponsors Army Concert Tour for Sixth Year
The Chase Card Services sponsorship helps underwrite a portion of the talent costs and enables tickets to be sold at an affordable price. Proceeds from each concert are kept at the installation level to benefit local Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs for Soldiers.

KRUGZ Cancer Foundation Benefit Show
KRUGZ Foundation (in the name of Michael J. Krugman) Benefit show featuring: DooWiTTle, Ebonie, Fat Camp, Ivan, and Cypher:Dissident. Free mixtape CD to first 100 attended from CrateDiggers.

Remy Ma to Speak with Under-Privileged Teen Girls for the "Strength of My Sisters" Foundation
Universal/SRC Records' Remy Ma will speak with under-privileged teenage girls about her rough childhood upbringing and overcoming the struggles black females face on a daily basis. The panel will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2006 from 6-8 p.m.

CWC Entertainment Group Executive Vice President Ke'shun Walker Presents The First Ever "Back To School Basket Drive"
With the cost of school supplies increasing each year, most of the time, it leaves kids without the chance to have all necessary supplies BEFORE school starts. To help combat the ever-growing problem, CWC Entertainment Group Executive Vice President Ke'shun Walker is organizing the company's first ever "Back 2 School Basket Drive."

Jurrasic 5 Takes Aim at Bush Administration in New Video Work It Out
Jurassic 5's new video for "Work It Out," the lead single from their forthcoming album Feedback, hits music television channels around the world this week. The video is a clever lampoon which targets the US Government as it follows a gleeful President George W. Bush on a jog around downtown Los Angeles. Along the way, he rocks out on his Ipod to the tunes of J5, taunts the unemployed, raises gas prices, urinates in public, and exercises with Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

J-ROC Starts a Fire at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America that is Spreading Fast
J-ROC’s Music Time Tour presents "informances” that offer free information about VH1 Save The Music Foundation. It also includes free giveaways all while giving kids a fun time with a fun J-ROC performance. Local Detroit television station WJBK FOX 2 NEWS featured the Winterhalter school performance back in April 06'.

Good PR: Johnny Prez, Financial Summit, Big Tigger Classic

Hip Hop Artist Johnny Prez to "Donate Life"
Reggaeton artist Johnny Prez is supporting the cause of organ and tissue donation by recording a single related to that issue to be available for free download and shooting a music video/PSA in New York for which he is "inviting organ-transplant recipients and survivors" to participate as extras.

Hip-Hop Summit Action Network Presents Get Your Money Right Financial Summit in Miami
Yesterday's event, one that is strongly and visibly supported by Chrysler Financial, was planned to include:
Russell Simmons (HSAN), Dr. Benjamin Chavis (HSAN), Fat Joe, Pitbull, Remy Ma, MC Lyte, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone and Wish Bone (Bone Thugs 'N' Harmony), Prince Markie Dee of 103.5 The Beat, Ted Lucas - President and CEO of Slip 'N' Slide Records, Felix Sama from Mega 94.9 and DJ Ideal

Vivica A. Fox, Steve Harvey, Anthony Anderson, Carmelo Anthony, Terrell Owens and Reggie Bush Participate in Big Tigger’s 5th Annual Celebrity Classic
Sponsors for this multifaceted weekend of events intended to raise money and awareness related to HIV/AIDS include:
AUDI/Volkswagen, American Airlines, BET Rap It Up, Brand Jordan, Head Gear, Hpnotiq, Vitamin Water, New Era Cap, Amerigroup Corporation, NABB and Downtown Locker Room

Good PR: Mad Linx, Black Eyed Peas, Ed Lover, Nelly, Young Buck, Tony Yayo, Pras

Rap City host Mad Linx hosts scholarship relays.

The Black Eyed Peas are performing a Peapod Foundation benefit concert for South Africa.

Celebrity bowling with Ed Lover recently benefited victims of Hurricane Katrina while celebrity softball with Nelly raised funds for 4Sho4Kids.

Young Buck and Tony Yayo recently donated to youth programs.

Issues related to homelessness are a current focus for Pras.

Hip Hop Lunchbox Auction

Mike D of the Beastie Boys, Chuck D, Diddy, Crash and Futura 2000 have each contributed customized artistic lunchboxes to an auction to benefit The Food Bank For New York City and The Lunchbox Fund.  The event is designed to raise money for hungry kids and the hip hop lunchboxes will join those created by over 100 celebrities in the arts.

Actually, rumor has it that Diddy "executive coproduced" his while Mike D and Chuck D (no relation) actually got out the spray paint and went to work!

Unless I'm misreading the press release, lunchboxes will be sold in groups of 10 which makes me think that resellers will be especially active and that the overall money taken in will be less than if each lunchbox was auctioned individually.  Psychologically speaking, folks will get attached to trying to get the lunchbox by somebody they really dig, not by somebody they dig plus additional expense for various people that they like ok plus some they could really care less about.

The Lunchbox Auction begins today, Oct. 14th at 6 pm PST.

Black August Benefit Concert (Almost) Sold Out

Media reps for the 8th Annual Black August Benefit Concert scheduled for August 7th in NYC have announced that the concert is sold out through Ticketmaster and that Talib Kweli and Jaguar Wright have joined the bill.  However, some tickets may still be available at locations in the NY area or by calling the Black August hotline at 718-254-8800.

This year's concert, organized by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, "promotes HIV/AIDS prevention awareness in Africa and the Hip Hop Community" as well as ongoing activities in support of political prisoners.  Black August is billed as the "largest annual benefit concert in Hip Hop."

As previously announced, Mos Def will headline the concert.  Related concerts are planned for August 18th in Arusha, Tanzania and August 20th in Dar El Salaam, Tanzania in East Africa.

The NY concert will also include appearances by Smif N Wessun and Black Moon and is sponsored by the Viacom and Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's KNOW HIV/AIDS INITIATIVE.

Rappers Do Good Things Too

I won't write apologias for criminals but I also don't want to follow each criminal report with happy news.  However, since people sometimes have difficult sorting things out, here are some reminders of the positive things that rappers & hip hop business people have done lately.

Boost Mobile raised over $65k for charitable purposes through the sales of a ringtone based on Anthem, a track by Kanye West, Ludacris and The Game.

Hip hop artists are gathering in late Februrary in New York for a tsunami aid benefit.

Russell Simmons will crosspromote himself by lending lend his presence to an ASPCA anti-cruelty campaign

Last week, Russell and Kimora joined Tracy Maitland in offering a $15k reward for "information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or individuals responsible for the five black lab puppies found in a Queens dumpster earlier this week."

More Tsunami Disaster Resources

MSNBC provides a diverse range of links while CyberJournalist.net focuses on a list of quake/tsunami bloggers.

After the Tsunami

As the death toll continues to rise in the wake of the recent earthquake triggered tsunami, the region begins to enter the period where the lack of food and drinkable water combined with other needs will produce a death toll of its own, potentially even larger than that caused by the initial disaster.  Please consider giving through organizations of which you already know or check out these suggestions from Google.  I'm also hearing good things about Mercy Corps.

Charitable Hip Hop Artists

50 Cent  is hooked up with an effort to provide free shopping for the homeless with the 2nd Annual Josh Evans/Book Bank Foundation Holiday Clothing Drive.

Last night, Jermaine Dupri and Nelly were set to provide over 3,000 toys to Atlanta children.

Fat Joe will be donating computers to the grammar school he attended as a child.  Apparently the school currently has no computers so this isn't just a supplemental gift.  In a particularly touching note, a new multimedia room will be "named after Joe's late sister, Lisa Cartagena, who passed away during childbirth."

Wyclef Jean Video for Haiti

Yesterday the U.N. World Food Program released a new music video from Wyclef Jean to further efforts in support of Haitian flood victims.  The video features Creole lyrics and footage of Wyclef participating in relief efforts.

Common on Public Service

AllHipHop.com speaks with Common about his work against AIDS and the development of the Common Ground Foundation.

Jermaine Dupri: We Are the Future

Jermaine Dupri will be at the helm of a remake of We Are the World called We Are the Future to be recorded after the Grammy Awards on Feb. 13th.  MTV adds additional personal comments from Dupri.

Wyclef Jean Founds Yele Haiti

Wyclef Jean's latest moves in support of Haiti have led to Yele Haiti, a nonprofit dedicated to the support of sustainable development.  Assisted by a high profile "task force" including "Susan Sarandon, Russell Simmons, Tyra Banks, Jonathan Demme, Roberta Flack, and Haitians Mona Scott, Dumas Simeus, Maryse Kedar and Gepsie Metellus", Yele Haiti projects will be managed, in part, by Orsa Consultants.

This announcement comes as Jean continues with a series of intimate fundraisers that have already displayed his unceasing devotion to putting on a good show.

Jurassic 5 to Perform at Shelter Benefit

Jurassic 5 will join a rich lineup of artists at an annual concert organized by Sallie Mae to benefit the Las Vegas based Shade Tree Women's Shelter.

Hip Hop Vocalists on New Band Aid Single

As Bob Geldof oversaw the creation of the new Band Aid single, it remained unclear as to the status of 10 seconds of hip hop prior to the main vocals.  The vocalists on the rap snippet are Estelle, Dizzee Rascal and Ms Dynamite.

Joint Chiefs At The Apollo

As Fabolous, Trick Daddy, TI, Fat Joe and Twista (the Joint Chiefs) swing into promotional high gear, they've included a benefit concert hosted by Lil Kim at the Apollo Theater in Harlem on Nov. 23rd.