Rappers, and by extension, musicians usually get shortchanged. I am here to tweak your perception a little bit. There’s more to them than liquor, ladies, and loud.
The music industry has rapidly shifted over the years. Artists like Chance the Rapper and Childish Gambino have accelerated the process.
In fact, I am so tired of the overplayed rhetoric of rappers and rap music being a bad influence and promoting violence that I am not even going to address that.
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I am here to reveal how rappers and hip-hop musicians have been working towards bettering their communities. These stories seldom make it to the press as they tend to go against their stage personas.
1Chance The Rapper
Chance The Rapper’s organization, SocialWorks, raised $2.2 million for the Chicago Public Schools’ arts programs. The organization made the initial $1.1 million donation back in March. The money will be distributed among 20 schools in the district. Providing access to quality education means a great deal for the Chicago native. Chance’s organization also provided backpacks and school supplies to over 25,000 school children.
2French Montana and the Weeknd
“I feel like it is an obligation for me to make sure that all the kids and mothers have the right healthcare”.
The dynamic team behind the amazing “Unforgettable” do more just talk about changing the world. The hip-hop artists help build a world-class healthcare facility in Uganda. The facility will provide health care to over 280,000 people. French Montana’s social media campaign, #Unforgettable, raised funds for premature incubators, blood banks, among other medical supplies. Montana has repeatedly championed that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege.
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That right there sums up the real French Montana for me.
3Nicki Minaj
“I’m so proud of our sisters in India. God is so good. . .We’re just getting started. These women are us and we are them!”.
Throw out all your preconceived notions. The “Anaconda” hitmaker has been quietly sending money to a village in India. The donations have helped fund a computer center, tailoring institute, literacy programs, and water wells.
You don’t need to like her music to like her.
4Pitbull
The summer of hurricanes has left quite a few places devastated. While most continue to lecture how Trump should be doing more for Puerto Rico (he should be), Mr. Worldwide sent a private plane to ferry cancer patients to mainland US.
While I am not the biggest fan of his music, I absolutely respect the dude for his hustle and personality. Side note: back in 2012, Pitbull kept his word and performed at a Walmart in Kodiak, Alaska (population: 6000). #ExilePitbull prank might have sent him there but he found his way to my heart no doubt.
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I could honestly keep going but you get the idea.
So, to those who feel that these stories are nothing besides PR gimmicks and humble brags: get with the program. Even if they are (they aren’t), so what? If someone manages to do some good in any shape or form, we should encourage them.
These artists have a powerful platform that they are using to bring positivity in their communities, what’s not to like? They find time to do these awesome things in between cranking out fresh bangers, they are heroes in my book.
