Hip-Hop Record Label Spotlights Haitian Cause With Charity Album

In the wake of the one-year anniversary of the massive earthquake that struck Haiti, the country is still reeling from the fallout of the tragedy.  As more help and resources are needed in the island nation, an unlikely ally has stepped forward to raise money for the cause.

Slip-N-Slide Records, a popular Miami-based rap music label, will soon offer “Care for Haiti,” an entire charity album dedicated to Haitian-related causes. The record company worked with super-producer and artist Wyclef Jean to launch the project’s first single, “Better.” The track features Melky Jean, who is also Wyclef’s sister, and a catalyst behind the idea for the charity album.

According to Slip-N-Slide CEO Ted Lucas, YouTube has been a great outlet for his team to share the “Better” single.  The video has received over 711,000 views in its first week online.  The single was released on iTunes this week, but sales information is not yet unavailable.

Haiti, the Caribbean nation on the island of Hispañiola, was hit with a devastating earthquake on January 12, 2010. The event killed over 315,000 people in the country, mostly in and near the nation’s capital of Port-au-Prince. Millions were left homeless in the quake, the island’s worst since the late 18th century.  Since the tragedy, several aid organizations are on the ground in the devastated country, but more help is needed.

Seventy-five percent of the proceeds from ‘The Care for Haiti Album’ will go to charity, including Care, Carma, The Ted Lucas Foundation, and Yéle Haiti, the charitable organization headed by Wyclef Jean. Care, in particular, has a mission to support the poor women and children in Haiti. Their goal is to eradicate poverty among women and equip them with life tools and resources for success.

Politic365 spoke with Lucas about the importance of the music label’s outreach efforts in Haiti and his thoughts behind the project.

“I thought it would be a great thing to give people music they can listen to [that supports] our sisters and brothers in Haiti. I was excited about that and wanted to help in anyway I can,” said Lucas.

“If you’re blessed and fortunate enough to have food on the table and clothes on your back and a roof over your head … there’s always someone that is less fortunate than you. You’re blessed to be a blessing to others. It is very important for me to give back,” he emphasized.

Ted Lucas is influential in the hip-hop realm, as his label has been home to major rap acts including Trick Daddy, Trina, and Rick Ross, to name a few.  The label’s Miami roots run deep.  The city’s large Haitian population brought the tragedy much closer home for those living in south Florida. With so many personal connections to the tragedy, Lucas and the Slip-N-Slide family wanted to continue the fight for the needs of Haitians.

The ‘Care for Haiti’ album is set for release on March 8.  In addition to Melky Jean, it will feature appearances by Patti LaBelle, Natasha Bedingfield, KRS-One, Sean Paul, Talib Kweli, Kindred Family Soul, and others.

For more information about the project, visit the Care for Haiti website.

Matt E. Stevens is the creator and chief blogger of Prune Juice Media. The site takes a sarcastic and informative look at the issues of the day – namely politics and current affairs. The goal of the site is to share information and make people laugh, or at least think. Matt is a contributing writer for Politic365.

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One Response to Hip-Hop Record Label Spotlights Haitian Cause With Charity Album

1. Lucy says:

   3:07am January 23, 2011 at 3:07 am

   Lucy Lu,

   This is an amazing venture. Haiti still needs much support from all who are willing to sacrifice their time and efforts. As a Haitian American I was deeply wounded by the tragedy. This is the first step in the right direction to making a change and a difference. Thank you.

   Reply