Client News: 2010 Begins with Giving Back | Hip Hop 4 Haiti

Client hosts Hip Hop 4 Haiti Benefit Concert | Think Brown INK & Honeycomb Set Organize National Hip Hop 4 Haiti Day in DC, February 3, at Layla Lounge, 501 Morse St. NE, DC

HipHop4HaitiHEADEER.

February 1, 2010

Contact: info@thinkbrownink.com, www.hiphop4haiti.ning.com

(Washington, DC) — Think Brown INK clients spent January giving back to the local and international communities, using their influence in the music and entertainment industries to make a difference.

Following the tragic earthquakes in Haiti on January 12, client Sherrella La Bella, CEO and founder of Honeycomb Set LLC. was inspired to create an event that would unite the music community in the DC, Maryland and Virginia region in support of Haiti. Two days later, she partnered with Think Brown INK owner Natasha Brown to hold the nation’s first “Hip Hop 4 Haiti” benefit on January 16.

“When I learned about Haiti, I was devastated and wanted to do something. I woke up and began to think ‘What can I do, what can I do?’ So I called my publicist, and told her that I wanted to put together an event for Haiti. I began to talk about Haiti on Twitter and Facebook, and that’s when the further inspiration came. So many artists began to reach out, which led us to put together a hip hop showcase for Haiti,” Sherrella said. “I told Natasha let’s call it Hip Hop 4 Haiti. In two hours we had a venue, and 22 performers, including D.C. Don Juan, Bear Witnez!, Whitefolkz, Kingpen Slim and many more! The show was held on January 16 at Pasha Lounge and was very successful we raised almost $800 and about 10 bags and boxes of clothes and food. We donated all of the funds to Yele Haiti and other donations to the American Red Cross and World Charity Foundation.

“They say actions speak louder than words, however at Hip Hop 4 Haiti, words and actions were parallel. The artists epitomized the term “verb” by exuding “action words,” literally,” said Mo Betta, a rapper and writer from Washington DC.

Afterwards, Natasha and Sherrella partnered with Seven Williams from Beneath Da Surface and Ju Gatling from Music Is Life Magazine – the four became the D.C. organizers for Hip Hop 4 Haiti National Day, which occurred in 35 cities on January 30. The D.C. event was rescheduled to February 3, due to inclement weather. Hip Hop 4 Haiti National Day in DC will take place at Layla Lounge from 6:30 p.m. until this Wednesday.

“My heart was broken by the images and reports that came out of Haiti, following the earthquakes in Port-Au-Prince. I have Haitian family members and friends, and I wanted to contribute to the relief efforts in some way. The Hip Hop 4 Haiti national movement was a natural fit for so many young adults like myself to make a difference for our Haitian brothers and sisters,” said DC organizer Natasha Brown, owner/publicist of Think Brown INK Communications in Maryland.

D.C. Don Juan speaking during the nation's first Hip Hop 4 Haiti benefit in D.C. on January 16, 2010.

Recording Artist Ron O'Neal performing at DC's first Hip Hop 4 Haiti. Hip Hop 4 Haiti National Day in DC is February 3, 6:30 pm at Layla Lounge in DC.