The 6th Annual Black August Benefit Concert will
take place Sunday August 10th 2003.
The event,
which is billed as a celebration of hip-hop and freedom fighters, is being dedicated
to political prisoner Sundiata Acoli and will be headlined by Erykah Badu, Talib
Kweli and Dead Prez.
Black August is a project of the Malcolm X Grassroots
Movement, which strives to support the global development of Hip Hop culture.
"Our goal is to bring culture and politics
together and to allow them to naturally evolve into a unique hip hop consciousness,"
stated Monifa Bandele, Executive Director of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.
Taking place at the Brooklyn Cafe at 147 Flatbush
Ave. and Tillary St. in Brooklyn, NY the show will also feature performances
by; Boot Camp Clik, Boots from the Coup, Goapele, Don Divino and Power 105.1
DJ Tony Touch, DJ Beverly Bond and Rise & Shine.
"I’m rocking on the strength of Malcolm
X grassroots. They do things in the community that we respect and have participated
in, such as feeding programs for the homeless and workshops for the youth,"
Rise & Shine group member Hashim added. "Plus it draws a good crowd,
so it gives artists a chance to showcase their music.ya dig?"
In keeping with the tradition of fostering cultural
exchanges with other hip hop communities in the world, the Black August Collective
along with Erykah Badu will be traveling to Cuba the next day to participate
in the 9th Annual Havana Rap Festival.
"It is more important now more than ever
that we support the people of Cuba as they struggle for self-determination and
against the attacks of the United States disguised as a war on terrorism,"
Bandele stated.
Doors open at 7 P.M. and the show starts at 8
P.M. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For ticket information
you can call 1-866-757-6795, or log onto blackaugust.com