"Stop The Violence" Initiative Uses Music To Create Change
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – Music industry mega-producers, Organized Noize, and Virginia-based record label, XRecords, announced today that a national search is kicking off to find and feature unsigned artists for the H.I.P. – H.O.P. 2012 Project. The group announced last month that they are moving full-steam ahead on an industry-wide compilation record to coincide with their “Stop the Violence” initiative. H.I.P.- H.O.P 2012, an acronym for Healing is Possible - Helping Our People, will consist of a creative project coupled with on- the-ground programs in cities all over the country being seriously affected by teen violence.
Statistics are indicating that violent acts by and against children and teens is a rapidly growing epidemic that is indiscriminate of color, gender, socio-economic status and religion. A study executed by Glen Ellis, Executive Editor of BlackDoctor.org, reported that in 2008 about 9% of murders in the U.S. were committed by youth under 18, and that same group accounted for about 15% of violent crime arrests. (iZania.com)
Organized Noize and XRecords see an opportunity to reach an entire generation through a medium with which kids can identify and seem to be passion about—music. With an impressive roster of Hip-Hop’s biggest names on board with the project, the executive producers are providing an opportunity for an unsigned and aspiring artist to appear on the compilation album. This is just one aspect of the H.I.P.- H.O.P. 2012 Project affording a positive vehicle for young people needing a leg up. Interested artists should submit a bio, pictures and music tracks in a best-quality format, or active links to their videos (ie. YouTube, Vimeo).
“This project is the change everyone has been waiting for in music,” says Greg Britt, A&R Director for H.I.P.- H.O.P. 2012. “Being able to give an unknown artist a chance to work with people like Organized Noize…to be a part of an historical event…is a dream come true to someone trying to get on.”
Recently honored at VH1’s Hip-Hop Honors [Dirty South], Organized Noize explains why this opportunity is important. “This project is about bridging the gap and pulling up those kids that need something to believe in—something bigger than their current situation or environment,” says Ray Murray. “The music can do that…music can change a person’s perspective.”
To learn more about the H.I.P. – H.O.P. 2012 Project, please contact Thomas "FAT Thomi" Hairston at (804) 334-2262 or fatthomi@gmail.com. All music submissions should be sent to HipHop2012music@gmail.com; Physical CDs are not being accepted at this time.
About Organized Noize:
Comprised of three innately talented musicians, writers and producers--Rico Wade, Ray Murray and P. Sleepy Brown are the Grammy Award-Winning Organized Noize. With a track record for spearheading multi-platinum records for artists like the uber-successful OutKast, Goodie Mob, Ludacris and TLC, the team's decade and a half of creative works is still just the tip of the iceberg. With more film, television and artist projects in the works, Atlanta, Georgia's home-grown icons, Organized Noize, is poised to reach the multi-platinum ranks again in 2010.
About XRecords:
X Records was founded in 2001 and is manufactured and distributed by the Malaco Music Group. Founded by Thomas "FAT Thomi" Hairston after a ten-year career in the music industry with giants like Warner Brothers, American Records and Arista, X Records emerged as the creative outlet for his own roster of artists. After promoting major label projects for the Notorious B.I.G., TLC, Usher, Toni Braxton, OutKast, Tamia, Eric Benet, Tevin Campbell, Something for the People and the Wu-Tang Clan under FAT Thomi Promotions, Mr. Hairston has the knowledge and track record required to be an industry leader.
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