Bun B Helps Organize Telethon to Benefit Hurricane Harvey Victims
Update (Sept. 7, 3:56 p.m. EST):
Drake is among the celebrities that have been added to the telethon, which has now been dubbed "Hurricane Relief" to include Hurricane Irma as well. TMZ reports Justin Bieber, Robert De Niro, Michael Strahan and Jamie Foxx have also been added to the event.
Original Story:
Southern Texas and parts of Louisiana continue to be severely affected by the tragic downpour that is Hurricane Harvey. As of Wednesday (Aug. 30), over two dozen fatalities have been reported, with more feared in the aftermath when it's all said and done. Over the past few days, hip-hop artists have stepped forward to do their part and help the cities within the flooded, damaged areas, and now Bun B has announced how he will help Houston, which took the biggest hit.
The "Gametime" rap veteran has joined forces with event organizers for a primetime telethon to aid victims of the hurricane, according to TMZ. The organizers in question are the same ones behind the One Love Manchester show, a benefit concert in honor of the lives lost during an Ariana Grande concert bombing in late May. The telethon will air Sept. 12 on several major television networks, with actor Jamie Foxx—a fellow Texas native himself—taking part in it as well.
During a recent interview in regards to the tragedy, Bun B—who has always been heavily involved when it comes to Houston— spoke on what needs to be done to help the lives affected. "We’re going to have to get [to] different places," he stated. "My church on the Southwest side of Houston is what I’m going to be using as a collection and distribution point, but there are probably 40 different shelters I’ve seen in Houston and surrounding areas. These are high schools and churches. They can’t keep these people there forever. We’ve got to figure out where and how to find tens of thousands of people somewhere to live. That takes years. That’s when we’ll have to see our government step up."
Other Houston rappers have been more hands-on to help the families in need of saving during this ordeal. Trae Tha Truth, with the help of local fire departments and friends, braved through the treacherous waters to rescue victims. “A lot of damage has been done the most close to the reservoirs, where they have to open the levees and a lot of places where they have rivers were overflowed, like all that spreads. It’s a little bit of everywhere now, man," he told XXL. Looking on the bright side, Trae added, "The blessing now is that the sun is shining. There are still people in need but it’s a sign that the water will start to go down hopefully.”
Our hearts go out to the victims of tropical storm Harvey. See what others in hip-hop, like Drake and Nicki Minaj, are doing to help out as well.
See New Music Releases for September 2017