Tag Archives: Lyor Cohen

Swizz Beatz to Perform as Part of Pass The Mic Live! Segment at Spirit of Life Gala

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Swizz Beatz is embracing the spirit of life…

The 45-year-old half-Puerto Rican recording artist, music producer and entrepreneur will perform at next week’s Spirit of Life Gala honoring Lyor Cohen, global head of music at YouTube and Google.

Swizz BeatzThe event will feature a one-time-only edition of DJ Cassidy’s celebrated Pass The Mic Live!, a segment that will showcase more than a dozen hip-hop and R&B artists, including Swizz Beatz.

Others appearing in the showcase include Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Dru Hill, EPMD, Ja Rule, Memphis Bleek and T.I., all of whom have played a part in Cohen’s 40-year legacy spanning Rush Management, The Island Def Jam Music Group, Warner Music Group, 300 Entertainment and beyond.

The sold-out gala is taking place on October 18 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif. It’s a fundraiser for City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States and a leading research center for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses.

DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic series quickly transformed from viral sensation to primetime TV series on BET. Now a live tour, DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! recently sold out Radio City Music Hall in New York with a one-time-only concert featuring 25 icons of hip-hop’s golden era.

“As a 10-year-old deejay and hip-hop kid growing up in New York City, I idolized Lyor Cohen long before he ever knew my name,” DJ Cassidy said in a statement. “Then, as his Def Jam intern in my high school years, a hero became a mentor. I am truly honored to bring Pass The Mic Live’ to City Of Hope and celebrate Lyor’s commitment to making the best health care available to hip-hop fans and performers by uniting a once-in-a-lifetime lineup of iconic artists who have influenced his massive musical legacy and hip-hop’s global influence as a whole.”

City of Hope is celebrating 50 years of partnership with the Music, Film and Entertainment Industry (MFEI) fundraising group. Over this period, industry executives and influencers have raised nearly $150 million to benefit City of Hope’s mission to transform the future of cancer care.

Myke Towers Among the Musicians/Creators Named to #YouTubeBlack Voices Class of 2021 Grant Program

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Myke Towers is getting a global assist…

YouTube is using capital from its $100 million #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund, which launched last October, to create a global grant program for Black creators on the platform, including the 27-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer and songwriter.

Myke Towers

Towers, who has been active in the music scene since 2014, has raised his profile with collaborations with Bad Bunny, Becky G and Piso 21, among others.

The program kicks off with the #YouTubeBlack Voices Class of 2021: A group of 132 creators from across six countries, which includes 21 music artists, including Towers, alongside photographers, lifestyle vloggers, personal trainers and more.

Through the program, YouTube plans to directly invest in 500 creators total by the end of 2023, with the goal to equip Black creators with the resources to succeed on the platform.

“The #YouTubeBlack community is filled with so many passionate, creative, talented and brilliant artists and entrepreneurs,” YouTube vp, responsibility Malik Ducard said. “These creators and artists have been doing this work already and are known by their communities, but we’re really excited to invest in them, and we believe that they can and will become household names with this support.”

Added Lyor Cohen, global head of YouTube Music, during the briefing: “This is not a flash-in-the pan Instagram moment. This is about keeping the drum beat of change alive, and in the DNA of our organization.”

The 132 creators hail from the United States, Kenya, Brazil, Australia, South Africa and Nigeria. They were selected in part based on their past participation in #YouTubeBlack, the campaign and event series promoting Black creators which YouTube launched in 2016.

In addition to Towers, the 21 musicians included in the inaugural class are Brent Faiyaz, BRS Kash, Fireboy DML, Jean Dawson, Jensen McRae, Jerome Farah, Joy Oladokun, KennyHoopla, Mariah the Scientist, Brazil’s MC Carol, Miiesha, Brazil’s Péricles, Brazil’s Rael, Rexx Life Raj, Sauti Sol, serpentwithfeet, Sho Madjozi, Tkay Maidza, Brazil’s Urias and Yung Baby Tate.

“Our expectation is that these artists are going to be significant and important voices, and make music even more enjoyable,” Cohen said during the briefing. “There’s no question how significant of an impact Black music has had, not just in America, but globally.”

The cohort also includes creators like lifestyle vlogger Kelly Stamps and Jabril Ashe (known as Jabrils), who makes educational videos about gaming, technology and artificial intelligence.

Each Class of 2021 creator will receive an undisclosed amount of seed funding to use as they see fit to develop their channels — whether that means hiring a video editor or purchasing new lighting equipment, for example — as well as additional support from YouTube in the form of trainings, workshops and networking opportunities. According to Ducard, the grants do not come with any specific content requirements.

“We are not only supporting them in the moment, but this is seed funding that will help them to thrive on the platform long-term,” he added.

Moving forward, creators will apply for the grant program through an application process, details of which YouTube has yet to disclose.

The #YouTubeBlack Voices Fund is YouTube’s multi-year, global commitment to amplify Black voices on the platform and educate audiences about racial justice, in part by producing and acquiring new YouTube Original programs which focus on racial justice and the Black experience. Since its launch in October, the fund has supported programs such as 2 Chainz‘ “Money Maker Fund” series highlighting HBCU entrepreneurs and Masego‘s “Studying Abroad” livestreamed concert series.