Atlanta rapper Ludacris is formally backing Senator Kasim Reed and the race to determine the city’s new Mayor. Luda and DTP CEO Chaka Zulu will sponsor a reception and celebrity fundraiser for Reed at their upscale Atlanta restaurant, Straits. NBA star Shaquille O’Neal will co-host the fundraiser, which takes place this Sunday (October 25), in an attempt to raise money for Reed’s campaign. The event starts runs from 8pm – 11pm. A guest contribution of $250 per person is required to attend the fundraiser.
The Black Eyed Peas have been tapped to be the sole musical guests at the upcoming Victoria’s Secret fashion show slated for December. The Peas will provide the sonic backdrop for the highly anticipated annual lingerie fashion show, which will include supermodels Alessandra Ambrosio, Miranda Kerr and Marisa Miller, who will don a $3 million Harlequin Fantasy Bra. “We are in the middle of a really defining time right now,” Peas co-founder will.i.am said in a statement. “It’s the end of the traditional era of how we experience and consume music and media.” The Victoria’s Secret fashion show will air on CBS on December 1.
A new coalition of black and Latino artists and activists will protest the Obama Administration’s war policies this November in Washington, D.C. Rap group Dead Prez, as well as 2008 Green Party Presidential ticket running mates, Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente will participated in the “Black is Back” rally, which will be held in Malcolm X Park. The rally is being organized by the Black is Back Coalition for Social Justice, Peace and Reparations, which was formed in September of 2009 and consists of journalists, organizers, artists and scholars. The rally and march to the White House starts at 10:00 am and ends at 6:00 PM.
Gangstarr co-founder Guru has announced a second tour of Europe in order to support his latest album, Guru 8.0 Lost & Found. The rapper will hit the road with producer Solar on November 10th in Mannheim Germany, where they will perform at the Enjoy Jazz Festival. Guru and company will visit Germany, Austria and Switzerland during the outing, which winds down November 17th in Rostock, Germany. “Hip-Hop fans in Europe appreciate real Hip-Hop and that’s why touring overseas is a great joy for us,” Guru said in a statement. “We are excited to return to Germany after our 2009 Summer tour.” Guru 8.0 Lost & Found is in stores now. Tour dates are listed below:
Nov. 10th Mannheim, Germany – Enjoy Jazz Festival Nov. 11th Innsbruck, Austria – Max Events Nov. 12th Ljubljana, Slovenia – Kino Siska Nov. 13th Zurich, Switzerland – Moods Nov. 14th Dortmund, Germany – Domicil Nov. 16th Hannover, Germany – Jazz Club Nov. 17th Rostock, Germany – Zwischenbau