Common and Rakim Headline Marc Ecko Save the Rhinos Benefit Concert

Hip-Hop legend Rakim and Chicago rappers Common and Rhymefest are among the artists taking the stage Thursday (June 8) as part of Marc Ecko’s Save the Rhinos second annual benefit concert. The event, which takes place in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield, will be hosted by DJ Kid Capri and includes performances by Lupe Fiasco, DJ […]

Hip-Hop legend Rakim

and Chicago rappers Common and Rhymefest are among the artists taking the stage

Thursday (June 8) as part of Marc Ecko’s Save the Rhinos second annual benefit

concert.

The event, which

takes place in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield, will be hosted by DJ Kid Capri

and includes performances by Lupe Fiasco, DJ Z-Trip, Capri and other surprise

guests.

"Last year,

we welcomed an extraordinary crowd to our first annual Save the Rhinos benefit

concert, raising much needed awareness of the plight facing these majestic animals,"

said Ecko. "Building on the success of that event, I am delighted to bring

another great line-up to Central Park."

The inaugural concert,

which featured the Roots, De La Soul, Mos Def, DJ Premier, and MF Doom, raised

$150,000 for the International Rhino Foundation, an organization dedicated to

providing service and support for programs that emphasize management and scientific

research for rhino conservation.

Proceeds from this

year’s event will benefit the Foundation as part of Marc Ecko and Ecko Unltd’s

multiyear financial commitment and partnership to double the populations of

the Indian, Black, and Sumatran rhinos–three of the planet’s most endangered

species.

Doors open at 5

p.m. and the first performance starts at 6 p.m. Tickets, which are $36 in advance

and $40 the day of the event, are available through select Ticketmaster outlets

and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Fans can charge

tickets by phone by calling (212) 307-7171, (201) 507-8900, (631) 888-9000 or

(845) 454-3388. Tickets are also available at Fatbeats, 406 6th Ave., New York

City.