NEW YORK, NY. (Top40 Charts/
Music Choice) -
Music Choice, the award-winning, multi-platform video and music network, celebrates
Black History Month by offering a wide variety of
Music Choice Originals that feature both history-making
Black artists and music industry executives of yesterday, along with those who are making history today.
Music Choice viewers will journey 'Black to the Future' to see how yesterday's music superstars and industry moguls are 'Passing It Forward' to today's history makers. The
Music Choice Originals, airing on
Music Choice's free On Demand network and its free online music site throughout the month of February, feature a wide variety of
Black artists and industry executives - including: Wyclef Jean, Russell Simmons,
Kevin Liles, Alicia Keys, Lil' Wayne, and Chris Brown.
Music Choice also celebrates the philanthropic efforts of Wyclef Jean, an artist who has devoted himself to making a difference in curbing poverty and violence in his homeland of Haiti.
Tune-in or log-on to Music Choice in February to watch -
'Black to the Future: Passing It Forward' Video Playlist - Featuring today's biggest Black artists and the music superstars who 'passed it forward' to them. Watch how Janet Jackson passed it forward to Ciara, Usher passed it forward to Chris Brown, and Tina Turner passed it forward to Beyonce, along with many more.
Tha Corner - Featuring a tribute to Wyclef Jean's personal efforts to stop poverty and violence in Haiti
Artist of the Month - Featuring the words & music of one of today's most influential African American artists, Lil Wayne.
Hip Hop History Makers - Featuring commentary from hip Hop's most influential music moguls, including: Russell Simmons, Kevin Liles, and Jermaine Dupri
Fresh Crops™ - Featuring the Dream, an emerging songwriter who is re-shaping the Black music scene with his lyrics and music. Rihanna, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, J. Holiday and many more artists have recorded his music.
'When I watched the greats like Bob Marley, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, it defined to me what real music is,' says Wyclef Jean. 'Music that tells your story from every line in a song, from every lick of a guitar and from every move. I stood up and took note. Black History Month demands that every one takes note of the contribution of African Americans to the world and Music Choice highlights the important contribution of music to the cultural fabric. I am honored to be in line to accept the torch.'
'Hip Hop is a genre that keeps evolving with all of our collective experiences,' says Lil' Wayne. 'Our music is reaching and connecting globally because everyone can relate to something in our lyrics, whether the topic is serious or fun. So, keep it locked on Music Choice and join in the celebration of Black History Month!'
'To know where you're going, one must know from whence he came', says Lamonda Williams, Director of Urban and Latin Programming for Music Choice. 'It is so interesting to see which artists from back-in-the-day heavily influence some of today's popular urban artists. We never forget who held the door open for Black artists to come through, but we also look forward. This is how Music Choice put its own twist on Black History Month - by celebrating yesterday's and today's Black history makers in urban music!'
