OCTOBER 4TH - 5TH 1995 | URBAN AID 4 LIFE LAUNCHES:
When Eric Lynn Wright, known professionally as Eazy-E, passed away after being diagnosed with AIDS March of 1995, the butch/he-man world of hip-hop dismissed AIDS as an only “gay disease” and rap moguls started to consider raising money for AIDS research and education. An event called the Urban Aid 4 Lifebeat was started and filled the Madison Square Garden arena Thursday night (10/5/95) for five (5) hours of hip-hop and rhythm-and-blues.
Leading rappers from New York and New Jersey – the Wu-Tang Clan, Naughty by Nature, Run-D.M.C., the Notorious B.I.G., Craig Mack, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Fat Joe da Gangsta, Salt-n-Pepa – alongside male and female crooners including Jodeci, Mary J. Blige and Brandy.
Alongside the Notorious B.I.G. were Craig Mack (performing a major summer hit, “Flava in Ya Ear”), Junior M.A.F.I.A. and female crooners including Faith, Aaliyah and the three-woman group Total, who sang, “Can’t you see what you do to me?”
📸 The computer screen is edited to reflect my IG profile page. :)
