Queensbridge native and God MC Nas spoke to GlobalGrind this afternoon by phone about his involvement in raising funds and awareness for communities in need.
The prolific artist spoke to us about how he helps to raise funds to combat the drought in The Horn of Africa and the George Harrison Fund For UNICEF a few days after he and Damian Marly turned Central Park’s Summerstage upside down.
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Our conversation came a few days after the 40th Anniversary of Harrison’s legendary Concert For Bangladesh, a fundraising event that thrust music and philanthrophy onto the world stage in the 1970s.
The anniversary is bittersweet one, because yet another region of the world is suffering and in need of Harrison’s and UNICEF’s help.
This time it is the Horn of Africa, which is presently experiencing a drought wherein a million children in Somalia are horrifically malnourished and facing certain death.
Nas spoke to us about his helping UNICEF, his trips to Africa and about his concert with Damian Marley last week in Central Park.
GlobalGrind: Tell us how you got involved with the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF.
Nas: I heard about UNICEF for years and I wanted to get involved. I basically got at them. When this came up, I felt like this was where I belonged, this is George’s whole thing. Shout out to George and his family and one of the greatest bands!
This isn’t the first time you’ve lent your name in service to others. In the past you’ve delivered or prepared meals for persons living with AIDS. What will you be doing with UNICEF?
Whatever it takes! Whatever way I can be used, I’m here! A song or concert, I’m just here to be involved with anything that can be done to create awareness; and that can bring in more help. [I also plan] to ask all my friends who have anything to share, all of my friends who can do it. My friend Chris Webber is into what this is all about, my music friends, everybody I’ve talked to is into it. I think I can definitely make something happen.
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Have you ever been to the Horn of Africa?
No, I haven’t been to the Horn of Africa. One of the places I’ve been to a few times though is Lagos, Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria and Durban, South Africa. [I’ve been to] Cairo, Egypt. People don’t consider Egypt part of Africa, but people forget that Egypt is Africa.
What’s been some of your experiences in some of those countries? Nigeria is really crowded and has a rich legacy of music and culture.
Yeah, there are so many people there. [Nigeria] is just waiting for a change; it’s waiting for the [right] economics to get there. It’s raw, it;s real, it’s serious. It has so much potential.
Africa is the next spot to breakthrough, especially with technology and the internet. Do you see yourself investing in Africa?
Absolutely! Education is key, though; that’s the great thing I would like to see changed in Africa, especially curriculum in schools, safety in schools and healthy politics.
When was the last time time you were in Africa?
I probably haven’t been there in two years!
You are loved here and you are loved across the world. We’ve seen your commitment to helping folks. Can you talk about your experience last week at Summer Stage in NYC? The crowd was going crazy!
It was a magical moment! It was the second time I did Summer Stage and this time with Damian was a whole ‘nother experience! It was a full moon and lots of great people came out. It was outrageous! There’s nothing like the summertime in the one of the greatest parks in the world, Central Park! On that stage I felt like I was a kid again back in my neighborhood, Queensbridge Projects, in the park at night and there was some kind of concert. There was just magic in the air; you can’t compare it to nothing else. We had that feeling going then what Damian was doing had us all in the right place. It felt great!
FEELING INSPIRED AND WANT TO GET INVOLVED? HERE’S HOW:
1. Use the #4afriend hashtag to spread the word on social media, like Nas.
2. Text FRIEND to UNICEF (864233) to give $10 to the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF
3. Download the Concert for Bangladesh album on iTunes (www.iTunes.com) or visit www.theconcertforbangladesh.com to donate and learn more
