Wyclef Jean, Chris Brown Headline Haiti Benefit Concert
Haitian-born rapper, P.Diddy, Bill Clinton among attendees at Miami event
By CAITLIN MILLAT
Updated 11:47 AM EST, Sat, Feb 6, 2010
The Haiti relief effort continued this weekend in Miami, as Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean headlined a benefit concert and telethon that raised more money for the region, devastated after an earthquake last month.
Jean opened the "SOS Saving OurSelves -- Help for Haiti" concert and telethon, held in Miami, which will also play host to the Super Bowl this Sunday.
The musician spoke and rapped in both English and Creole, the language of Haiti. His first words to the Miami audience: "It's all good," spoken in Creole.
Jean was joined by musicians Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, teen sensation Justin Bieber and R&B star Robin Thicke, who all performed at the benefit concert. Busta Rhymes honored the Caribbean country before his performance of "We Will Stand," calling Haiti a "beautiful nation" with a "beautiful culture."
Former President Bill Clinton also took the stage, telling the audience he had just gotten back from a trip to Haiti -- a mere 700 miles of ocean away from Miami.
"SOS Saving OurSelves," hosted by P.Diddy, Queen Latifah and Pharrell, is the second big-name effort to fund-raise for Haiti -- the Jan. 22 "Help for Haiti" telethon raised some $66 million for the region, organizers said.
The "SOS" concert, which aired on BET, MTV, VH1 and Centric, was also simulcast live in Haiti. During the performances, artists including Gloria Estefan and Spike Lee, as well as athletes Mike Tyson and Serena Williams, answered phones and collected donations for Haiti.
Donations collected at the telethon will go to Wyclef Jean's charity Yele Haiti, as well as organizations including CARE, Project Medishare, Children's Safe Drinking Water and The Clinton Foundation.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Philadelphia
First Published: Feb 6, 2010 2:59 AM EST
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