
Let's face it, BP is on pace to dismantle the 3rd Coast of the United States for at least the next 5 to 10 years. Along this endangered coast, several small businesses and families will endure economic hardships for many years to come. The extremely large commercial fishing industry will be damaged indefinitely, but hotels, toll roads, casinos, and anyone who may rely heavily on generating large amounts of income from tourism will feel devastating effects from the extraordinary and negligent event created by the British oil company.
Being a College student, I do not have the power to place together a plan to help some of these suffering families that are facing unemployment or loss of income from the tragic oil spill. Adults are just too stubborn to believe someone younger than them can actually have a relevant idea. However, upon running on Pensacola Beach the other day, I came up with an idea.. Several years ago, hundreds and thousands of young adults & teenagers stormed "Woodstock" for great music. At that time, Rock 'N Roll was the genre that dominated over the younger generation. Flash forward several years later and hip hop is now what influences pop culture globally. I talked to an anonymous publicist and they thought the idea was an innovative one; however, the idea would be impossible to implement because rappers could not initiate a concert to help families along the Gulf Coast because it would ruin their 'street' image credibility. After much thought, I totally disagree with that statement.
Even though the publicist had a good argument about the whole 'street' image idea, I have sort of created a way around that barrier. If you think of one rapper who has the ability to make this event into a national positive event and had the ability to bring out anyone they want (including multiple genres of music), who do you think it would be? BUN B. Just think about it, Bun has the ability to bring out anyone for an event: Lupe, Gibbs, the whole Texas, Wale, Gucci, Jeezy, Kanye, Game... You name it, Bun has the presence to get them to jump on board. Bun B has the ability to also keep rappers from losing their 'street' image. Being considered an OG, Bun can promptly explain to the streets that supporting this event is "gangsta."
As for the benefits: a concert would bring millions to a various location on the Gulf Coast. Look at what SXSW has done for Austin, Texas in forms of generating revenues in a single weekend. Thousands of fans would penetrate an area, generating thousands of dollars for lodging, food, and other various industrys. Rappers could perform free enabling all proceeds from ticket sales would go to surrounding areas of people claiming unemployment from BP's oil spill.
As for the rappers' benefits: They would gain serious tax benefits for their charity performance... Also, in an age when record companies are hurting due lack of return on their musical investments, and lack of cash flow to fund an artists' ability to do intense marketing. This event would be broadcasted globally, so someone like Paul Wall who has an album coming out soon could simply say at the end of an interview: "The Heart of a Champion in stores & online July 13th." And every person from the United States to China would know his album would be coming out. In my opinion an event like this could be epic and historical for generations, but what do I know I'm just a young irrelevant & opinionless person when adults are in the room, so it's up to you to spread this idea like a virus..
Lobble

















