By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Lil Wayne is known primarily for his gangsta image and it’s no shock that it’s pretty much made him the target of controversy and backlash on numerous occasions. However, the rapper got the most backlash he’s ever received after he rapped some inappropriate lyrics about civil rights icon Emmett Till and his family decided they were going to make sure the emcee was held responsible. In the end, Lil Wayne was dropped from his Mountain Dew/Pepsi endorsement, but he did come to understand why he was out of line and apologized to the Till family on stage during one of his recent performances.
Not only is he working hard to make more music that his fans can be proud of these days but he’s also giving back and doing more good in the community too.
The rapper has partnered up with The Motivational Edge, a nonprofit organization in Miami, and he’s working hard to raise about $200,000 for children through the newly formed Indiegogo campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to raise funds to offer children more after school programs that will encourage academic achievement. On the good deed, Wayne says:
Hi I’m Lil Wayne,
I stand behind the mission of The Motivational Edge not just because I support these kids, but because I was one.
I grew up in New Orleans in a neighborhood called Hollygrove. I didn’t have a lot. What I did have was music and education. I knew that if one didn’t get me out, the other would, but then I finally learned I wouldn’t get out of anything without education. I personally donated to this cause and now we need your help.
The campaign is also focused of inspiring academic achievement to the youth through various cultural and academic programs (including music) and with the $200k they hope to raise, they plan to expand the programs across the nation.
To donate, click here.
Check out a video on the cause below:
He looked so awkward in that video. LOL.
Well good for him. He should give back since he takes so much…
Awesome! Love me some Weezy.
Cool. I like to see him doing something positive.
This is really great of Wayne. I hope more rappers do things like this because so many youth really look up to them. Kudos Wayne!!
Nice to read something positive from time to time. Thanks for the post UB.
Kudos to Weezy for this one. Could he really be trying to be a better person and actually contribute to the black community? I hope so. I really hope so.
Dope.
Good! I like seeing a different side to him.
Am I the only person feeling like Wayne has changed ever since the whole Emmett Till thing? Seems like he is really trying to get it together. Good for him.