Coolio, whose real name is Artis Leon Ivey Jr., came up on the L.A. rap scene in the late 80s, but blew up nationally in 1995 when he released "Gangsta's Paradise" for the soundtrack of the Michelle Pfeiffer film, "Dangerous Minds."
The song reached #1 and stayed there for 3 weeks.
While 'Paradise' became his signature hit, Coolio had several others ... including 1994's "Fantastic Voyage" -- which hit #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 -- as well as "1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New)" and "It's All the Way Live (Now)."
RAPPER-ACTOR ICE-T JOINS LG MOBILE PHONES IN SUPPORT OF THE VH1 SAVE THE MUSIC FOUNDATION AT NYC PUBLIC SCHOOL
Check Presentation with LG Mobile, The VH1 Save The Music Foundation, and Ice-T and Chrisette Michele Kicked-off Year-Long Partnership
Ice T
SAN DIEGO March 9, 2009 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics MobileComm U.S.A, Inc. (LG Mobile Phones) officially kicked-off their year-long partnership with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation by presenting a check for $150,000 yesterday at a public school in New York City. Grammy Award winning rapper and star of Law and Order: SVU Ice-T spoke with students about the role music has played in his life. Grammy Award winning artist Chrisette Michele performed two songs, "Epiphany (I'm Leaving)" co-written by Ne-Yo and "Love Is You" co-written by John Legend. Executives from all organizations were present at the event, including Executive Director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation Paul Cothran, and Senior Director of Marketing Communications for LG Mobile Phones Tim O'Brien.
LG Mobile Phones joined forces with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation for a one-year, multi-faceted partnership to promote the importance of music education. The partnership will include check presentations at public schools around the county and a national year-long advertising campaign – 'Come Together' – that was funded by LG Mobile Phones to raise awareness about music education and the positive impact it has on children's lives.
"We are very excited to continue our partnership with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation because LG is passionate about the importance of music education," said Tim O'Brien, senior director of marketing communications for LG Mobile Phones. "Together, we hope to continue to improve and restore music education in our public schools."
"Restoring music education in our public schools is an essential cause, and we applaud LG for its continued support of this worthy mission," says Paul Cothran, executive director of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. "It is important for people to recognize the central role music education has in a student's life and our hope is to help raise awareness through this initiative with LG."
The performance and presentation were held at the City College Academy of the Arts, a New York public school supported by the VH1 Save The Music initiative. A string ensemble from the school performed for the executives, Ice-T, Chrisette Michele and 300 of their fellow students. The group's instruments were all donated by the VH1 Save The Music Foundation in 2006. Ice-T spoke and Chrisette Michele performed two songs for the assembled students. LG also debuted their TV spot showcasing real life students who have benefited from the Foundation.
About LG Electronics Inc. LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 82,000 people working in 114 operations including 82 subsidiaries around the world. With 2007 global sales of USD 44 billion, LG is comprised of five business units – Home Entertainment, Home Appliance, Air Conditioning, Business Solutions and Mobile Communications. LG is the world's leading producer of mobile handsets, flat panel TVs, air conditioners, front-loading washing machines, optical storage products, DVD players and home theater systems. For more information, please visit www.lge.com.
About LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company is the world's leading provider of UMTS (WCDMA), CDMA and GSM handsets, which have been designed to improve the value of customer life. With a total range of wired and wireless solutions, the company is rapidly establishing a global presence and growing its international market share in 3G handsets. For more information please visit www.lgmobilephones.com. For more information about the new LG advertising campaign on behalf of the VH1 Save The Music Foundation program, please visit: www.lgformusic.com.
About the VH1 Save The Music Foundation The VH1 Save The Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music education programs in America's public schools, and raising awareness about the importance of music as part of each child's complete education. Since 1997, VH1 Save The Music has provided $43 million worth of new musical instruments, donated to more than 1,600 public schools in more than 100 cities around the country, impacting the lives of more than 1.2 million public school students. Now eleven years strong, it is our renewed commitment to donate one hundred million dollars worth of new musical instruments to ensure that even a greater number of students receive a comprehensive music education in the coming decade! To join the movement to First Make Music, Then Make History, visit www.vh1savethemusic.com.
Contacts: Demetra Kavadeles (858) 635.5232 dkavadeles@lge.com Jacqueline Johnson (310) 248.6192 jacqueline.johnson@ogilvypr.com Elizabeth Rosenthal (212) 333.7728 x105 erosenthal@susanblondinc.com
