Gift Of Music at the Hard Rock cafe

Like any successful holiday gift exchange, ticketholders left Toronto’s Hard Rock Café with a lot more than a gift card or stocking stuffer at the third annual Gift Of Music.
The event, hosted by Kid Kut and Jully Black, was dedicated to raising money for MusiCounts, a charity-based organization that focuses on supporting music initiatives and programs in schools. Those who supported the fundraiser enjoyed music from the solid roster of Canadian talent such as Kim Davis, August, Trinity Chris and JD Era. The renowned venue was packed wall to wall with music lovers who came out to celebrate the season and give to a great cause.
Michael Hurley, manager of MusiCounts, thanked everyone in attendance for making a difference in children’s lives across Canada and shared that the foundation will donate over $600,000 to Canadian schools in order to build their music programs.

“At MusiCounts our mission is to make sure that every child in Canada, regardless of circumstances, has access to music programs in school,” he said, while addressing the crowd. “What this is doing is providing an opportunity to learn skills to help them improve with other subjects in school, it’s an opportunity to discover a class that actually makes them want to go to school every day. It’s an opportunity for them to discover their talent and an opportunity for them to build their self-confidence. These are skills that transfer far beyond a classroom, whether they want a career onstage or anywhere else. That is why music is so important and that’s why it needs to stay in our schools.”
Many desirable gifts, including House of Marley headphones and boom boxes were raffled off between sets. The music company has partnered with MusiCounts, donating funds from every set of headphones sold in Canada, which has been tallied at $70,000 to date.

Savannah Re, who opened the show with her signature soulful voice in a festive red dress, was blessed enough to go to arts school, but the young up-and-comer said that the support is not there for the majority of kids who have dreams of becoming an artist like herself.
“Even in our schools, music is looked at as something that is less than exemplary. MusiCounts is something that we need,” she said.
Besides raffle prizes, everyone in attendance was given the gift of music through some of the talent in Toronto and were able to give back just that through their support of the MusiCounts initiative. It was a night of great music, in support of the future of music in Canada.
Photos By: Kiah Walsh

Lauryn Hill OnexOne concert

Talib Kweli said it best, “Ms. Hill, you got skills, that’s a gift, it’s real, get ill, what you spit got the power to uplift the hill.”
As part of a fundraiser for the OneXOne foundation, Kool Haus was transformed into the Diesel lounge last Saturday night to host Ms. Lauryn Hill’s intimate showcase.
Olunike Adeliyi, Toronto-born “Flashpoint” actress smiled amongst many other celebrities such as Kristin Kreuk, Jully Black and Jeremy Jack Bieber on the Diesel red carpet before entering the OnexOne foundation fundraiser. She said she’s excited to have the opportunity to support the OnexOne charity.

 “It’s people helping people; one helping one; that is such a great concept. It’s always an honour to be a part of a charity that wants to reach out and help,” she said.
Kardinal Offishall set off the high energy night of performances with his hits “The Anthem”, “Numba 1” and “Beautiful” before bringing out Maestro Fresh Wes, Jully Black, Shi Wisdom and K’naan as surprise guests. K’naan surprised the crowd by performing his new unreleased track “The Seed”, which the audience soaked in.
Up next, Scratch from the legendary hip-hop group, The Roots, performed a melody of tracks through the art of human beatboxing, which had the crowd entertained, even though the anticipation of Lauryn Hill filled the venue.

Canadian singer/songwriter Jully Black, who performed at the show, said Lauryn Hill impacted every aspect of her career. “How hasn’t she [influenced me]? The reality is that she’s been singing and rapping for such a long time, but being someone who was raised in the church and hearing her voice on “Joyful Joyful”, I was able to start reciting those songs at a young age and performing those songs… Just being a soul singer. It’s really nice to hear how long her music has stood the test of time,” said Black.
The deafening screams filled Kool Haus’ packed Diesel lounge as Lauryn Hill took centre stage wearing knee-high fringed black Louboutin boots and a black see-through sequined dress. “You missed me?” she said. “I missed you too.”
The soul queen herself performed hits from her chart-topping catalogue of musical masterpieces such as “Lost Ones”, “To Zion”, “Superstar”, “Final Hour”, “Ex-Factor” and “Ready Or Not”, with a stage presence almost extinct nowadays. She led her band the entire show, as it watched and read her every gesture, as her performance was obviously genuine. She was just as lost in the music as the packed audience that sang along to every word. It was a spiritual performance from the heart, and it was apparent that both her and those in attendance knew that the stage is where she belongs.

Watching from the side of the stage was two of her six children, whom she brought out to the stage and introduced to the welcoming crowd who waved. Her 10-year-old son, Joshua, spit a verse for the crowd who supported and cheered him on. She performed an emotional and powerful performance of “Killing Me Softly” before exiting the stage. She returned moments later to an uproar of screams from the crowd to bless the crowd with a bonus performance of “Turn The Lights Down Low”, “Could You Be Love” and “Doo Wop”.
It was a night of legendary performances in the name of charity.

Photos by: Michelle Green