Open For Talib Kweli

On Saturday, May 2nd, 2009, Talib Kweli will headline Dare 2 Dream, a benefit concert and silent auction at the House of Blues Chicago to raise funding and major awareness for Working in the Schools (WITS), a non-profit that works to increase the reading proficiency and learning capacity for under-served students in the Chicago Public Schools.

Platform One Entertainment, the organizer of the event, is giving one Sonicbids artist the incredible opportunity to open for Talib Kweli and receive $500.00 for travel expenses.

The selected artist will perform in front of major local, regional & national media that will reach millions across the country, as well as many music/entertainment industry VIPs. Past Sonicbids winning artists have performed in front of SPIN Magazine, Pitchfork, ABC, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and many other major media outlets. This will be a multi-genre benefit event and they are accepting all genres of music for submission. Platform One Entertainment and Talib Kweli will choose five artists to participate in an online fan vote to determine the winner. Artists should visit www.platform-1.com for more information.

Since his stellar debut with Mos Def as Black Star, Talib Kweli has been one of rap’s most exceptional and consistent artists. Released in 2000, Talib’s Reflection Eternal, the RIAA-certified gold album was one of the most acclaimed albums of the year. In 2002, smash single “Get By,” and the biting political commentary “The Proud” made Quality a landmark recording and Kweli’s second gold album. Subsequent recordings in 2004 (The Beautiful Struggle) and 2005 (Right About Now) solidified his status as one of rap’s most talented and important voices. His most recent album, Eardrum, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and garnered significant critical acclaim. As the son of two teachers and advocate of socially-conscience messages in his music, Talib is an extraordinary role model to Chicago’s public school students and is thrilled to headline the Dare 2 Dream benefit event.

Platform One Entertainment is extremely committed to continuing the development and delivery of amazing entertainment events to help benefit and bring meaningful awareness and fundraising to important causes and charities. Platform One has generated noteworthy visibility and funding for The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, The Common Ground Foundation, The Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness and The University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital while working with some of today’s biggest artists including Kings of Leon, Common, Cypress Hill, and several others. Platform One also specializes in creating customized 360 degree marketing & artist development campaigns for independent artists and independent labels by bringing years of success working with artists, labels, brands, non-profits, multimedia (TV, film, print), digital properties, terrestrial/online/satellite radio and numerous other entertainment influencers.