Kanye West Performs for Chicago Public Schools

Kanye West Performs for Chicago Public Schools
Posted by Lynette Holloway AOL Black Black Voices on Jun 16th 2009 6:18PM

Well, it seems as if Kanye West has finally calmed down, especially with news of girlfriend troubles and a brutal caricature on South Park.
West returned home last week to Chicago to carry out a mission started about two years ago by his educator mother before her untimely death: To help combat the skyrocketing national high school dropout rate.

The Chicago native performed twice on Thursday at the historic Chicago Theatre for the Kanye West Foundation, which he co-founded with his mother, Donda West. It was the first major foundation event since her passing.

"It was definitely a great experience just to see the work that the team put together and to take it to this level,'' West told AOL Black Voices on the red carpet. "I've been to many foundation events and I feel like now this foundation is at a point where it can really expand and the ideas can really be heard on a national level. And it can become what my mother dreamt about.''

More than 2,000 students who improved their grades during the school year were treated to a free performance. The star-studded red carpet event in the evening was the second Stay In School Benefit Concert and was attended by more than 3,000 people. It will air July 25 on the cable channel Fuse.


The performances served as a catharsis for West, he acknowledged to AOL Black Voices. Surprisingly subdued, he said he hoped the effort would have a major impact on helping students stay in school. The foundation works with schools to partner with community organizations to help indigent youth gain access to music production.

Tickets ranged from $49 to $500 for a VIP reception and benefit concert attended by John W. Rogers, founder and chief investment officer of Ariel Investments and who played basketball at Princeton University with Michelle Obama's brother, Craig Robinson; Michelle Williams, singer from Destiny's Child who sported a new short asymmetric hairstyle; Raven-Symoné, actress; Matt Forte, a running back for the Chicago Bears; and Antoine Walker, NBA free agent who attended Mt. Carmel High School on Chicago's South Side, also Craig Robinson's alma mater. Many of the celebrities said they were there to support West and the work of his foundation.

"I am here to support Kanye and his show,'' said Raven-Symoné, who said she is impressed with the work of his foundation. "I love his music.''

Matt Forte, a running back for the Chicago Bears, said education is important, saying he went to Tulane University in New Orleans to earn an undergraduate degree in finance after his first year in the NFL and maintained a 3.7 grade point average.

"It's important,'' Forte said. "I support education all the time. Kanye is from Chicago and everyone who listens to his music will come out in support of education."
NBA free agent Antoine Walker said the event on Thursday was his second live West performance. He described West as a rarity who can rap and produce.

"What Kanye is doing is terrific,'' Walker said. "Crime is growing in Chicago. With the senseless crime and the events that have happened, it's important that as athletes that we give back in some type of capacity. It's important that we continue doing events like this to raise money and put positive programs together for the youth.''

A limber West delivered an energetic evening performance to an estimated 3,000 fans. The tuxedoed band played on two sides of a raised platform with West performing on a slightly lowered level in the middle. Flashing video screens covered the front of each platform.

West, casually dressed, performed solo. He roused the crowd to its feet for many of the selections new and old, including 'Flashing Lights,' 'Homecoming,' and 'Through the Wire.' He performed 'Hey Mama' without missing a beat, which was not the case shortly after his mother's death, according to some news reports at the time.
He rocked the crowd with 'Put On,' especially during a dialogue when he talked about Chicago. "When I'm working on Jay-Z's album, all I'm thinking is they goin' love this in Chicago...We have to be more creative to give children a reason to feel they can make it...''

David Abrams, a sophomore at Highland Park High School, and co-founder Zack Harris attended both concerts. That's because he played special role in helping to bring the events together. The efforts were praised earlier in the day at a news conference attended by Mayor Richard M. Daley and other city officials. Abrams and a friend came up with the idea to form Students Helping Our World (S.H.O.W.) and created a partnership with the Chicago Public Schools, the city of Chicago, former Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton and the Kanye West Foundation to put on the events. On the red carpet, Abrams was proud to see the fruition of his work.

He really connected with the kids Abrams and Harris said of the high school concert. "It was perfect,'' Abrams said