When Artists Unite: Classic Music Ensembles

Artists across genres have come together for good causes.

"Don't Shoot," Game feat. Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Diddy, Fabolous, Wale, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Yo Gotti, Curren$y, Problem, King Pharaoh and TGT - Game united a few of his boyz from da hood, including Rick Ross, Diddy, Yo Gotti and 2 Chainz, to protest the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on the track "Don't Shoot."Taking a stand against police brutality, proceeds from "Don't Shoot," which is available on iTunes, will be donated to The Michael Brown Memorial Fund.  Read on for a look at more classic music ensembles that featured artists coming together for great causes. — Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: The Game/Justice For Mike Brown charity)
"We Are the World," U.S.A. for Africa - It takes a village to raise a child and an ensemble to raise awareness. In 1985, parts of Africa were going through a famine and a number of recording artists came together as a collective called U.S.A. for Africa to record the hit single and album We Are the World. Written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson, and produced by Quincy Jones, the track was released on March 7, 1985, and sold over twenty million copies with the proceeds going toward famine.The song featured over 40 artists that included Jackson, Richie, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Ray Charles and Cyndi Lauper.(Photo: Columbia Records)
"We're All in the Same Gang," West Coast Rap All-Stars - L.A.'s gang epidemic was at an all time high in the '90s as thousands of kids were lost yearly to the streets. Former O.G. Crip Michael Concepcion orchestrated a project with West Coast MCs coming together to promote peace and stop gang violence.Produced by Dr. Dre, "We're All in the Same Gang" featured Ice-T, Eazy-E, MC Ren, MC Hammer, Tone Loc, Young MC and J.J. Fadd, among others, and was released on May 16, 1990.(Photo: Warner Bros Records)"Self Destruction," The Stop the Violence Movement - With Black-on-Black crime running rampant, KRS-One assembled a dream team of spitters to come together on the posse cut "Self Destruction." Produced by D-Nice, the put-down-the-guns anthem included Kool Moe Dee, Heavy D, Boogie Down Productions, Stetsasonic, MC Lyte, Public Enemy and a few other wordsmiths.Released in 1990, KRS came up with the idea after a young fan was killed at a fight during one of his shows with P.E. Bigger than just the song, The Stop the Violence movement was a coalition of artists working together in the community to bring about peace. (Photo: Jive)

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"Don't Shoot," Game feat. Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Diddy, Fabolous, Wale, DJ Khaled, Swizz Beatz, Yo Gotti, Curren$y, Problem, King Pharaoh and TGT - Game united a few of his boyz from da hood, including Rick Ross, Diddy, Yo Gotti and 2 Chainz, to protest the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, on the track "Don't Shoot."Taking a stand against police brutality, proceeds from "Don't Shoot," which is available on iTunes, will be donated to The Michael Brown Memorial Fund.  Read on for a look at more classic music ensembles that featured artists coming together for great causes. — Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: The Game/Justice For Mike Brown charity)

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