Music mogul and philanthropist Jay-Z announced that he will perform a charity concert on Sept. 11 in honor of those who responded to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. The international superstar will perform the “Answer the Call” charity concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.
During a press conference at Madison Square Garden, Jay-Z recalled the morning of the attacks. “On Sept. 11, 2001, I was in Los Angeles shooting video for ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ and my album [Blueprint, was due] to come out the next day and I got a phone call. A friend of mine said turn the TV on. … It [the terrorists attacks] looked like a movie to me, it didn’t look [like] it could be real. So the last thing I was thinking about was an album.”
Flanked by Warner Music Group’s executive vice president, Kevin Liles; New York’s Governor David Paterson; and New York City’s fire commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter summarized his plans to donate the concert proceeds to the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund.
“On Sept. 12, I saw footage of these heroic actions. People [were] running into buildings to save each other. I saw the strength of New York — it made me proud. This is my chance to do something to help out,” he said.
Tickets for the benefit go on sale Sept. 8 and will cost $50. Organizers hope to raise more than $750,000 for the charity. Also, Hova will release his Blueprint 3 album on Friday, Sept. 11. –yvette caslin
