Written by | Ray Cornelius
Keri Hilson, Ludacris and Far East Movement kicked off their summer in a big way this week by partnering with Bing and DoSomething.org.
The musicians were on hand this past Wednesday to support and volunteer with the students of Osborne High School in Atlanta, GA. Osborne is the oldest high school in Cobb County where over 87% of the students are eligible for free lunch.
Hilson helped create and paint a mural based on a quote she has written on her arm in Arabic: “Dream in color, wake up to a blank canvas, then paint your life with all the colors your heart desires.” It’s a phrase she says her fans are familiar with and one she hopes will empower the students of Osborne.
“I wrote it to inspire. I hope that everyone that passes this wall feels inspired to dream in color.”
Hilson, who is currently working on her third album, says that she actually saw her career in her dreams before it happened. Hilson also says she plans to devote more time to HIV-AIDS awareness and would like to participate in Atlanta’s HIV-AIDS run/walk in the fall.
Ludacris, who is also working on new album, helped paint some of Keri’s mural as well as decorated the school’s newly-purchased Cardinal Community classroom. He along with the fellas of Far East Movement put the finishing touches on the mobile classroom that will help supply books and other educational materials within the community.
During a Q & A with the press, Luda indicated that he will be returning to the movie screen in the Fast and Furious 6 and that he would love to work with rapper Eminem in the future. Although he wouldn’t give details about his new album Ludaversal he did reveal that Usher and Justin Beiber are featured on it.
“Ludaversal is pretty self-explanatory. It’s like everything that anyone loves from Ludacris over the past seven albums all mixed in one but taken to another plateau. Usher is on the album but we’re still in the works, so I don’t want to give away too much.”
The student volunteers were also treated to a little entertainment when the Osborn dance team, The Dancing Divas, took a break from their rehearsal and did an impromptu dance routine to Hilson’s “Pretty Girl Rock.” Hilson sang a capella while the teenage girls dance as if they were auditioning for her next music video. Hilson was taken by their enthusiasm.
Osborne High School was the Atlanta school chosen as part of The Bing Summer of Doing campaign. It’s a summer long campaign aimed at inspiring young people to give back and volunteer in their local community during their free summer time. The campaign, which is in celebration of the new Bing, kicked off earlier this month at Heart of Los Angeles with Cody Simpson and Hilary Duff. For more information on the campaign, and how to give back this summer, visit Bing.com/doing.
Keri Hilson and Ray Cornelius
Photo Credit: Ray Cornelius
