NPR recently released the live recording of Atlanta rapper T.I.’s Tiny Desk concert.
The recording features T.I. performing his set alongside seven musicians from the Atlanta Music Project whose mission is to empower underserved youth in their own neighborhoods while instilling in them lasting confidence, creativity and ambition.
The set list includes T.I.’s hits “Rubberband Man,” “What You Know,” and “Live Your Life.”
T.I. personally invited the Atlanta Music Project musicians to perform with him, following an introduction to the organization by Cricket Wireless, a subsidiary of AT&T.
“It’s important that we provide ways for the next generation to continue to build, shape and cultivate their dreams so they can do it for the next generation.”- T.I.
Atlanta Music Project’s young musicians performing alongside T.I. are:
14-year-old Lailah Carter and violinist Brent Cameron, cellist
16-year-old violinists Landon Isaiah Wilkins and Nehemiah Wiggins, violinist Nyasjah Breshay Brooks, and trombonist Corey Lewis Jones Jr.
17-year-old violinist Ashley Sierra Gibson.
For the musicians of the Atlanta Music Project, their all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. was sponsored by Cricket Wireless.
After Cricket began to explore working with the Atlanta Music Project in early July 2018, they made the connection with T.I., who had the idea to invite the AMP musicians to perform with him in his upcoming Tiny Desk concert.
“When our young musicians found out they were going to perform with T.I. they were ecstatic. They’ve worked hard at their craft for many years and this is a moment that makes it all worth it,” said Dantes Rameau, co-founder and executive director of the Atlanta Music Project.
Founded in 2010 and now in its ninth year of programming, the Atlanta Music Project provides more than 5,000 hours annually, of intensive, tuition-free music education to 350 underserved youth right in their neighborhood.
“Cricket Wireless is proud to support the Atlanta Music Project and their mission, and to help create opportunities to shine a spotlight on these very talented young musicians,” said Erica Crosling, Cricket Wireless spokesperson.
