Proceeds to Benefit Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation Through Vydia’s Technology
Trendsetter is excited and honored to work alongside Vydia and Smooch Music for the release of the “Still I Rise” music video featuring the voice of of iconic American writer, poet, actor, dancer, director, composer, activist, and lecturer Dr. Maya Angelou set to hip-hop music. The video, which premiered on Rolling Stone, not only celebrates Black History Month, but serves as a reminder and testament to the injustice and inequity Black communities face in our nation today.
Watch the music video here
“Still I Rise,” a song from the album Caged Bird Songs released by Smooch Music, honors Dr. Maya Angelou and features insightful footage from the protests of the Civil Rights Movement and the more recent protests of today. While the album was released in 2014, its message remains timeless and universal.
“Music was such a huge part of my grandmother’s life,” said Colin A. Johnson, Dr. Angelou’s grandson and founder of Caged Bird Legacy. “She loved everything, from pop to country and, of course, hip hop. With her dedication to social activism and how she illuminated the struggles and injustices of the urban experience through prose, there’s a direct correlation to hip hop today.”
Through Vydia’s technology, a portion of the single’s proceeds will be donated to The Dr. Maya Angelou Foundation, which focuses on educational excellence and healthcare equity. Smooch Music will also be releasing a deluxe edition of the album with the hope of creating a new generation of followers to continue Dr. Maya Angelou’s legacy and her message.
Pre-save the deluxe album here. Learn more about Caged Bird Songs here.
More Info
Caged Bird Songs:
Caged Bird Songs is a unique musical concept created by Smooch Music COO, Shawn Rivera, that thoughtfully blends the legendary poet’s words with contemporary hip-hop. Dr. Angelou loved all types of music and was excited to have her words presented in a new way. Her rebellious, streetwise commentary on inner-city circumstance and her braggadocious flair for colloquial slang has been perfectly paired with modern hip-hop beats. The lyrical content, underlying social context, rhythm, melody and cadence of Dr. Angelou’s early work bears a striking resemblance to the sound of current hip-hop and is, unfortunately, still relevant to today’s urban experience.
About Vydia:
Vydia is an end-to-end music technology platform that provides labels and managers with the infrastructure and tools to power their business. With a full suite of services, Vydia offers supply chain, global distribution, analytics, rights management, payments, detailed revenue reporting, and marketing. Vydia is a premium partner of leading digital service providers such as Spotify, Apple, TikTok, Vevo, YouTube, and Facebook. Combining innovative technology with industry expertise, Vydia is distribution reimagined. To learn more, please visit vydia.com.
Caged Bird Songs Tracklist:
- Public Ear
- Human Family
- Pow Pow
- Sepia Fashion Show
- Harlem Hopscotch
- Pickin’ Em Up
- On Aging
- Ain’t That Bad
- One More Round
- Come And Be My Baby
- The Thirteens
- Africa
- Life Doesn’t Frighten Me
- Still I Rise
- In And Out of Time
- Song For The Old Ones
- Take Time Out
- Pilgrim of Sorrow