The RISE UP Project is a collective effort co-produced by J.Period, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Young Guru and DJ Khalil representing hip-hop in the name of social change. Black Thought, Andra Day, Posdnuos, Pharoahe Monch and Maimouna Youssef are some of the artists on the album. The 10 songs are a reflection of America’s current division around issues of race, unhinged police officers and the need to make one’s voice heard in the midst of political conflict. 

[youtube id=”nXXxUNJ23uk”] Jay-Z and Damian Marley walk around Jamaica and talk about the role of the artist in the video for “Bam.” They are joined by Sister Nancy, the writer and performer of “Bam Bam” and she shares her belief in the timelessness of good music. Young Guru sits in the studio with Jay-Z and makes the connection between reggae and hip-hop.

Rapsody’s “Don’t Need It” from Beauty And The Beast EP gets remixed by Young Guru and added features from Joey Bada$$ and Merna.

Rapsody is riding off her raised profile from her appearance on Kendrick Lamar’s “Complexion (A Zulu Love)” and today she released the deluxe version of Beauty and the Beast. “Don’t Need It” featuring Merna and produced by Young Guru is one of three extra songs on the deluxe album.