Raised in war-torn Chad… [Les Nubians] have seen firsthand how music can heal souls—including their own.” –Newsweek
"I believe that art is a prime facilitator of truth, and those who have come to embrace this have always enhanced our humanity. Angelique Kidjo is such an artist, using her work and her growing fame to change the way the world views Africa. ...Most artists talk about doing good, few go out and do it. Angelique Kidjo is one of them." -Harry Belafonte (Vanity Fair, July 2007)
"The mind struggles to grasp the idea that tragedy and even horrific brutality can somehow give birth to life-affirming, uplifting music. But there is no better proof of that bittersweet truth than the joyful sounds of Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars…" -Montreal Gazette

On April 1, 2008, Shout! Factory will release In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2, an album celebrating the music, culture and future of Africa, and an unprecedented musical homage to Bono and U2 for their ongoing humanitarian relief efforts aiding the beloved continent. A portion of the record’s proceeds will directly benefit The Global Fund.
Produced by Shawn Amos and Paul Heck, In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 features Grammy Award-winning/nominated African artists as well as top up-and-coming talents including Angelique Kidjo, Les Nubians, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Vieux Farka Touré, Vusi Mahlasela and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

12 original interpretations of classic U2 hit songs and some of their more obscure material are featured on In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2.
The collection kicks off with Angelique Kidjo’s powerful multilingual cover of the 1991 chart-topper, “Mysterious Ways.” Aerosmith’s Joe Perry joins Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars for an upbeat, guitar-driven take on “Seconds,” a track from U2’s third studio release, War (1983). Rising Malian star, Vieux Farka Touré offers a trancy, Sahara Desert blues-influenced rendition of “Bullet The Blue Sky,” an absolute standout performance of one of U2’s most-played live in concert tunes. Additional highlights include Les Nubians dubbed-out dancefloor ready version of “With Or Without You,” the Soweto Gospel Choir’s epic a cappella version of “Pride In The Name Of Love,” and Tony Allen’s Afrobeat translation of “Where The Streets Have No Name.

In The Name Of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 sets itself apart from an array of other tribute albums as Amos and Heck have captured a compassionate human element at its core. The liner notes include demographic information, e.g., each artist’s country of origin, date of independence, population size, main export, major issue facing the region, recent actions taken to improve its current state, and relevant websites with additional information. All of the songs were recorded exclusively for this album, and a portion of its proceeds will directly benefit The Global Fund, the world’s largest international financier of the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Track Listing:

1. Angelique Kidjo “Mysterious Ways”
2. Vieux Farka Touré “Bullet The Blue Sky”
3. Ba Cissoko “Sunday Bloody Sunday”
4. Vusi Mahlasela “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own”
5. Tony Allen “Where The Streets Have No Name”
6. Cheikh Lô “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”
7. Keziah Jones “One”
8. Les Nubians “With Or Without You”
9. Soweto Gospel Choir “Pride (In The Name Of Love)”
10. Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars “Seconds”
11. African Underground All-Stars Featuring Chosan, Optimus & Iyeoka “Desire”
12. Waldemar Bastos “Love Is Blindness”

J.PERIOD LAUNCHES OFFICIAL BEST OF MARY J. BLIGE WITH 6 ALL-STAR

New York, NY – Feb 2008 – ...And they said it couldn't be done! After nearly two years in the making, NY Mix tape King J.Period is set to release his highly-anticipated Best of Mary J. Blige, an epic 3 CD collection chronicling the career of the "Queen of Hip Hop-Soul." Originally produced as a promo piece for Mob's Grammy-winning Breakthrough, J.Period mix was so highly touted by Mary and her management team that it sparked months of discussion of an official album release. J.Period Best of MJB will now be available in its original form as an exclusive giveaway at selected MJB and J.Period events throughout Winter/Spring 2008, and also as a free bonus with the purchase of J.Period's new Limited Edition 1GB Flash Drive! (Creating the DJ world's first "Mp3 Boxset," J.Period is also launching his Limited Edition Flash Drive on www.jperiod.com this week, loaded all 5 of his award-winning "Best Of" Collections… and Vol. 1 of the Best of MJB!)

With over a year in production, J.Period's Best of MJB is his most carefully crafted yet, but well worth the wait: over 120 MJB classics, unreleased gems, behind-the-scenes interviews, J.Period remixes, and new MJB tracks recorded exclusively for this project! Additional contributors include: Alicia Keys, Les Nubians, MC Lyte, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, CL Smooth, Mister Cee, and Big Daddy Kane! Les Nubians, whose cover "Take me as I am" with MC Lyte, is to be found on Vol. 2.