"Red Hot is a not for profit production company that has produced 20 albums and dedicated more than 10 million dollars to worthy organizations, causes and pro-social projects around the world. Our mission is to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.
Red Hot is more of a creative production company than a traditional charitable organization. We keep our overhead to a minimum and focus on making innovative projects that target hard to reach audiences by using popular culture and artful propaganda. Revenues from these projects are given to traditional charities, often in collaboration with the artists who have contributed their music or art."
-from the Red Hot website
When music meets charity, the results can be amazing, as evinced by the staggering amount and range of albums that the Red Hot Organization has put together in it's struggle to combat AIDS. From the Alt rock collection No Alternative in 1993 (a compilation that I can remember playing over and over and over) to the Red Hot + Riot album paying tribute to Fela Anikulapo Kuti (who died as a result of AIDS) to Red Hot & Blue, an album of Cole Porter songs, and many more, the series has defied all musical boundaries.
Next week, the latest in the series arrives: Red Hot + Rio 2. This one is a follow-up to, you guessed it, Red Hot + Rio, an album of Bossa Nova and Brazilian inspired tracks from 1996. Much like the first compilation, this one amasses two discs worth of music from a diverse range of artists, Brazilian and otherwise, including such talent as Alice Smith, Aloe Blacc, Bebel Gilberto, Beck, Beirut, Ceu, John Legend, Madlib, Money Mark, Of Montreal, Os Mutantes, Phenomenal Handclap Band, Seu Jorge, Tom Ze, etc., etc., etc. (some of who appeared on the first volume), and pays tribute to the late 60's Brazilian Tropicalia movement. Put all those artists together and you get 30 original collaborations, some with a very Brazilian flavor, others indirectly inspired.
As with all Red Hot releases, proceeds will benefit AIDS charities. The first volume raised over $1 million dollars, and hopefully this one will do just as well. If you find that you like the flavor of Latin music, but are challenged by the language barrier, this is a great album to go with.
D'Angelo, Femi Kuti & Macy Gray Feat. Roy Hargrove, Nile Rodgers, The Soultronics & Positive Force - Water No Get Enemy : Red Hot + Riot
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