Black Lives Making Music
Donation protected
BLACK LIVES MAKING MUSIC
A House Music promoter visits Berlin in 2015, stumbles upon a DJ/producer in a tiny recording studio in Neukölln, making music where he sleeps. The promoter returns home, and says to her partner: “Look, we gotta get this guy at one of our gigs!" The music he is playing is more than magical! Elbee Bad something…
“Are you kidding me?" You’re saying you bumped into eLBee BaD in the kitchen where your friend is staying? That guy is a legend!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That's the beginning of my story. Meeting a top House Music
producer spending time in a small music studio in Berlin. I understood
then, that many great creators of House Music might not be
living in the riches of MTV cribs.
Years later, here we are in the midst of a global pandemic & a
global uprising, fighting racial injustices in everyday black lives.
I am here to help others like myself to continue making what brings
us joy, relief and hope: Music!
We are asking for donations to support a unique part of the music
scene. The Afro American music producers who left the comforts -
or discomforts - of America to pursue the path of Electronic Music in
Berlin. Many of these artists are off the radar and have no hands
extending to offer them any help, yet these are the artists who
transfigure their life into art and share that art with everybody.
For these Afro Americans and many others - it’s all about the gigs.
Unfortunately, the last couple of months no one had any, due to the
COVID-19 crisis indefinitely shutting down all entertainment venues.
The music production continues but the revenues from online sales
are not enough to cover rent, bills or to make a decent living.
Musicians get very little out of the money the music industry makes
and although it's been steadily growing over the years, Electronic
Dance Music is still new. Income differs grossly between the globe-
trotting superstar DJs and the underground personas, many of
whom are the originators who just missed out on big business. Let’s
not forget where this movement came from - the original House
Music classics, we all love, many came from Black people.
No clubs, no bars, no theaters, no gigs adds up to no income.
Consider the small piece of the music industry, which House &
Techno take up - now take a look at the bigger picture to get an idea
of the musicians income in pre-pandemic times:
As shown here
https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/music-artists-make-12-
percent-from-music-sales-706746/
...and in a more extensive analysis here
https://news.artnet.com/market/artists-make-less-10k-year-1162295
Rebels who are now pursuing MUSIC careers, while living in Berlin
do not receive hand-outs. Many are neither eligible here nor back
home for unemployment benefits. These individuals live gig to gig.
So HERE we are! NOT FORGETTING the forgotten, because
BLACK LIVES DO MATTER!
We are establishing a fund to provide financial relief to Afro-
American artists who had guaranteed income, but lost it due to
COVID-19. Small grants will be paid out to affected individuals.
These electronic musicians inspire not only the consumers, but also
the fellow creators they live amongst. By supporting the creators,
you support the lives influenced by the music. We are all connected.
THE MAN BEHIND THE FUND
Lamont Booker AKA eLBee BaD is an African-American DJ /
musician / producer in the electronic music scene. He has been
living in Berlin for 20+ years after having left New York to pursue his
career abroad. LB has been creating high-quality house sounds for
music lovers and dance floors throughout the city since his arrival.
As an independent DJ who has been around since the early days of
Berlin’s club culture and who understands the struggle other black
artists here are facing, he is the right person to manage these funds
and further help those in need. He knows the path they are on -
because he is still walking that very same path himself.
For this flow of empathy to continue, we need your help.
Your donations will directly support those trying to make a living,
while doing what they love and sharing it with us on the dance floor.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
African American DJs & Producers making electronic music, living
in Berlin for 3+ years, who had steady income from gigs but lost it
during lockdown, and who don’t have a day job.
Black lives that live in Berlin.
People of color that contribute to the arts with their music & help
raise our sensibilities, touching our soul day by day, night after
night, and song to song. Our souls are awakened by the Soulful.
We'll keep you updated on these artists, their stories, and their
music as the fund develops.
For artists who need a helping hand, please feel free to contact
Elbee directly through the contact information provided.
A House Music promoter visits Berlin in 2015, stumbles upon a DJ/producer in a tiny recording studio in Neukölln, making music where he sleeps. The promoter returns home, and says to her partner: “Look, we gotta get this guy at one of our gigs!" The music he is playing is more than magical! Elbee Bad something…
“Are you kidding me?" You’re saying you bumped into eLBee BaD in the kitchen where your friend is staying? That guy is a legend!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
That's the beginning of my story. Meeting a top House Music
producer spending time in a small music studio in Berlin. I understood
then, that many great creators of House Music might not be
living in the riches of MTV cribs.
Years later, here we are in the midst of a global pandemic & a
global uprising, fighting racial injustices in everyday black lives.
I am here to help others like myself to continue making what brings
us joy, relief and hope: Music!
We are asking for donations to support a unique part of the music
scene. The Afro American music producers who left the comforts -
or discomforts - of America to pursue the path of Electronic Music in
Berlin. Many of these artists are off the radar and have no hands
extending to offer them any help, yet these are the artists who
transfigure their life into art and share that art with everybody.
For these Afro Americans and many others - it’s all about the gigs.
Unfortunately, the last couple of months no one had any, due to the
COVID-19 crisis indefinitely shutting down all entertainment venues.
The music production continues but the revenues from online sales
are not enough to cover rent, bills or to make a decent living.
Musicians get very little out of the money the music industry makes
and although it's been steadily growing over the years, Electronic
Dance Music is still new. Income differs grossly between the globe-
trotting superstar DJs and the underground personas, many of
whom are the originators who just missed out on big business. Let’s
not forget where this movement came from - the original House
Music classics, we all love, many came from Black people.
No clubs, no bars, no theaters, no gigs adds up to no income.
Consider the small piece of the music industry, which House &
Techno take up - now take a look at the bigger picture to get an idea
of the musicians income in pre-pandemic times:
As shown here
https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/news/music-artists-make-12-
percent-from-music-sales-706746/
...and in a more extensive analysis here
https://news.artnet.com/market/artists-make-less-10k-year-1162295
Rebels who are now pursuing MUSIC careers, while living in Berlin
do not receive hand-outs. Many are neither eligible here nor back
home for unemployment benefits. These individuals live gig to gig.
So HERE we are! NOT FORGETTING the forgotten, because
BLACK LIVES DO MATTER!
We are establishing a fund to provide financial relief to Afro-
American artists who had guaranteed income, but lost it due to
COVID-19. Small grants will be paid out to affected individuals.
These electronic musicians inspire not only the consumers, but also
the fellow creators they live amongst. By supporting the creators,
you support the lives influenced by the music. We are all connected.
THE MAN BEHIND THE FUND
Lamont Booker AKA eLBee BaD is an African-American DJ /
musician / producer in the electronic music scene. He has been
living in Berlin for 20+ years after having left New York to pursue his
career abroad. LB has been creating high-quality house sounds for
music lovers and dance floors throughout the city since his arrival.
As an independent DJ who has been around since the early days of
Berlin’s club culture and who understands the struggle other black
artists here are facing, he is the right person to manage these funds
and further help those in need. He knows the path they are on -
because he is still walking that very same path himself.
For this flow of empathy to continue, we need your help.
Your donations will directly support those trying to make a living,
while doing what they love and sharing it with us on the dance floor.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
African American DJs & Producers making electronic music, living
in Berlin for 3+ years, who had steady income from gigs but lost it
during lockdown, and who don’t have a day job.
Black lives that live in Berlin.
People of color that contribute to the arts with their music & help
raise our sensibilities, touching our soul day by day, night after
night, and song to song. Our souls are awakened by the Soulful.
We'll keep you updated on these artists, their stories, and their
music as the fund develops.
For artists who need a helping hand, please feel free to contact
Elbee directly through the contact information provided.
Fundraising team: Help a Brother/Sister out (seriously) (3)
Lamont Booker
Organizer
Berlin, Berlin
Andreea Udrea
Team member
Kali Kuehnhausen
Team member