Pharrell Williams‘ creative collective, i am OTHER is teaming up with SoundCloud again to bring new music to their fans with a special compilation album. On Friday (December 11), the collective unleashed i am OTHER, Volume 2, a project featuring artists on SoundCloud who are using their voices to speak up and out about the world around them.
Following the blueprint that was used for i am OTHER, Volume 1, SoundCloud called out to artists on the platform again to upload their tracks with the hashtag #SCxiamOTHER2. From there, the folks at Pharrell’s organization picked 10 tracks out of the crop that would be included in the compilation.
The 10-track album features a colorful group of SoundCloud artists with each one offering different perspectives on various issues in the world. Its lead single, “Greatness,” has Killer Mike buddying up with Atlanta newcomer WooDaRealest for an anthem for the young black community about standing up in the face of oppression.
Volume one focused on the idea of creativity in periods of isolation. For volume two, up-and-coming artists like Aris Ray, WishGranted, Van Gammon and more centered the theme of the album around empowerment, unity and fighting racial injustice.
Getting a look like this is beneficial to these new SoundCloud artists. Their music is being recognized by Pharrell, and SoundCloud is giving them a pretty nice incentive package for being one of the chosen few. The artists that were selected are getting access to SoundCloud’s premium marketing services program Repost Select and funding from the platform’s $10 million creator accelerator fund for any upcoming projects.
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Additionally, SoundCloud and i am OTHER will be making a contribution to Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute, an organization dedicated to expanding Black voter registration and turnout, and increasing progressive power through movement-building and engagement.
“Music is still a place where honesty and the true human emotion can be translated,” Kawan “KP” Prather, Head of Music at i am OTHER said. “So as long as we continue to create a safe space to voice what people see and feel, we have a chance of spreading information and thoughts that can push the world to a more understanding place.”
Offering new artists a platform to get their music out isn’t the only way Pharrell is giving back. In November, Skateboard P announced he will be revealing the secret to his flawless skin through a brand new skincare line called Humanrace.
The products in the line include a rice powder cleanser, lotus enzyme exfoliator and a humidifying cream. Each item comes with an environmentally-friendly removable inner chamber that can be refilled when the facial products run out. Humanrace was made available on November 25 and is currently sold out with no word on a restock yet.
Stream i am OTHER, Volume 2 below.