On June 27, 2014 from 8pm-11pm, Lifebeat, will host KYSS (KNOW YOUR STATUS STAGE) at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY. Confirmed talent includes A$AP Ferg, Flatbush Zombies, Po Johnson and Bodega Bamz. International DJ/Producer Zeke Thomas will keep the crowd dancing in between sets.
Attendees can only obtain tickets through the “Get Tested, Get In!” campaign, which will run from June 2nd through June 22nd. People who get tested for HIV between those dates at select partner testing sites, such as the Out of the Closet Thrift Store at 475 Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, will be rewarded with a free concert experience. Once tested, partner sites will hand out a personalized and non-transferable voucher to gain entry to the concert. Tickets are limited due to venue capacity. Testing is easy, using the new finger prick INSTI™ test – it takes less than 60 seconds to obtain results. The list of partner testing sites can be found at www.Lifebeat.org.
The CDC reports that over 1,000 young people ages 13-24 are newly infected with HIV each month in the U.S., an increase of nearly 20% from previous reports. Many youth have never been tested, are not being treated, and may unknowingly be spreading the disease. June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, the date set aside by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to encourage people to get tested.
Why KYSS? Many health professionals talk to Milliennials about the importance of getting tested, but most youth still think of HIV as a disease of a past generation and think it will never affect them. Lifebeat operates a number of HIV prevention programs that bring together a nationwide network volunteers and a cadre of celebrity talent to reach millions of young people between the ages of 13 and 24 at their point of greatest common interest: live music performances.
As part of a broader national campaign spearheaded by Lifebeat and in partnership with CDC and PressRoom VIP, Lifebeat will roll out a series of celebrity PSAs encouraging people to get tested. The PSA series will begin airing in June 2014 and will be carried by SiriusXM Radio, mtvU, Hot 97, Spotify and hundreds of affiliate channels in the US and Puerto Rico.
KYSS is generously sponsored by Insomniac Events, Act Against AIDS, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Viacom, BioLytical Laboratories. Concepts and artwork created by Wing.
Media partners: Viacom, Hot 97, mtvU, Village Voice, SiriusXm, Spotify, BET, Smack
What: Lifebeat Presents KYSS (KYSS = Know Your Status Stage).
Featuring: A$AP Ferg, Flatbush Zombies, Po Johnson, Bodega Bamz, and DJ, Zeke Thomas
Date/Time: June 27th 8pm -11pm. Doors at 7pm.
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N. 6th St. Brooklyn, NY
Why: The goal of KYSS is to raise awareness about the importance of getting tested and knowing your status. Get Tested, Get In!
Testing dates/sites: June 2nd -22nd. For the list of partner testing sites, visit lifebeat.org
About Lifebeat, Music Fights HIV/AIDS
Lifebeat, Music Fights HIV/AIDS, founded in 1992, is the leading national nonprofit dedicated to educating America’s youth (13-24) about HIV/AIDS prevention. Lifebeat mobilizes the talents and resources of the music industry to deliver HIV/AIDS and STDs awareness messages through broadcast, print, social and digital media, and distributes educational literature and condoms at concert venues, music festivals, clubs and other events. Lifebeat also provides quality of life services and support, such as musical performances, for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. For more information visit: www.lifebeat.org
About Act Against AIDS
Act Against AIDS (AAA) is a five-year national campaign launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the White House to combat complacency about HIV and AIDS in the United States. Launched in 2009, Act Against AIDS focuses on raising awareness among all Americans and reducing the risk of infection among the hardest-hit populations – gay and bisexual men, African Americans, Latinos, and other communities at increased risk. For more information visit Act Against AIDS
About Insomniac Events
Insomniac Events is an American tour promoter focusing primarily on electronic music events. It organizes a number of major dance music festivals, including its flagship Electric Daisy Carnival, along with other events such as Beyond Wonderland, Nocturnal Wonderland. Insomniac also organizes the EDMBiz conference (an industry event first held in 2012 to coincide with EDC in Las Vegas, in a similar fashion to the Winter Music Conference and the Ultra Music Festival. Visit Insomniac
About AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 300,000 patients in 32 countries. AHF is the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the U.S. AHF opened it¹s first NYC Out of The Closet Thrift Store on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn in April 2013, offering free rapid HIV testing with results in 60 seconds. The AHF Pharmacy recently opened in late March. The not-for-profit thrift stores and pharmacies support Global HIV/AIDS care by funneling 96 cents of every dollar earned back into operating AHF Healthcare Centers worldwide. See more at:aidshealth.org
About CPXI
CPXi is a global digital media holding company with more than a decade of experience connecting consumers with brands and providing multi-screen messaging, leveraging display, social, mobile and video advertising at scale — serving billions of managed impressions daily. PressRoomVIP, a product of Studio CPXi, the company’s content producing arm, offers proprietary and curated content surrounding today’s most talked about celebrity and pop-culture news.
The Artists
About A$AP Ferg
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Darold Ferguson, Jr. (born October 20, 1988), better known by his stage name A$AP Ferg, is an American hip hop recording artist from New York City‘s Harlem neighborhood. He is a member of the hip hop collective A$AP Mob, from which he adopted his moniker. In January 2013, Ferg signed a solo record deal with Polo Grounds and RCA, the same labels that helped launch A$AP Worldwide, when Ferg’s A$AP Mob cohorts A$AP Rocky and A$AP Yams, negotiated their own respective deal in 2011. His debut album, Trap Lord, lays down his hypnotic hood decree over the course of thirteen visceral, vibrant, and visionary tracks. Visit asapferg.com/
About Flatbush Zombies
Flatbush ZOMBiES are an American hip hop group from Flatbush, Brooklyn, formed in 2010. The group is composed of rappers Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice and Erick “Arc” Elliott, the latter of which also serves as their regular producer. They are part of East Coast hip hop movement known as “Beast Coast”, that was spearheaded by fellow Brooklyn-based rappers Joey Bada$$ and the late Capital Steez, along with their respective hip hop group Pro Era. http://thegloriousdead.com/
About Po Johnson
Introduced to the world as reality co‐star on VH1’s “LA LA’s FULL COURT LIFE,”—Po Johnson’s zany personality and über cool style has made her a fan favorite for three seasons. Behind the hijinks and jet setting lifestyle Po is a serious artist who is emphatic about creating music—and it shows. Po’s latest release “Monsters (Be Brave),” in collaboration with Zeke Thomas, is an up-tempo dance track infused with pop, electro and hip hop sounds Visit http://ow.ly/uJurt
About Bodgega Bamz
Nathaniel De La Rosa (born March 17th, 1985), publicly known as Bodega Bamz aka PAPI is a Latin American hip hop recording artist from Spanish Harlem, New York. As an independent artist, Bamz released his mixtape, Strictly 4 My P.A.P.I.Z in 2012. By incorporatinghis Latino roots and his love for hip hop, Bamz has created his own sub-genre known as Latin Trap. bodegabamz.com/
About Zeke Thomas
Zeke Thomas was born to entertain. As the son of NBA legend, philanthropist and Hall of Fame Player, Isiah Thomas, Zeke grew up with entertainment, music and sports running through his blood. The 25-year-old Detroit native and graduate of Jacob School of Music is an open-format DJ, who specializes in spinning his favorite genres, which include House, Hip-hop, classic and current R&B, Pop, Motown and Rock. Zeke’s high profile and celebrity clients include the NBA All-Star Players Association, Ciroc and Kenneth Cole. “Monsters (Be Brave),” Zeke’s latest release in collaboration with Po Johnson, is an up-tempo dance track infused with pop, electro and hip hop sounds. www.DJZekeThomas.com; @Zeke_Thomas
