Rakim, Others Help Ecko Save Rhinos

ecko unltd. founder Marc Ecko announced details yesterday for Marc Ecko’s Save the Rhinos 2nd Annual Benefit Concert. This years event will star some legendary emcees in Rakim and Common and a couple others who may one day be legendary in their own right in Lupe Fiasco and Rhymefest. Joining the emcees are world renown DJ’s Kid Capri and Z- Trip.2005’s inaugural benefit featured The Roots, De La Soul, and MF Doom. The show sold out and raised $150,000 for the cause. This years event will be held rain or shine in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield (enter at 69th Street and 5th Avenue) June 8. The doors will open at 5 p.m. and the first performance will kick off at 6:00 p.m. Advance tickets are $36 and $40 the day of the event. They are available now via select Ticketmaster Outlets.Commenting on the benefit, Marc Ecko stated, “Last year, we welcomed an extraordinary crowd to our first annual Save the Rhinos benefit concert, raising much needed awareness of the plight facing these majestic animals. Building on the success of that event, am delighted to bring another great line-up to Central Park this June.”Proceeds from the event will go directly to the International Rhino Foundation as part of Marc Ecko multi-year financial commitment to double the populations of the Indian, Black, and Sumatran rhinos. All three are among the world’s most endangered species. In honor of Marc’s commitment, a baby Indian rhino born at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park in January 2005 was named Ecko.