Watch Chance The Rapper Perform on Verizon's 'Pay it Forward Live'
Raising funds for local businesses affected by COVID-19.
Chance The Rapper has performed on Verizon‘s weekly livestream series Pay it Forward Live, an initiative that aims to help small businesses that have been economically affected by the COVID-19 crisis. This is one of many endeavors the rapper has been taking on as of late, like hosting Punk’d, on top of new music he releases.
As part of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), proceeds from the livestream will go toward’s Verizon’s Small Business Recovery Fund. Additionally, Verizon will be putting in $10 USD each time the hashtag #PayItForwardLIVE is used — set at a budget of up to $2.5 million USD.
In a statement, Chance emphasized the importance of helping small businesses while naming some that he feel’s are significant: “I am excited to perform for Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live series which benefits local small businesses, who need our support due to the drastic slowdown in our economy from the global pandemic. As a Chicago native, I would like to especially highlight these black-owned businesses, who are the soul and backbone of our community — Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles, Mikkey’s Retro Grill Stony Island, Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken and Fat Tiger Workshop, just to name a few. It’s more than important than ever that we all come together to get through this tough time and help continue to help support small businesses in our local communities.”
Chance’s statement arrives just a few weeks after a recent report from the Center for Responsible Lending, claiming women and minorities are of the most vulnerable in being overlooked by the Paycheck Protection Program. The report notes that participating banks may be more likely to prioritize their funds to those who have already borrowed money, leaving less for the aforementioned demographics. Chance’s partnership with Verizon could be seen as an effort to compensate for this disparity.
Scroll above to watch Chance The Rapper’s livestream performance on Verizon’s weekly series Pay it Forward Live.
In case you missed it, check out Chance The Rapper’s new track “Instagram Song 8,” featuring Lil Wayne and Young Thug.
