NBA legend Magic Johnson is planning to tackle the issue of homophobia and HIV/AIDS within the Hip-Hop community.
Magic recently marked the 20th anniversary of his announcement that he was HIV positive, along with his retirement from the NBA, which occurred in 1991.
Magic is planning on creating a coalition that will engage rappers to speak out against homophobia and discrimination against gays.
But the main focus of the coalition will be to raise the level of awareness and to break down the stereotypes
about HIV/AIDS.
“What we’re trying to do is reach out to the Hip-Hop community because they have power — power with their voice, power with that mic in their hand and power with the lyrics that they sing,” Magic Johnson told The Huffington Post.
Magic said that he was closely associated with a number of top artists and executives within the Hip-Hop community and those individuals are involved in the early stages of the new organization.
Magic refused to reveal the names of the artists, but he confirmed that “five or six” stars are aligning with the new initiative.
Magic is planning to utilize the collective fan bases of the rap stars to help spread a positive message.
“We’re going to come out next year with everybody and we’ll have a nice big press conference and what we’re going to do, what our plan is, because it’s so important that we rally — not just them, either,” Magic said. “I need the Hip-Hop community but I also need the basketball players and football players. We need a little bit of everybody, so that’s what we’re working on now.”
