BMAC'S RESTORE & REBUILD LA EVENT BRINGS OUT THE BEST

On Wednesday (1/29) the Black Music Action Coalition in partnership with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis held its third annual Music Makers Grant event, which doubled as the "BMAC: Restore & Rebuild LA" fundraiser. The spirit of community was palpable as people trickled into West Hollywood eatery Delilah to celebrate not only the grant recipients but the resilience of Los Angeles.

BMAC Chairman/CEO Willie "Prophet" Stiggers greeted special guests on the black carpet, including Lewis, Sony Music Publishing Chairman/CEO Jon Platt, attorney Dina LaPolt, Hipgnosis founder Merck Mercuriadis, Public Enemy's Chuck D and Flavor Flav and Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth.

Shortly before Lewis and Jam presented $5,000 grants to this year's recipients, Sapphyre Bardot and Najaya Ruffin, Chuck D took the mic and opened up about his recent trip to Altadena, where he met a mother and her 10-year-old son whose home had been destroyed. The youngster, a drummer, lost his instruments in the fire. As a surprise, Prophet presented the family with $5,000, Flavor Flav vowed to buy the boy a new kit and Merck sweetened the pot with a donation of his own.

Primary Wave, who partnered with BMAC on the event, also made a generous $50,000 donation to the BMAC Fire Relief Fund. Another $17,000 came from The Neil Lasher Music Fund, while LaPolt Law donated $5,000.

A message of unity—highlighted by performances of "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy, “Best of Me” by Anthony Hamilton and "Rise Up" by Andra Day—resonated loudly throughout the evening.

Pictured above wondering how HITS got an invitation are (l-r) LaPolt, Prophet, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group's Lou Taylor and Mercuriadis. Keep scrolling for photos of other important people trying desperately to dodge us.