Hip hop stars to help Haiti with TV telethon

Last Updated: Saturday, January 30, 2010 | 3:58 PM ET

CBC News

Sean Combs is producing the SOS Saving OurSelves – Help for Haiti telethon with Pharrell Williams, to be broadcast live on Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. ET. (Associated Press)

Hip hop stars have organized a special concert to raise money for the victim's of Haiti's earthquake.

The two-hour telethon — featuring Canadian teen sensation Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, Chris Brown, Lil Wayne and Wyclef Jean — will be broadcast live from Miami on Feb. 5, sponsored by the BET network.

Called SOS Saving OurSelves – Help for Haiti, the musical event will also air at 8 p.m. ET on MTV and VH1.

"The goal is not only to bring immediate relief to Haiti but to also rebuild the country and help the country move forward," Pharrell Williams said in a release. The musician is also producing the event with Sean (P Diddy) Combs.

Money raised will go to several U.S.-based organizations including CARE, Project Medishare, Yele Haiti and Children's Safe Drinking Water.

The devastating Jan. 12 quake has so far killed an estimated 200,000 people, injured as many more, and displaced an estimated quarter of a million people.

A star-studded telethon on Jan. 22, hosted by George Clooney and Jean — who was born in Haiti and runs the nonprofit Yele Haiti — raised more than $66 million US so far for American charities.

Two separate Canadian fundraisers held at the same time — one in Toronto and another in Montreal — together raised a total of $20 million.

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