Title: Triad Trust Presents Marula’s Shade Artists: ImprovED Label: Triad Trust Formats: CD, MP3 Release date: August 28, 2013 Triad Trust, a Boston based organization aiming to stop the spread of AIDS through various creative means, uses local artists to spread their message in colloquial cultural terms. In South Africa, artists in the ImprovED project working in Nkomazi, a rural area far outside of Johannesburg, use their music to teach children about AIDS. The music, while originally written by ImprovED members in South Africa, is largely influenced by the recording process in New York City. Triad Trust’s Marika Hughes began this collaborative project on her first trip to South Africa and brought Joel Hamilton and his recording equipment back on her third trip in order to record ImprovED’s vocal and spoken tracks. In New York City, Jordan McLean, Mazz Swift, and Joe Tamino also contributed to this collaborative effort. The final product, Marula’s Shade, is an American hip-hop and R&B album with unique South African harmonies, lyrics, and vocals. Proceeds from this collaboration will support ImprovED in their effort to create an AIDS-free generation. Songs range in purpose from giving hope to children born HIV+ (“Lullaby”) to encouraging women to find alternatives to selling their bodies for money (“Money for Love”). Hopeful and inspiring messages are also included on the spoken tracks of this album. If you are looking to support organizations fighting AIDS, Marula’s Shade should be your next purchase. Reviewed by Sarah Neterer - See more at: http://blackgrooves.org/improved-marulas-shade/#sthash.PKiAsvIc.dpuf