Nowadays $4 can barely buy you gourmet coffee, imagine being able to watch Grammy nominated artists and help change the world with that same $4.

To raise funds and awareness about AIDS in Africa, Nike hosted a Lace Up, Save Lives AIDS benefit concert. So here’s where the $4 comes back in the picture. High school students showed up at the Montalban theatre in Hollywood, bought a pair of NIKE (RED) laces for $4, and got into a special benefit concert.

The concert included performances by Grammy award nominees Fabolous and Melanie Fiona, Asher Roth, the All-American Rejects, Pac Div and Four Year Strong. Yes, they were all there with their RED laces, to raise awareness about the AIDS pandemic in Africa and educate the students about the global fund to fight the disease.

All the artists were very passionate about this cause and said the event had special meaning to them and that they believe it’s important for artists to give back. They feel music can play a huge role in driving social change because many fans can relate to their lyrics.

Speaking of lyrics, I tried rapping to Pac Div…and they definitely were not feeling my freestyle. One thing they were feeling, were my white Nike Air Scandals with RED laces of course! As a matter of fact every artist I spoke to said they were going to try and rock RED laces in all their Nikes. That’s all it takes to spread awareness people…just Lace Up and Save Lives!

-Suzi Theodory