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Jay-Z is to hold a benefit concert on September 11 in New York City.
The rapper made the announcement at Madison Square Garden yesterday, joined by his wife Beyonce Knowles, governor David Paterson, fire commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta and Manhattan Borough president Scott Stringer.
The charity concert, Answer the Call, will benefit families of New York City police and firefighters killed on September 11 2001. It will be held at Madison Square Garden.
All proceeds from ticket and concert merchandise sales will go to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund.
Jay-Z, 39, the former president of Def Jam Recordings said the benefit concert was a step in the direction that his career - and life - were heading.
He is due to release his 11th studio CD, The Blueprint 3, on the day of the charity concert, which will air live on Fuse TV.
"The first Blueprint was a return to my roots, like those soul samples my mom and pop listened to, and now on this one we're becoming those guys we looked up to on all those records," he said.
"It's my evolution and it's me now in the forefront, not as the performer who looked back ... but me taking the initiative being the one, and being the icon, or being the philanthropist," he said after the news conference.
Concert tickets are being sold for 50 dollars (£30,70), and the show is expected to raise up to a million dollars.
Jay-Z, a Brooklyn native, has sold out Madison Square Garden seven times. He said he plans to perform material from his new CD, and like many concerts in New York, fans can expect him to bring out special guests.
