Both ScHoolboy Q and Russ have stepped up to help black-owned small businesses damaged during riots sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.
Derrick Hayes, the owner of Dave’s Cheesesteaks in downtown Atlanta, revealed the two rappers donated money to help him rebuild the restaurant after it was damaged on Friday night (May 29). He also noted Karen Civil helped facilitate it.
“Thank you @Russ for donating 20k to help reopen & help cover employee wages, while we are closed,” Hayes wrote in an Instagram post. “I appreciate you calling me and giving me words of encouragement. My deepest appreciation @groovyq, for donating another 10k to make sure we are able to support ourselves in the upcoming months. Appreciate you @karenCivil for help facilitating and making this happen for us! RIP #georgefloyd.”
In the immediate aftermath of the business being damaged, Hayes shared a video from inside and expressed his disappointment despite the fact Dave’s is black-owned and he does a lot for the community.
“Ayo it’s a real sad day in Atlanta,” he says in the clip. “I’m black-owned, I actually help the community. I give a lot of money out. Like even during the pandemic, I gave out over $20,000 just helping hospitals and then they come back and break all my windows.”
Russ also donated to Los Angeles-based Apt 4B Concept Shop after they shared video of people breaking open their gate then busting their windows and looting the store.
“Words can’t express how thankful we are to @russ for reaching out with words of encouragement and a more than generous donation of $25K to help us rebuild the @apt4bconceptshop,” the store’s owners wrote in a post on Tuesday (June 2). “Where we come from, something like this does not go unrecognized or forgotten.”
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Russ helped raise over $150,000 to donate to Black Lives Matter over the weekend as well after selling a shirt that read, “If You Want To Change The System Speak Up White Silence Is Pro Racism.” The shirt is available on his website and every dollar will go to BLM.
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