will.i.am's charity gig raises $3.3m

Published Friday, 08 February 2013

Alicia Keys, the Black Eyed Peas and Bobby Brown helped to raise $3.3 million for rapper will.i.am's Los Angeles charity on Thursday by performing at his second annual benefit show.

The Black Eyed Peas headlined the TRANS4M gig at The Avalon Hollywood club and recruited Keys to fill in for absent bandmate Fergie on a rendition of Where Is the Love?, while British singer Estelle joined the group for The Time (Dirty Bit).

Peas stars will.i.am and Taboo also raised laughs as back-up dancers for Brown as the R&B star sang his hits Every Little Step and Tenderoni.

Rapper Ludacris also performed, while Keys staged a solo set and belted out her tracks Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart and Girl On Fire for guests including socialite Paris Hilton, MC Hammer and embattled comedian Katt Williams.

The concert proved to be a huge success for will.i.am and his i.am.angel Foundation, which gathers funds for organisations in his native Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles.