U2, Jay-Z Are One for Haiti

Superstars join forces to record benefit track for earthquake victims; Rihanna also releasing special performance

By Josh Grossberg Jan 20, 2010 5:44 PMTags
U2, Edge, Bono, Jay-ZKevin Mazur/Getty Images

Sometimes you can't make it on your own, especially in the midst of a catastrophe. Enter U2 and Jay-Z.

The Edge announced Wednesday that he and bandmates Bono, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. joined forces with Hova last week to write and record a quickie charity song that will benefit relief efforts in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

The guitarist told an Irish radio station that producer Swizz Beats contacted him and said he and Jay-Z "wanted to do something for Haiti."

"So Bono came up with the phrase on the phone and last night we were here, we wrote a song, finished, recorded, and sent it back to them," said Edge. "So that might be the next thing you hear from us."

No word yet when the untitled single will hit the airwaves, but no doubt it will be out soon given the urgency of the unfolding disaster in the Caribbean nation. The rapper and Bono are also expected to share the stage in London as part of George Clooney's two-hour all-star Hope for Haiti telethon, which will air on all major TV networks including E!.

Meanwhile, Rihanna is releasing via iTunes her cover of Bob Marley's anthem "Redemption Song" that she performed on Wednesday's The Oprah Winfrey Show, with money raised going to organizations helping Haiti's victims including the Red Cross, UNICEF, Oxfam America and Partners in Health. Netizens can also purchase the track at Rihannanow.com or Oprah.com.

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