Jam & Lewis Team With 100 Billion Meals for New Global Hunger Initiative Song ‘The Next Verse’
Award-winning production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, alongside 100 Billion Meals cofounder Tony Robbins, are helming a new global initiative to feed the hungry. “The Next Verse” marks the recording of a new fundraising song produced by Jam and Lewis that will take place Tuesday (Dec. 16) at the iHeart Theater in Burbank, Calif. The final song and video will premiere globally on Dec. 25 across all streaming platforms. And the song will air nationally on all iHeart stations.
The recording Tuesday will feature an array of stars that includes Dr. Dre, Janet Jackson, Sheila E., Darryl McDaniels of D.M.C., Aloe Blacc, Duran Duran, Pitbull, The War and Treaty, Andrea Bocelli, Sammy Hagar and Leona Lewis. While following in the vein of earlier charitable initiatives such as “We Are the World,” “The Next Verse” — as noted in the press announcement — “will be the first time ever, both live and remotely via Zoom, that celebrities and the public around the world can join in a creative effort of this magnitude.”
Robbins, who cofounded 100 Billion Meals with Nobel Peace Prize winner and former South Carolina Gov. David Beasley, commented in the announcement, “Hunger is one of the greatest solvable challenges of our time. No child should wonder where their next meal is coming from. This challenge exists to bring together the resources, the innovation and the collective will to deliver 100 billion meals and reshape the future of food for generations to come.”
In an exclusive interview with Billboard, Jimmy Jam notes that his and Lewis’ thought process went beyond just writing and producing the song. “We thought it would be fun to make it interactive,” he explains, “where people can add verses or do videos nowadays like with TikTok. Then that way, it becomes a living, breathing way to give. That way everybody can feel like they’re a part of it — not only in the creation of the song and subsequent versions of the song — rather than just watching us record the song on Dec. 16.”
The public can participate in “The Next Verse” initiative either by streaming the event live — at no cost — by registering at the 100 Billion Meals website, or via a $10 donation, which will provide 44 meals. Donors will have access to the full Zoom experience participating interactively with an artist. In addition, creators, choirs, classrooms and fans worldwide are invited to record and upload their own verse, hook or harmony to any social media platform tagging #TheNextVerse and @100BillionMeals. The official instrumental is available via the 100 Billion Meals website.
As for the writing of the song itself, Jam says, “We’re building the plane while we’re flying, and the 16th is going to be a nice landing.” He adds that the music and message behind the song were inspired by Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.”
“This song is so simple; it’s literally five notes up and down,” adds Jam. “It starts off very quiet, goes into an anthem type of thing and then comes right back to where it started, which is kind of the circle of life. We just want it to feel like a universal statement.”
Among the artists Jam ticks off who have offered their talents on the writing front are Hagar, Duran Duran, Jack Antonoff, Amy Allen, Desmond Child, Jon Bon Jovi and Quincy Jones’ daughter Tina Jones.
“It’s been a great experience watching these Songwriters Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame people all come together in this moment,” says Jam. “It’s been 40 years since this was last done. With problems owing to SNAP cuts and the food insecurity that’s happening right here in America, it just seems like the right time to do this.”
The goal of 100 Billion Meals is to deliver 100 billion meals over a decade. Thus far, 62 billion meals have been distributed in the three years since the non-profit’s inception. To ensure effective meal distribution, 100 Billion Meals is partnered with Feeding America, UNICEF, Food 4 Education, To Move Mountains, Dream Center and All Hands & Hearts.
