Hip-hop icon returns to Houma to give out school supplies, and cereal

A New Orleans hip-hop artist and icon is giving out school supplies in Houma.

Percy Miller, whose stage name is Master P, will be at Oaklawn Middle School, 2215 Acadian Dr., at 2 p.m., August 4, giving out backpacks, cereal, and other school supplies to prepare students for the upcoming school year. All students are welcome, and the giveaway will continue until everything is handed out.

According to Miller, his experience growing up poor has driven him to want to ensure needy families have equal opportunities to those in more affluent households.

"To be honest with you man, it's where I come from, and you know, I grew up in a poor community and to be able to come into these schools that don't get as much as those kids get, and they deserve a proper education," he said via a phone call. "A lot of these kids will be running their community and this is the way we build economic empowerment, by investing in they education."

Miller has traveled the country giving away school supplies and holding other charities for years. This is the second year he's done a school supply giveaway in Houma, and last year roughly 500 schoolbags were handed out. The connection was fostered through a friendship with Terrebonne Parish NAACP President Jerome Boykin. Other sponsors to the event include Louisiana State Senator Mike Fesi and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Tim Soignet.

According to Boykin, the goal is to make the giveaway an annual event and is focused on serving the east side of Houma, which he said is underserved compared to the west side.

"In the past, a lot of things have been going on on the majority of one side of town, which is the west side of town, and we just felt there was a need in that area of town that is the east," he said. "That side of town is almost the stepchild of the west side."

The cereal is a collaboration between Miller and fellow rapper Snoop Dogg and comes in three flavors: Snoop Cereal Fruity Hoopz with Marshmallows, Snoop Cereal Cinnamon Toasteez, and Snoop Cereal Frosted Drizzlerz.

"I grew up on WIC, and I am honored and humbled to now own a company with Snoop that can service underprivileged families," Miller said in a news release about the product. "We want to make sure kids and kids at heart can have a champion’s breakfast. Our motto is the more we make the more we give."

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Hip-hop icon returns to Houma to give out school supplies