The hip-hop ballet opens this Thursday (Apr. 10) with Outkast’s Antwan “Big Boi” Patton taking the stage to perform with a troupe of dancers en pointe. Though Patton won’t be seen in tights, the plot remains thick as this is the first major collaboration of this sort between the funky and the classical: Patton’s Purple Ribbon Entertainment affiliate singers Janelle Monae and Joi Gilliam will join him to provide live music (including unheard tracks from Patton’s forthcoming solo album, Sir Luscious Left Foot) while choreography is performed by the Atlanta Ballet company. There are only six shows currently lined up, but if you miss it, you can visit AtlantaBallet.com for behind-the-scenes footage and samples of the soundtrack.

Haitian roving ambassador, rapper Wyclef Jean continues his goodwill duties for his native-land. In a United Nations sponsored radio ad, he asks of his people to stop committing heinous crimes. “If you love Wyclef, that means you love Haiti,” Jean said in Creole. “So you should not be raping women, kidnapping people and children, because there is no excuse for doing so. I reject these evil practices.” The ad is run several times per day and further urges men to “respect and protect women’s rights,” reports Reuters.com.

The original Green of soul music, Al Green is making a comeback this May with a new studio album, Lay It Down. For the record, the R&B pioneer will be assisted by contemporary rhythms and blues with drummer Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of The Roots as co-producer and vocals from John Legend, Anthony Hamilton, and Corrine Bailey Ray. Lay It Down is slated for a May 27 release. Green is currently on tour until September. Visit AlGreenMusic.com for locations and dates.

In another May revival of old school R&B, Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions are being celebrated on the new DVD documentary, “The Music and Message of Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions.” The release marks the 50th anniversary of The Impressions and details how the group along with the legendary Mayfield created the music, credited as the soundtrack to the ‘60s civil rights era (songs like “People Get Ready,” “Choice of Colors,” and “We’re A Winner”), reports Eurweb.com. The Music and Message… is scheduled to be available May 6.