MOSCOT AND TARIQ 'Black Thought' Trotter Team for Collaboration

MOSCOT, the New York City institution renowned worldwide for its iconic eyewear, has joined forces with Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, lead vocalist and co-founder of the Grammy winning hip-hop group The Roots, featured nightly on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, for a charitable collaboration that really counts.

MOSCOT and Trotter have designed 300 Special, Limited Edition Black Tortoise GRUNYA frames, numbered for authenticity, and gold stamped with Trotter's signature, with 100% of the proceeds from sales donated to Trotter's GrassROOTS Community Foundation, and The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation.

To debut The Limited Edition GRUNYA for Tariq Trotter, and raise additional money for both Foundations, Trotter, along with special surpriseguests, will perform an exclusive, live show for the first 100 fans who preorder the frame on February 12th, 2015, at The MOSCOT Gallery and Music Space. In addition, fans who preorder will receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win two tickets to a live taping of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with a VIP meet and greet with Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter.

"Working with MOSCOT to create this handsome frame has been a really special experience," said Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter. "Not only is this frame a reflection of my own style, inside and out, but the ability to help sustain the important work these two foundations do is what makes this conscious collaboration really matter. I'm excited for our fans to be a part of it."

Preorder The GRUNYA for Tariq Trotter, while supplies last, at TariqTrotterMOSCOT.com.

Tariq Trotter and Friends Benefit Concert & Launch Party

The Special, Limited Edition GRUNYA for Tariq Trotter makes its worldwide debut on stage at an exclusive benefit show featuring Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, and special surprise guests, on February 12, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the MOSCOT Music and Gallery Space located inside MOSCOT's Orchard Street Shop. The first 100 fans to purchase The Limited Edition GRUNYA for Tariq Trotterwill be granted exclusive access to this once-in-a-lifetime event, and a raffle ticket for the chance to win two tickets to The Tonight Show Starring JimmyFallon, and a VIP meet and greet with Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter. Winners will be announced live on stage at The Tariq Trotter and Friends Benefit Concert & Launch Party. You must be present to win.

The Limited Edition GRUNYA for Tariq Trotter

Based on the MOSCOT Original, The GRUNYA, The Limited Edition GRUNYA for Tariq Trotter is bulked up, and rocking with style to reflect Trotter's unique aesthetic. The frame boasts double laminate combination Black Tortoise acetate, and Brown Glass Gradient Sun Lenses with an anti-reflective backside for reduced glare. Limited to only 300 pairs, each is numbered, and features Trotter's gold stamped signature.

The Limited Edition GRUNYA for Tariq Trotter retails for $325 USD as a sunglass, and is available for presale now at moscot.com. The first 100 presold frames will be available for pick up the night of the show, or shipped per customer instructions beginning February 13, 2015. All additional presale orders made online will be shippedFebruary 13, 2015. Following the frame's debut on February 12th, fans may purchase the Limited Edition GRUNYA in MOSCOT's NYC shops, and moscot.com, exclusively. All proceeds from the sales of the frame will be donated to The GrassROOTS Community Foundation, and The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation.

ABOUT MOSCOT

MOSCOT is a New York City institution renowned worldwide for its iconic eyewear - The MOSCOT Originals, MOSCOT Spirit, and MOSCOT Sun Collections. MOSCOT infuses its unmistakably refined, downtown aesthetic with nearly 100years of eyewear expertise and unparalleled craftsmanship to create its timeless eyewear. While now recognized as a global fashion brand, MOSCOT remains, at heart, a neighborhood optical shop.

ABOUT MOSCOT MOBILEYES FOUNDATION INC

The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation's mission is to preserve sight and improve lives by providing free quality medical eye care and prescription eyewear to those who would not otherwise have access to such care. For many of these men, women and children, our visit marks the first time in their lives they will experience corrected vision, enabling them to finally learn in school, gain and/or maintain employment, and care for themselves and their families. For more information on The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation please visit moscotmobileyes.com.

ABOUT TARIQ "BLACK THOUGHT" TROTTER

Tariq Trotter, better known as Black Thought, is an American rap artist and the lead MC for the Philadelphia-based Hip-Hop group, The Roots. Trotter, who co-founded The Roots with drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, is widely lauded for his complex and politically aware lyrical content, his sharply honed live performances, and his poignant acting roles. The legendary Roots Crew have become one of the best known and most respected hip-hop acts in the business, winning four Grammys over the course of their career. The ensemble received a "Best Rap Album" nomination for their 10thstudio release undun, which brings their GRAMMY nomination count to twelve.

In March 2009, under the leadership of Trotter and Thompson, The Roots became the house band for NBC's Late Night With Jimmy Fallon show. In 2014, Trotter and The Roots assumed a new role as the house band for the new "Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." In August 2014, Trotter starred as band member Pee Wee Ellis in "Get On Up", a blockbuster biopic about the life of soul legend James Brown.

ABOUT GrassROOTS Community Foundation

GrassROOTS Community Foundation (GCF) is an anti-poverty organization that uses health as its core strategy for mobilizing community action and for offsetting economic disadvantage. GCF's efforts focus on supporting organizational, community and policy health initiatives. The organization supports, develops and scales social action public health programs for women and girls because they are often the primary caregivers, are at the highest risk for poverty as well as health challenges and are also most likely to return their wealth to their communities. GCF's mission is to create a world where ALL girls grow up to be healthy women.