Hip-hop artists who gathered at the Palladium Ballroom on Sunday didn't rap about money or fame. Instead, they were there to talk about HIV and AIDS.

Photos by MILTON HINNANT/DMN

Above: Kayo and his rappers performed on Sunday for an audience gathered at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas for the 'Hip Hop for HIV' concert. Left: Before the concert, Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway talked about HIV and voting. The initiative's goal next year is to get 10,000 people tested.

Several rappers, including Mike Jones, David Banner and Day26, performed to raise HIV/AIDS awareness.

More than 3,000 people were tested between Aug. 25 and Saturday as part of a new, local initiative called "Hip Hop for HIV," said Taryn Brown, a Dallas city spokeswoman.

They received free tickets to the concert when they were tested.

"It's a disease that is killing our communities," said DJ Big Bink of KBFB-FM "The Beat" (97.9).

The event was sponsored by the city, the radio station, Martin Luther King Jr. Family Clinic and Radio One.

Ed Jones, a behavior modification specialist with the charity AIDS Arms Inc., helped set up the four major testing sites and 12 smaller sites.

He said the goal next year is to have 12 large sites and get 10,000 people tested.

"We want to test across the board," Mr. Jones said. "We don't just want to reach out to the African-American and Hispanic communities but to everyone."