Today is the first day of the Rolling Loud music festival at Citi Field in New York City. And the impressive lineup includes Travis Scott, Meek Mill, the Wu Tang Clan, and more. But the reason why some of these acts are slotted to perform was because the New York City Police Department had issues with five rappers slated to perform: Pop Smoke, Casanova, 22GZ, Don Q, and Sheff G.
In a letter acquired by The FADER, the NYPD writes to the show organizers requesting to remove the artists because they have been "affiliated with recent acts of violence citywide." They fear that having them perform onstage will be "a higher risk of violence."
Some fans have been upset by the news. Twitter user @DJMissMilan tweeted, "The fact that REAL NEW YORKERS like @CASANOVA_2X & @POPSMOKE10 not being able to perform at NEW YORK's @RollingLoud is super crazy wtf" Another tweeter, @kahulanii, "I'm not even going to rolling loud and I was looking forward to sheff g getting his moment."
According to writer John Norris, Fetty Wap was slotted for what was supposed to be Pop Smoke's afternoon slot.
And though Rolling Loud hasn't made any official statements regarding the news, the festival's co-founder Tariq Cherif tweeted, "I can't speak on this much but I want everyone to know that we are still paying all of those artists full booking fees AND sending them offers for future Rolling Loud's in other cities."
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