Gang Concerns Cancel AC Concert

A sold-out hardcore rap music festival scheduled for a city-owned arena this weekend has been canceled because of concerns about gang violence, but promoters vowed that the show would go on as planned.

Officials with Sandcastle Stadium announced the cancellation on Tuesday, citing police warnings about the potential for violence at the show featuring rappers N.O.R.E., Styles and Khia.

Karl "Mike" Thomas and Akeem Brown of Platinum Link Entertainment, the show's promoter, said stadium officials called them Monday afternoon and said the show had been canceled. However, the pair said they have not received written notification of the decision.

"As far as we know it's still going on," Thomas told The Press of Atlantic City for Wednesday's editions. "A lot of money has been spent (and) we will leave it to our attorney to handle this matter."

The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority leases the stadium from the city, who subleases it to the Atlantic City Surf baseball team. Chuck Betson, the team's director of media relations, issued a statement Tuesday that said the show was canceled "due to concerns from city and regional law-enforcement officials about potential gang-related violence."

The team said it received the information from the Atlantic City Police Department, who got it from unidentified law enforcement sources in New York and Philadelphia.

Sgt. Michael Tullio, a police spokesman, declined to comment on the matter, saying only that the concert cancellation "was a business decision between the Surf and the city of Atlantic City."

This is the second time that a city event featuring N.O.R.E – a member of the New York rap duo of Capone-N-Noreaga – has been canceled.

In April 2001, he was to appear at a talent show at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. school complex. The show was canceled, though, because promoters could not get a fire permit and numerous residents called district officials to complain about the show and its content.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP