Rap Concert Promoters in Court

The promoters of a hardcore rap music festival that was abruptly canceled this week will ask a federal judge to let the show to go on Sunday at a city-owned stadium.

The Summerfest 2002 concert was canceled Tuesday by officials with the Atlantic City Surf baseball team, who sublease Sandcastle Stadium and had booked the show for the venue. They cited police warnings about the potential for violence at the show featuring rappers N.O.R.E., Styles and Khia.

Mike Daily, an attorney for Platinum Link Entertainment, the show's promoter, said he would file legal papers Thursday in U.S. District Court in Camden in a bid to get an emergency hearing on the matter.

Daily said he would argue that Surf officials violated their contract, citing a 1997 ruling that prohibited the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority from banning a performance by controversial rocker Marilyn Manson.

Surf General Manager Mario Perrucci said he would refund the promoters' $10,000 deposit and arrange for refunds for fans who bought their tickets at the Sandcastle box office.

"Refunding money is secondary when you're talking about the safety of the public," Perrucci told The Press of Atlantic City for Thursday's editions.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP