A.C. Rap Concert Back On

CAMDEN, NJ: August 24, 2002 — Officials in Atlantic City wanted a rap concert scheduled there for today canceled. But now, the show is preparing to go on – and the city might help fund it. After a federal judge said Friday he was inclined to let the show go on, the city and the Atlantic City Surf minor-league baseball team struck a deal with concert promoters to let the concert go ahead with increased security.

The Surf canceled the show scheduled in city-owned Sandcastle Stadium on Monday in response to a police department memorandum that warned of possible violence in the concert featuring N.O.R.E. The artist, also known as Noreaga, is known for raps that reflect a hard life that landed him in prison for attempted murder as a teenager. His song "Nothin"' is currently near the top of rap charts.

Promoters argued their right to free expression was being curbed.

"I felt that the activities, first of the city, then of the Surf, were not based on security," said U.S. District Judge Joseph E. Irenas. "They were based on disliking the message."

A memo from the Atlantic City police department said N.O.R.E. "has an established history of violence and gang affiliation with the Bloods."

Irenas, who has taught law school classes on free-speech law and has heard two other hip-hop related cases, blasted the memo and the police department that produced it.

"I would figure in a 440-person police department, you would assume someone's heard of the First Amendment," Irenas said.

Before hearing the Surf and the city's explanation, Irenas declared it wrong for them to cancel the show unilaterally.

Upon hearing that, city and Surf officials started negotiating with Platinum Link Entertainment, the Philadelphia- and Brooklyn-based partnership promoting Summer Fest 2002.

City officials said in addition to the 30 private security guards provided by Platinum Link, there needed to be 25 police officers inside the stadium and 15 outside. Platinum Link agreed to pay $15,000 for those officers. Previously, the promoters had agreed to pay for around 25 police officers.

If deploying the officers costs more than that $15,000, the city agreed to pick up the additional money.

Irenas asked city business manager Benjamin F. Fitzgerald if he agreed to those terms.

Fitzgerald said he did, but added, "I don't like it."

Thomas' lawyer, Michael Daily, said about 5,000 of the tickets, which range in price from $35 to $100, had been sold before the cancelation on Monday.

With higher than expected security fees, and the unexpected legal costs, Thomas wants to see a crowd closer to the stadium's capacity of 7,000.

Thomas said Friday he would try to get commercials for the concert, which also features Styles P. and Khia, back on the radio.

Daily said that if the show is a flop, the promoters may file new claims against the city and the baseball team.

Still, the concert promoters and the Surf agreed on one way to offset the increased costs. They're raising the price of stadium parking, which is split between the team and the promoter, from $7 per car to $10.

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Author: 6-ABC