On September 6th, Virginia’s own Dave Matthews Band along with John Mayer, Phil Vassar and Nas will join together in “A Concert For Virginia Tech” at the university’s Lane Stadium. Free tickets will be made available to all current students, faculty and staff. Coming at the beginning of the 2007-2008 academic year, the concert was conceived as a way to help the university community move forward in the aftermath of the April tragedy at Virginia Tech.
Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Phil Vassar and Nas have waived their fees for the event. Corporate sponsorships and the sale of commemorative concert items will help to cover the expenses associated with the logistics of the concert. No funds from the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund will be used to cover expenses for this concert.
A lot of people appreciate the man doing a free performance for the concert, but some people are not feeling the idea. According to the Washington Post:
A free concert organized to lift the spirits of the shaken Virginia Tech community is instead angering some parents of the victims, who say the decision to feature a New York rapper known for his violent lyrics shows a blatant lack of respect for the people killed in the April 16 shooting rampage.
Vincent J. Bove, who said he is a spokesman for seven of the victims’ families, said yesterday that the parents are outraged that the Sept. 6 concert at the university would include the rapper Nas, who in one 1999 track chants, “Shoot ‘em up, just shoot ‘em up, what?” followed by whispers of “Kill, kill, kill, murder, murder, murder.”
Full Story
Hmm, interesting story, I can see both sides of the argument. Nas won’t rap about shooting people at the concert obviously, but is the fact that he may on other tracks relevant?