Chief Keef Hologram Concert Shut Down By Police
Chief Keef‘s Stop the Violence benefit concert in Hammond, Indiana – where the rapper was scheduled to perform live via hologram from Los Angeles – was cut short Saturday night after police pulled the plug on the performance after one song. Chief Keef‘s hologram managed to deliver “I Don’t Like” before police stormed the Wolf Lake Pavilion, turning off the projection and the music and ordering concertgoers to leave, the Chicago Tribune reports.
The benefit concert was staged to raise money for the family of Dillan Harris, the toddler struck and killed by the vehicle involved in the drive-by shooting death of Keef’s associate Melvin “Capo” Carr. The Stop the Violence gig was originally scheduled for July 17th but opposition from community leaders in Keef’s native Chicago, where the rapper has outstanding arrest warrants, forced the concert to be postponed, since it “posed a significant public safety risk.”
After being unable to secure a venue in Chicago, the hologram concert was instead moved to the daylong hip-hop festival Craze Fest in nearby Hammond, Indiana along the Illinois border. Despite being across state lines, authorities still warned the festival’s organizer not to host a Chief Keef concert in any capacity.
“We spoke to the promoter several times, and they assured us [Chief Keef] would not be performing,” Hammond police Cmdr. Pat Vicari told the Chicago Tribune. “Later, an officer working the show realized it was being streamed on one of the hip-hop sites, and promoters were warned again they would be shut down.”
No arrests were made after the Chief Keef gig was canceled after one song, even though the 2,000 people in attendance had donated either $50 or $80 for the benefit gig. In a statement after the Stop the Violence show was shut down, FilmOn CEO and benefit concert organizer Alki David, who recently inked Chief Keef to a record deal, criticized Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel and threatened legal action.
“Shame on the mayor and police chief of Hammond for shutting down a voice that can create positive change in a community in desperate need. And for taking away money that could have gone to help the victims’ families,” David said. “This was a legal event and there was no justification to shut it down besides your glaring disregard for the first amendment right to free speech. You’ve clearly been bullied by the proud Mayor of the Murder Capitol of the U.S., Rahm Emanuel. Mark my words if you censor us you only make us stronger. Plus we’ll be back to sue your asses.”