Archive for the ‘Rock Music’ Category

American rapper Snoop Dogg might subscribe to Dutch traditions like making marijuana freely available, but his love for Mary Jane has not bought him any love from authorities at The Hague. The public prosecutor, police and mayor of the Dutch city got Tha Boss Dogg removed from a lineup for a concert event scheduled for later this month.

Keeping the Friendly Feeling

In a statement made June 17, authorities in The Hague requested organizers to remove Snoop Dogg from the lineup of the Parkpop Festival. They asked that another act be found to replace the rapper to ensure the “open and friendly character” of the three decade old festival.

The organizer for this year’s Parkpop, Ducos Productions, was not pleased with the request. “This is all very annoying,” said a spokeswoman for the company. “The headliner is being removed from the program ten days before the event.” Snoop was set to headline the festival for 2010 along with German singer Nena.

Billed as the largest event of its kind in Europe, its 30th edition – of which Snoop was supposed to be part – is slated for June 27 as dictated by festival tradition. Since the first Parkpop Festival in 1981, the audience has grown tenfold, now estimated at around 350,000 people. It put The Netherlands on the Euro pop map in the 80’s and 90’s.

Snoop Heart The Netherlands

Snoop Dogg, however, is no stranger to The Netherlands. The Dutch officials’ request came despite the Doggystyle star’s frequent visits to the country and his almost annual performances there. He is known as a frequent customer at stores known locally as “coffee shops” where marijuana is sold legally and openly.

He is still slated to perform at a sold-out concert at the Melkweg venue in Amsterdam the day after his scheduled Parkpop appearance. No word has been made about how The Hague’s rejection will affect Amsterdam’s welcome. Seo India

Wherever south-born rappers may end up, there’s always one place where they return. Hot 107.9’s annual Birthday Bash in Atlanta – the 15th wrapped up on June 18 – has long been that one time when the greats of the rap game come together and just give the crowd a good show. This year’s Bash was no exception.

Good Old Rap

Rocko, Monica and Shawty Lo were there with some classic tracks – some as old as the host station itself – to get the crowd in the mood. Rick Ross followed in full bling with the crowd favorites from Albert Anastasia. True to his Rick Rosé nickname, he popped a whole bottle of the stuff all over the crowd after his second song.

Ludacris also made a memorable appearance during the event. While introducing a bevy of contemporary acts to the stage, he surprised everyone by bringing out Luther Campbell (a.k.a. Uncle Luke). “That man put me on,” Ludacris said of Campbell, “so I had to put him back on.” Campbell had a big role in helping the Atlanta rapper establish himself in his hometown early in Luda’s career.

Among the other rap greats in attendance were Plies, Travis Porter, Trina, Ciara, Lil Jon and Young Jeezy. All of them performed for the full-to-capacity event at Philips Arena.

Gucci’s Grand Finale

Gucci Mane isn’t new to Birthday Bash, but it is his first time to close the annual Atlanta concert. He had the audience rapping along to the likes of Heavy and White Girl, which Waka Flocka followed up with Hard in the Paint. “This is my first year performing last,” says Gucc of the experience, “It’s a challenge, but I’m up to the task.”

Birthday Bash 15 was wrapped up early the next morning with an afterparty in Club Esso over at Zone 6. Seo India

It’s turning out to be a very lean season for touring artists. On top of the spate of recent cancellations by contemporary artists, golden oldie pair Simon & Garfunkel announced earlier this month that their planned North American tour would not be happening.

Old Friends is No More

The Old Friends tour of the Sound of Silence hit makers has been long coming; it had already been postponed from April to July earlier this year. Art Garfunkel’s medical condition, however, makes live performances physically difficult, so the pair decided to indefinitely push back their Canadian and American tour dates.

Garfunkel’s vocal paresis caused the April postponement of their tour, and it’s the culprit for the cancellation as well. The condition affects the voice box, making it hard to change pitch and transition to higher notes. “Art is expected to make a full recovery,” said the statement on the on-again-off-again duo’s official site, “however they [the doctors] cannot predict an exact timeline.”

Almost a septuagenarian at 68, Garfunkel has made his own statement over the cancelled tour. “I do feel bad about disrupting so many people’s plans,” he apologizes, “I can’t yet bring my A-game to a tour.”

Still Old Friends

Originally formed as Tom & Jerry in 1957, Simon & Garfunkel broke up and reunited several times through the years. The two most memorably split in 1970, reuniting a few times in the following decades. After more than a decade off the stage, Paul and Art sang together at the Grammy Awards in 2003.

The last Old Friends tour, at least, pulled through, with performances all over North America in 2003, followed by a reunion tour through Europe. 2009 was their last touring year (through Australia) before performing as a pair at the 25th anniversary concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last October. Seo India