Providence, RI Officials Cancel 'Street Dreams' Concert
The Street Dreams Tour date in Providence, RI was canceled yesterday (Mar. 14), when city officials could not reach an agreement with the 18-year-old promoter on a license restriction.
According to The Providence Journal, an earlier agreement reached between the Board of Licenses and promoter Lowell Williams fell apart, causing the Mar. 29 date at the Dunkin Donuts Center to be canceled.
The board demanded that none of the artists appear at any after parties in the area, to reduce the risk of violence.
The artists agreed, but the deal fell apart when the board also demanded that performers be paid their remaining fees at least 12 hours after their performances, in order to guarantee that the rappers abided by the terms of the agreement.
Last week, The Providence Police Department voiced their concerns and objected to the Mar. 29 Street Dreams Tour date, which features headliners Young Jeezy, Jim Jones, Lil' Wayne, Baby, Fat Joe and Rich Boy
Police said Jones' association with the Bloods street gang could cause bloodshed, because the Providence metropolitan area is mainly Crip territory.
The police also labeled Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Baby/Birdman" Williams and platinum selling rapper Lil' Wayne as gang members.
Williams lawyer Robert D'Amico said that the performers were unwilling to wait that long to be paid the remaining balance of their performance fees, where are normally paid prior to the artists performance.
Despite the fact that The Street Dreams Tour has played two dates with no issues or reports of violence, Deputy Police Chief Paul J. Kennedy was pleased with the board's decision to revoke the license and cancel the concert.
Kennedy said the decision was made on Jones' and the other rappers ties to gangs and had nothing to do with Hip-Hop music.
“It’s really important that the city and the Police Department look at the history of specific bands and specific acts," Kennedy said.
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