Much to his chagrin, I’m sure, Bill O’Reilly has failed in his attempt to kick Nas out of the Virginia Tech Back-to-School concert. He should be pleased to know, however, that at least one college administrator (albeit in Canada) that Nas is a violent, dangerous gangta rapper who will corrupt the minds of adult students at an upcoming Rock the Vote Concert. A vice-president at Ontario’s Carlton University said their concert venue has a strict anti-hip hop policy for “security reasons.”

The purpose of the Rock the Vote show is to encourage concertgoers to vote in an Oct. 10 election in Ontario.

In light of discussions that took place with the venue since July, Cockburn said the students were surprised by the centre’s decision to not hold the show and added that preliminary arrangements for security, lighting and sound were also made…Although they were told that their choice of musical act had to be cleared with the centre, Cockburn stated the students didn’t think they would have any problems with having Nas, since a hard rock band had played at the centre last September.

Nevertheless, the group said they were told that the rapper was the reason why they could not use the venue.

If only to save face, Bill O’Reilly, who probably had very little do so with this, is probably running a victory lap around the Fox News offices.

[AHH]

Why does Bill O’Reilly make me so mad when I know good and well he’s a full-of-shit, sad, perverted, uninformed little man? I guess it’s because I know that people out there listen to him and listen to him good, and they believe every stupid word that comes out of his mouth. That’s why I kind of love that Jay Smooth has taken the time to make him look stupid for trying to boycott Nas (with a hard A).

Lighten up, Nas. The captions on WireImage describe a birthday party for Kelis at Cameo in Miami, but the pictures tell a different story. Her doting husband looks angry and sleepy. Cisco Adler, a rock guy most famous for dating young actresses/celebutants and his enormous balls (google it), was the DJ, so it could be he didn’t like the music or the crowd. And maybe the middle finger is for Bill O’Reilly? More grumpiness after the jump.

CONTINUED »

• If you’re like Bill O’Reilly and have no earthly idea what a “gangsta rapper” is, by all means, call Virginia Tech and protest Nas’s planned performance there. [BOB]

• While I wouldn’t describe Remy Ma’s current situation as good, things are looking better for her shooting case than they were last month. []

• C’mon! Elvis Presley had to have been just a little bit racist, right? [HC]

• FedEx was ordered to hand over $55 million to a bunch of black and hispanic workers who were discriminated against by the company’s human resources department. [BI]

• In Massachusetts’ universal health care plan ever going to work? Because right now it’s kind of a mess. []

Controversy swirls around the selection of Nas as a performer at a free concert, organized by the Dave Matthews Band, welcoming students back to Virginia Tech. A spokesman for seven families of victims said that choosing a rapper with violent lyrics (they went back to 1999 for their song example) shows disrespect to the victims.

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.”

The lyrics “are indicative of the moral decay in our society that contributes to acts of violence,” said Bove, a New Jersey security expert who has volunteered to speak for the families. “For a university official to condone it or to be clueless of what this person’s track record is, it’s unconscionable beyond belief.”

Although their decision to target Nas seems to be misguided, I understand how victims of a horrible tragedy who were not very familiar with either Nas or hip hop might come to the conclusion they came to. Still, I was under the impression that the murderer listened to a lot of alternative rock music.

But it doesn’t matter, because university officials, buoyed by all of the good feedback they’ve received, have decided to leave the lineup as is. The concert will stay positive, I think, if people will let it.

[WP]

• A dog clothing company gets at DMX for $242,000. [WP]

• The American Association of Blacks in Energy says that blacks of all income levels pay more for heating and lighting. []

• When vacationing in the Dominican Republic, don’t even try to get into a club called the Loft. []

• Nas will headline a back to school concert at Virginia Tech that’s free for all students and faculty. No word on whether R. Kelly was invited to sing his special song. []

• Whiteface on the London stage? [TheStage]

C-Webb’s 2nd annual celebrity weekend went down in Vegas this weekend, and too many people attended the events to name. It’s nice to see that celebrities of varying levels of fame can come together for a weekend of charity. And good press. Pics after the jump.

CONTINUED »

Prince’s high-priced, high-society concert at the Hamptons last weekend brought in big bucks for him (an estimated $1 million) and the organizers, who charged $15,000 a head for a series of 5 concerts, beginning with His Purpleness’s Saturday show. While the audience, including Jay-Z, Russell Simmons, Nas, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Kelly Ripa, didn’t have any complaints, Prince certainly did.

CONTINUED »

• Snoop plans to play three concerts in his home state before embarking on his international tour. Maybe he should just stay here, considering so many foreign countries don’t even want to let him through customs. [EUR]
• Black males need to catch up to black women in the race to rack up degrees. [Diverse]
• Should blacks feel more threatened by illegal immigration? [BN]
• Now that patients are canceling surgeries, New Zealand doctors try to diffuse charges that the medical system discriminates against international doctors of different races. [NZ]
• Nas is finding it increasingly difficult to show up to a gig either on time or at all on his European tour. [PS]

Domestically, Nas is a pretty laid back guy. It’s when he goes international that her reveals his diva-like inner spirit. He’s taking no chances with the Birmingham, England locals or their food when he’s there for his concert tonight — his rider specifies KFC and Snapple all the way, plus police escorts.

We hear the rapper, 33, has demanded a police escort to and from the gig at The Works, stating in his demands: “Under no circumstances is the artist to be delayed arriving or departing the venue due to traffic.”

He’s also insisting on Kentucky Fried Chicken, 24 assorted Snapple drinks, blackberries, cranberries - oh, and three BMW X5 4×4s.

Not sure they’ll fit in his dressing room, though.

British food is notoriously bad, and there’s nothing so bad about his food demands — except for one thing. Why does it have to be fried chicken all the time, people? I know it’s delicious, but give it a rest for one second. And as for the police presence, maybe he’s afraid Alicia Keys is in town.

[Mirror]