Toronto Police Shut Down NXNE Hip-Hop Showcase Featuring Rich Kidd, Tre Nyce; Cite 'Potential Gang Rivalry'
UPDATE: Rich Kidd sent us a statement on the showcase shutdown Wednesday night:
"It's unfortunate that the event was shut down but I think it's even more unfortunate how hip-hop is stereotyped. I feel last night could of been a dope, positive showcase of Canadian talent. A lot of the artists on the bill including myself are involved in community programs such as The Remix Project and The Loft Sound Studio that deter that kind of shit. Even though the past few weeks in Toronto have been crazy, we MC's are here to spread that love and have fun."
The first night of bar-hopping as part of Toronto's NXNE was dampened Wednesday with news Toronto Police nixed a hip-hop showcase featuring breaking rapper/producer Rich Kidd before it even began.
"We're very sorry to announce that tonight's Smashmouth showcase at The Rivoli has been cancelled for reasons beyond our control," NXNE's official site said in a brief statement. "The venue has pulled the show because of security concerns."
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, and at the request of the Toronto Police and the Toronto Gang Unit, we regret to announce that our NXNE 'SmashMouth Mentality" showcase scheduled for June 13 at Rivoli has been cancelled," a post to SmashMouth Entertainment's Facebook page said mere hours before the event.
The concert, which was being put on by SmashMouth Entertainment, was to feature Rich Kidd, Tre Nyce, T.Shirt, Denzil Porter, The Antiheroes and Notes to Self among others. But things started going awry hours before the doors were to open at 8 p.m.
A "Please stay tuned for an official
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