The leader of local branch of the Bethlehem, PA NAACP has denounced the Musikfest concert taking place this Saturday (August 4) featuring Grammy Award winning, Oscar-nominated actor/rapper Chris “Ludacris” Bridges.
According to Esther Lee, president of the Bethlehem NAACP, Ludacris should not be a featured act on the
Musikfest concert, which is being sponsored by a local organization, ArtsQuest.
“All I know is he’s a rapper, and rap music is lousy,” Lee said during a press conference outside of ArtsQuest’s headquarters yesterday (August 2), adding that the president of ArtsQuest refused to listen to her plea’s about Ludacris’ lyrics.
ArtsQuest’s president Jeff Parks dismissed Lee’s concerns over Ludacris’ lyrical content. He also added that dialog over the issue would be more productive than consistently banning rappers.
According to the Express-Times, Ludacris’ contract already stipulates that he cannot use profanity during the all-ages show, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the three-day festival.
“I don’t believe that any artist is going to revise what he does for one venue,” Lee said during the press conference.
Lee also took issue with the Bethlehem Housing Authority, which is providing students with tickets to see Ludacris at the concert.
“The Bethlehem Area School District continually is trying to educate our youth, with student discipline being the greatest problem,” Lee said. “Then on the heels of all the district’s labor, Jeff Parks and Musikfest contracts with a personality who sings lyrics that add to parents’ woes.”
In related news, Ludacris has started work on his next album, which will be titled Theater of the Mind.
