Rapper Nas performed to a crowd of over 50,000 people yesterday during “A Concert for Virginia Tech” at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia last night (September 6).
The concert was held at Lane to benefit the university after a deadly April 16, in which a gunman named Cho Seung-Hui shot and killed 33 people, the most brutal shooting spree in United States history.
Nas’ involvement in the concert sparked protests from detractors who claimed that his lyrics incited violence.
O’Reilly recently labeled Nas “gangster rapper” during his O’Reilly Factor television show on Fox and claimed that rapper’s appearance was an “insult to the murder victims” and called Virginia Tech president Dr. Charles Steiger a “coward” and “villain” for allowing Nas to perform.
According to the Roanoke Times, Over 45,000 students, faculty and staff attended the concert, along with 2007 graduates and the shooting victims’ family members.
Nas, who wore a Hokies United T-Shirt, took a shot at O’Reilly by dedicating his hit single “Hate Me Now” to the talk show host, who blasted the University of Virginia for including him on the bill, which also featured The Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer and Phil Vassar.
“[This song is for] those who don’t understand what Nas is about,” Nas said on stage. “Like that chump Bill O’Reilly. I said that chump Bill O’Reilly. This song is for him and haters alike.”
In a recent interview with MTV, Nas labeled O’Reilly a racist and chastised the talk show host for using the Virginia Tech tragedy to gain ratings for his television show.
