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Controversy Over Nas' Addition To Virginia Tech Lineup

Virginia Tech, the school ravaged by a huge gun shooting tragedy earlier this year, has coordinated a free concert to help reunite and heal the community called "A Concert for Virginia Tech" that will take place on September 6 at the university's campus. One of the acts set to headline the concert is rapper Nas. Though the concert is meant to bring these people together, his appearance on the bill is outraging parents.

The conflict comes from certain lyrics and themes on Nas' 1999 album, Nastradamus. Some of the lyrics parents have been citing are: "Shoot 'em up, just shoot 'em up, what?" and the whispering backing vocals, "kill, kill, kill, murder, murder, murder". However, the concert officials and members of the university's staff are not going to pull him from the bill.

Chris Clough, a university spokesman, said of the lineup announcement, "Literally within minutes of the announcement, we received a tremendous positive response...families [thought] it was a tremendously positive note to start the academic year."

Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer are also performing.

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
08.03.07