Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Odd Future Banned From New Zealand Hip-Hop Festival

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Tyler The CreatorSimone Joyner, Getty Images

Odd Future might have an odd future with New Zealand as immigration officials have banned the L.A.-based rap collective from entering the country, finding the group a threat to the public.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, New Zealand immigration officials released an official statement saying, “Odd Future has been deemed to be a potential threat to public order and the public interest for several reasons, including incidents at past performances in which they have incited violence.”

Odd Future were supposed to perform at the Rapture Hip-Hop festival in Auckland, headlined by Eminem and featuring Action Bronson and J. Cole, on Saturday (Feb. 15). The OFWGKTA crew were to replace Kendrick Lamar, after the Compton rhymer announced he was pulling out due to an “unavoidable scheduling conflict.”

Karen Urwin, New Zealand’s Border Operations Manager told reporters this decision to deny visas to six group members citing a 2011 incident in Boston where violence was provoked against police. It was at Boston where the audacious frontman Tyler the Creator was signing autographs at a comic store when police showed up in response to the large number of rowdy fans.

Christian Clancy, the group’s manager, took to Twitter stating they were only made aware that visas were to be denied an hour before the flight. He tweeted:

Tyler also tweeted about the visa block, sarcastically pointing out that Eminem has made controversial songs, too. He wrote:

However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise with OF and New Zealand fans as the crew was dropped from the country’s Big Day Out festival because of their lyrical content they deemed as homophobic, misogynistic and hateful.

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