News: DMX Prevented From Performing In Colorado

I've done quite a bit of news for Pure Hip-Hop, but seldom does it strike so close to home...lol

What I'm referring to is the incident that took place in my hometown of Colorado Springs, CO, (40 minutes south of Denver) Saturday night at the Phil Long Ford Expo Center. What was supposed to be a concert showcasing some local opening acts and hosting DMX as a headliner quickly turned ugly as the rapper showed up 2 and a half hours late and was for some reason being denied access to the stage by security. Even though most of the capacity crowd had filed out hours earlier, many faithful fans waited it out to see one of their hardcore rap icons take the stage, in much of the same fashion that most fans do at most concerts...

When X arrived he was met quickly with a mass of people attempting to bar him from getting on stage, all the while remaining calm and nonabrasive. Helped only by the people who were performing before him, who coincidentally were also the ones who put this whole concert together, X is shown in the video struggling with security and being pinned up next to the stage while tons of folks holler about god knows what and a security officer attempts to cuff him.

When finally given clearance onto the stage he was aided by my neighbor and local talent Spider Man (the kid in the red Rockies cap) in getting a microphone. Then the embattled rapper pointed out the looming police presence that apparently "was waiting to lock him up" afterwards. I haven't spoken to my neighbor about the incident yet, but I'm sure he'll be amused that he made Worldstar.

Not really sure what the actual problem was last night or why X was being accosted. I had a theory that maybe police got word he was in town and wanted to serve a warrant from a number of years ago that X caught in Denver. Then again the authorities might of just wanted to escort him off the property and close the venue before a riot started. Hopefully the latter.

I respect X for getting up there and possibly risking a probation or parole violation so he could keep a promise to the kids that waited. On the other hand though, why couldn't he just be on time? If he wants folks to take this comeback serious maybe being on top of his business a lil' better could help him avoid situations like this...To be fair, the CSPD is known to harass Hip-Hop events and be really ticky tack with their policing of them. This isn't the first time a major artist came through to The Springs, attracted a large and mostly minority crowd only to have things get shut down for some reason that no one knew...

-BIG D O