This week, Rolling Loud will return to Citi Field for another major celebration of music. A number of major acts like Playboi Carti, 21 Savage and Lil’ Baby are expected to take the stage. In addition, there will be a number of New York natives like Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky and Young Devyn performing as well. Unfortunately, three New York natives will not be able to perform for their hometown fans as they would have hoped to. Joe Coscarelli of The New York Times has reported that 22 Gz, Ron Suno and Sha Ek have been removed from this weekend’s festival at the request of the New York Police Department.
Neither Rolling Loud nor the New York Police Department has commented on the matter publicly yet. However, Coscarelli’s report does include excerpts from a letter that the NYPD allegedly sent to festival organizers. The statement claims that 22 Gz, Ron Ron Runo and Sha Ek have “been affiliated with recent acts of violence citywide.” As a result, authorities believe that allowing them to perform will create a “higher risk of violence” in the area.
“Sha Ek has performed all over the Northeast this year. The crowds at his concerts are full of kids dancing and having fun. He’s excited to keep growing his touring business and proving the police wrong,” Stanley “Noodles” Davis told the NYT.
“How can a person who has no criminal record and no gang ties — the kid never even made a diss record — be denied to perform in his hometown after all his hard work?” Ron Suno’s manager, Diamond “Bo” Brown, asked, after receiving the news from Rolling Loud.
This is not the first time that something like this has happened to Rolling Loud in New York. In 2019, five artists, including Pop Smoke, were removed from the festival’s lineup. Still, the festival, like in 2019, will move forward with Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky and many others this weekend.
