Church ministers are trying to prevent performance of multi-platinum rapper Nelly at Arkansas State University, claiming him lyrics are “vile and filthy”.
More than 20 Jonesboro ministers urged young people not to purchase tickets and to boycott the March 12th concert in order to have it cancelled.
"Jonesboro is a wonderful city because of what does not come here," said the Reverend Adrian Rodgers of the Fullness of Joy Church of Jonesboro.
The reverend expressed concern about the rapper's lyrics that include references to drugs, sex and violence, and songs that were demeaning to women.
"We feel that the lyrics of 'gangsta rappers' are detrimental to society at large, but more specifically to the development of young people," he said, according to AllHipHop.
Meanwhile, a venue spokesman said more than 5,500 tickets had been already sold.
"It would appear that with ticket sales over 5,000, many others have expressed their right to find Nelly's music entertaining and worth spending their time and money on," said Tim Dean, director of the Arkansas State University venue.
The concert is part of a seven-day college tour that kicks off on March 7th at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois and runs through March 15 when Nelly plays Penn State University, also featuring his group St.Lunatics.
Nelly, most famous for his hit song Hot In Herre, has sold more than 30 million singles and albums worldwide since his breakthrough in 2000.
Last year, Cornell “Nelly” Haynes Jr. launched a clothing line for urban women, Applebottoms. The line produces all sorts of clothes for various shapes, but specializes in jeans. When asked how Applebottoms are different from other jeans on the market, Nelly responded: "Cuz I made 'em! Nah, Applebottoms jeans have a certain style to them that women like and men LOVE, they're definitely different."