MUSIC

Hologram Performance by Chief Keef Is Shut Down by Police

By JOE COSCARELLIJULY 26, 2015

Chief Keef performing in 2013. CreditTim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

A performance by the Chicago rapper Chief Keef — or rather, his likeness, beamed live via hologram from California — was shut down by the police on Saturday night in Hammond, Ind., after warnings from the mayor’s office that the performer could not appear, even digitally, promoters said on Sunday.

The surprise appearance of Chief Keef at Craze Fest, a hip-hop festival in Hammond, about 25 miles outside of Chicago, was scheduled after a series of canceled hologram performances by the rapper, born Keith Cozart. Last weekend, a Chicago theater called off a similar show after representatives for Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office deemed Chief Keef “an unacceptable role model,” whose music “promotes violence” and whose presence via hologram “posed a significant public safety risk.”

Chief Keef, who has rapped in the past about his gang affiliations, was previously sentenced to home confinement as a juvenile for pointing a gunat a police officer, and later served time in jail for violating his probation in that case.

More recently, the rapper has said he’s changed. Chief Keef, 19, had billed the performance as a “Stop the Killing” benefit concert, meant to raise money for Marvin Carr, a fellow Chicago rapper who died in a shooting this month, and Dillan Harris, a 13-month-old child killed by a vehicle fleeing the scene of that shooting. The rapper opted not to appear in the Midwest in the flesh, citing outstanding warrants for his arrest, stemming from two child support cases.

Ahead of Saturday’s concert, Chief Keef’s team defiantly teased a live appearance by the hologram in downtown Chicago that night. “The location is being kept secret because of past efforts by city officials to keep the charity event from happening,” a spokesman said in a news release. A promotional video boomed: “Banned by the mayor of Chicago: Chief Keef, from a secret Chicago location.”

But as showtime approached, Chief Keef posted on Instagram that the show would be held just over the Illinois border at the Pavilion at Wolf Lake in Hammond, the site of Craze Fest. Despite some subsequent misdirection, a representative for the rapper confirmed the location soon after. Malcolm Jones, a promoter for Craze Fest, said the Hammond police and a representative from the mayor’s office visited him on site after 7 p.m. on Saturday. The authorities asked if Chief Keef was present, or if his voice or music would be played. “I said his music had been playing all night,” Mr. Jones, 22, said. “His voice has been here since the beginning.”

Mr. Jones said he told the police that Chief Keef would not be featured onstage. “No one ever gave me a reason why they didn’t want the hologram to appear,” he said. “They didn’t have a real reason. They believed that it would start trouble, but the first thing Chief Keef said via hologram was: ‘Chicago, we need to stop the violence. Let our kids live.’ ”

“It was for a really good cause, but sometimes the authorities can’t see that,” Mr. Jones continued. “They’re not our age.”

Thomas M. McDermott Jr., the mayor of Hammond, said in an interview that his office became aware of the surprise performance, which was also streamed live online, through social media. All of the Craze Fest acts — which included Riff Raff, Lil Bibby and Tink — had been previously vetted because the event was held at a public park, he said.

“I know nothing about Chief Keef,” Mayor McDermott, 46, said. “All I’d heard was he has a lot of songs about gangs and shooting people — a history that’s anti-cop, pro-gang and pro-drug use. He’s been basically outlawed in Chicago, and we’re not going to let you circumvent Mayor Emanuel by going next door.” (The Chicago mayor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

Despite promises from the promoters that Chief Keef would not be appearing, the hologram took the stage around 10:30 p.m. Hammond police shut down the show about a minute later, Mayor McDermott said. There were no arrests, citations or incidents as more than 2,000 fans were cleared from the park.

“It’s not like we’re anti-rap,” Mayor McDermott said. “It’s just this specific case. Gang violence in Chicago is the reality right now, and I’m not going to invite someone that might be a threat to public safety.”

Alki David, chief executive of Hologram USA, which sponsors Chief Keef, said in a statement: “Shame on the mayor and police chief of Hammond for shutting down a voice that can create positive change in a community in desperate need. And for taking away money that could have gone to help the victims’ families.”

“This was a legal event and there was no justification to shut it down besides your glaring disregard for the First Amendment right to free speech,” he added. “Mark my words, if you censor us, you only make us stronger.”