Denz
02-25-2003, 07:32 PM
MTV made an open national call for aspiring rappers to come to their New York City studios for a high stakes emcee contest. But they weren't prepared for the turnout yesterday and were forced to shutdown the contest after a riot ensued.
Thousands of wannabee emcees jammed the streets and sidewalks near MTV's studios on 44th and Broadway for a shot at a Def Jam record deal and $25,000 cash prize. The contest, announced on MTV over the past weeks, instructed emcees to call a hotline for details which included explicit instructions against "camping." However, despite the warning, almost 2,000 aspiring artist of all races from as far away as Alaska began lining up the night before bundled in heavy coats and blankets, smoking weed, drinking liquor and rhyming in "ciphers."
According to aspiring artist VVS of New Jersey's RNN Entertainment chaos ensued when daylight broke and MTV officials failed to communicate with the crowd. "They just came around with clipboards and picked a few people out the crowd... They weren't telling people what was going on." Frustrated, tired and cold, the crowd began to get rowdy, yelling and pushing one another.
Elsewhere in the mass, witnesses say an emcee battle went awry when one emcee got disrespected and pulled out his gun. "People started screaming and running full force into the barracade. People getting stomped on...it was crazy."
The police called in reinforcements to control the mob scene and closed off the entire block telling contestants to leave as the contest was cancelled. This further incensed the crowd that then began to throw garbage and yell angrily at the police. Some rushed the MTV building and were later carried off by the police. "The cops was kicking ni99as asses, spraying them with pepper spray and beating them with nightsticks," VVS continued.
MTV has made no announcement as to whether the contest will continue at another date or if it's officially cancelled.
Thousands of wannabee emcees jammed the streets and sidewalks near MTV's studios on 44th and Broadway for a shot at a Def Jam record deal and $25,000 cash prize. The contest, announced on MTV over the past weeks, instructed emcees to call a hotline for details which included explicit instructions against "camping." However, despite the warning, almost 2,000 aspiring artist of all races from as far away as Alaska began lining up the night before bundled in heavy coats and blankets, smoking weed, drinking liquor and rhyming in "ciphers."
According to aspiring artist VVS of New Jersey's RNN Entertainment chaos ensued when daylight broke and MTV officials failed to communicate with the crowd. "They just came around with clipboards and picked a few people out the crowd... They weren't telling people what was going on." Frustrated, tired and cold, the crowd began to get rowdy, yelling and pushing one another.
Elsewhere in the mass, witnesses say an emcee battle went awry when one emcee got disrespected and pulled out his gun. "People started screaming and running full force into the barracade. People getting stomped on...it was crazy."
The police called in reinforcements to control the mob scene and closed off the entire block telling contestants to leave as the contest was cancelled. This further incensed the crowd that then began to throw garbage and yell angrily at the police. Some rushed the MTV building and were later carried off by the police. "The cops was kicking ni99as asses, spraying them with pepper spray and beating them with nightsticks," VVS continued.
MTV has made no announcement as to whether the contest will continue at another date or if it's officially cancelled.