Drake was set to perform at the Sounds Like Paper concert series at the South Street Seaport tonight but the NYPD canceled the show – which also featured Ninkasonik and Hanson. Drake wants you to know:
I am humbled by the crowd that showed up in support of my performance and the release of Thank Me Later. I love performing for my fans but unfortunately the show was canceled by the NYPD due to over crowding, leaving me without the chance to give my fans a real show. I’m thankful for the support that the fans have been giving me….I thank you now.
A free concert featuring the hip-hop artist Drake and the pop band Hanson at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan on Tuesday was closed down amid concerns about the size of the crowd, according to accounts from the police, performers and people in attendance.
The concert, which was scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., was widely promoted on social media like Twitter and Facebook, and was planned to coincide with the release date of Drake’s debut album, “Thank Me Later.” There is already speculation, according to MTV.com, that the album could sell hundreds of thousands of copies in its first week of release, and a Drake signing event drew hundreds of fans to the Union Square Best Buy earlier Tuesday, according to The Daily News.
But the headlining performers did not go on. As Zac Hanson wrote on his band’s Twitter account: “Had to cancel the free NYC show today because of a crazy audience that was braking things at the mixing board.” His brother Isaac added: “Hope everybody is able to stay calm and that things don’t get out of hand. Again we are sorry that we could not play!”
On his own Twitter account, Drake wrote: “Police are shutting down the show at South Seaport! I’m on my way anyways…Drizzy Hendrix Woodstock 2010.” He added: “NYPD will not let me go on stage tonight.”
The police said that chaos erupted shortly after 6:30 p.m. when word got out that Drake would not be arriving until 8 p.m. People began throwing things off the balcony down to audience members below, and the police ended up arresting at least two people for disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental administration. The concert’s promoter eventually shut the concert down for safety reasons, the police said.
Sensing the disappointed and angry reactions that were likely to await him online, Drake also offered an apology to frustrated concertgoers. “To all the devoted fans that came out I wish you could have seen what I had planned!” he wrote. “Until next time.”
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Rosmery
06/16/2010
Love Y0u Drake
yayoskadayo
06/16/2010
Twitter.com/snotgreen
Hey I went to show up for my friend, shit was wild out there… we were close to the front and when first got there, there weren’t no cops out only security. The crowd wasn’t that bad at first, then after ninjasonik played for a few mintues the crowd got amp’d. People further in he crowd started pushing. People climbing the stands on seaport. We waited they told us to calm down, but after a while they didn’t even annouce it was canceled. So people got rowdy started throwing botttles, even a piss bottle was throwed lmao. It was wild. COPS DID NOT SHOW UP for a while but hey things could have been worst.
geraldine
06/16/2010
Yo drizzy baby let me apologize about what happen 2day in seaport..I’m tight that ppl don’t no how 2 act ya knew mad ppl gonna be there ya knew it was gonna be hot if u knew u was gonna fight y cum n ruin everyday good time like all that shit was unnescessary like I wish everythin woulder went better cuz I REALLY wanted 2 c u :’( I pray there be a next time I be able 2 c u but once again I do apologize I wish u da best of luck n keep up da good work =]