Jadakiss Banned From Community Event, "These Artists Are The Worst Of The Worst"
Tuesday - May 8, 2007
Info Provided by Jolene "foxxylady" Petipas
www.sohh.com

Was Jadakiss Treated Unfairly?
	-- Yes, Just the because they talk about it in their music, doesn't mean they do it in real life. --
	-- No, They shouldn't speak about certain things if they don't live it. --
	-- It's only music --

A celebrity basketball fundraiser featuring Jadakiss and his D-Block affiliates has reportedly been canceled after leaders from the black church and others complained that the rappers' presence might lead to violence.

According to The Stamford Advocate, the benefit, which was set to take place at the Yerwood Center in Connecticut, was called off after Jere Eaton, a former board member of the center and a potential presidential candidate for the NAACP's Stamford branch, e-mailed Web site links, articles, and lyrics to community leaders and the media yesterday (May 7) which showed the rappers in a negative light.

"All of these artists are the worst of the worst. They're criminals," Eaton told The Advocate. "Their favorite word is the N-word, and they demean women by calling them bitches and hos."

Deborah Sewell, the Yerwood Center's president and chief executive officer, claims she canceled the event after receiving over sixty phone calls expressing concern.

"I'm disappointed, because I really felt this would have been a great opportunity for the community to band together and show up in force," she said.

Sewell revealed that she has had a working relationship with D-Block for years and noted that the rappers were coming to play basketball, not perform. She also defended Jadakiss and his group, pointing out community events they have attended, including a Stamford rally that resulted in a gang truce.

"They've always been supportive of the community and they love to play basketball," she said.

"You can't have double standards for lyrics that impact your community negatively," explained Reverend Tommie Jackson. "The bottom line is we believe that the Yerwood Center needs to raise money but there are better ways of doing it than bringing in Jadakiss."

The fundraiser was scheduled to take place on May 19th and no replacement event has been announced yet.

D-Block is a Yonkers bred group comprised of mixtape circuit standout J-Hood and The Lox's Styles P, Sheek Louch and Jadakiss. As SOHH previously reported, The Lox are currently working on their third group album which is slated for release later this year.

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