Organizers of Rolling Loud, a hip-hop festival taking place in New York this weekend, say they have dropped five rappers from the lineup at the request of police.
The New York Times reports that the performers were removed from the Rolling Loud festival after a New York Police Department official sent the organizers a letter citing safety concerns if the rappers took the stage.
The traveling Rolling Loud festival is taking place at Citi Field in Queens on Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 12 and 13) and includes major acts like Wu-Tang Clan and Meek Mill.
The performers who were dropped are 22Gz, Casanova, Pop Smoke, Sheff G and Don Q. The police letter said they “have been affiliated with recent acts of violence citywide.”
Don Q blamed “misinformation” in a statement on Instagram.
“I love my city and i never been in any gang activities or never had issues at any of my previous shows,” he wrote. ”I hope the city will wake up and see that cancelling me and my fellow NY artists isn’t the solution, we just love what we do and want to perform for our fans.”
Billboard reached out to a Rolling Loud representative for comment.