Promoter Peter Jideonwo of Pete’s House says that on Friday night, when G Herbo was supposed to headline the Vic, the Chicago rapper had planned to present Chance the Rapper’s nonprofit Social Works with a check for $20,000. But earlier this week the venue canceled the performance, which Jideonwo had booked, after the Chicago Police Department and the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection contacted Jam Productions (owners of the Vic) and expressed concerns about “safety.”
Jideonwo says the CPD and BACP contacted Jam and the Vic last Thursday. The officials didn’t mince words, if the account that reached him is accurate. According to Jideonwo, they told Jam, “If you do decide to hold a concert against our advice, and if anything was to happen in the area, or to the citizens of the area, you guys are liable for it.” (Jam has yet to return a voice message from the Reader.) Jideonwo says he tried to reach a compromise: When officials asked for changes in the lineup, he said he’d remove three rappers, leaving headliner G Herbo and frequent collaborator Lil Bibby. Herbo also offered to host a “keep the peace” event the week of the show.
You can’t really judge a person if somebody is trying to kill them and they gotta kill to survive in order to get home to their loved ones. You can’t judge a person for that. Ultimately, that’s who I speak for. Those are the people I want to touch with my music.
Update: This post has been amended to included a response from BACP.Update at 4:45 PM: CPD chief communications officer Anthony Guglielmi has replied via e-mail. His response is below.
