Right-wing crank Bill O'Reilly weighs in on rapper Nas' appearance at the Concert For Virginia Tech.
The September 6 concert, proposed to "promote healing", features college rockers Dave Matthews Band, MOR blues upstart John Mayer and country singer Phil Vassar. But the inclusion of gangsta rap kingpin Nas has caused a ruckus.Some families of victims were concerned that including a star whose music often focuses on gun violence was disrespectful to the dead. Ultra-conservative Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly weighed in, saying the choice of musician "insults the victims, the university and the entire commonwealth."
Nas called the commentator - who has previously raged against Snoop Dogg and Ludacris - a racist. "Everybody has a marketing plan; his marketing plan is racism," Nas told MTV News. He continued, "It just shows you what bloodsuckers do: They abuse something like the Virginia Tech [tragedy] for show ratings. You can't talk to a person like that."
The multi-platinum rapper defended his lyrics as a reflection of the reality of America's streets and ghettos. "I had a best friend killed, plenty other friends killed. I been through it. I seen it," he said, "I think that's what makes it important that I come through and show love to those people [at Virginia Tech]."
