Ban 50cent from Canada?

[Shawn]

Toronto-area MP Dan McTeague wants Immigration Minister Joe Volpe to prevent bad boy rap star 50 Cent from entering the country because he allegedly promotes gun violence.

50 Cent -- or "Fiddy'' as he's affectionately known -- is scheduled to launch a Canadian tour Dec. 3 in Vancouver. He'll then make stops in Halifax, Saint John, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto and Ottawa.

But McTeague doesn't think the rapper should be allowed into Canada because of the message he sends to his fans.

"I think it's the timing on this, Bev, more than anything else," McTeague told Canada AM's Beverly Thomson Wednesday.

"Toronto has witnessed an unprecedented number of young violent deaths as a result of gang warfare, gang culture."

Because 50 Cent has a criminal record, he would be required to obtain a ministerial permit to enter Canada, just as Martha Stewart would have needed to enter Canada for a pumpkin festival in Nova Scotia. Such permits are not unusual and are reportedly granted regularly.

It's not known whether the rapper had applied for or obtained that special permit.

But McTeague doesn't believe "Fiddy" – whose real name is Curtis Jackson – should be given that permit, noting that the last time the rapper performed in Canada, there was a fatal shooting outside a concert theatre.

"What I am concerned about is the context in which he is coming," the MP says. "The last time he was here in 2003 in my city and in the GTA, a man was killed at the Molson Amphitheatre. Another attempt was made in Montreal at the next concert.

"I'm not suggesting he's responsible," McTeague was quick to add, but he notes that even black director Spike Lee has been highly critical of the message that 50 Cent's "gangsta" persona is sending to young black men.

50 Cent is, of course, no stranger to violence. The admitted former drug dealer was famously shot nine times and his songs reflect the hard life he led on the streets of Queen's, New York. His life story recently became the subject of a new movie, Get Rich or Die Tryin'.

But some music critics have condemned 50 Cent's music and image for celebrating guns and drugs, without any emphasis on moral consciousness.

Last month, Paramount Pictures pulled some billboards for 50 Cent's movie that showed the rapper holding a gun in one hand and a microphone in the other, after community activists complained they glorified gun violence.

McTeague says allowing 50 Cent into Canada at a time when gun violence is raging makes no sense.

"This is not a question of censorship," he adds. "This is a question of trying to protect… the young men in our communities who are being destroyed in the prime of their lives.

"Police tell us that are gang leaders as young as 13, 14 in the area. Those are not individuals who have received or can possibly have the kind of maturity to be able to distinguish between right and wrong."

"There's a fine line between something that advocates or gives the impression that violence is okay and then at the same time, scratch your head saying why is there so much violence in the community?"

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says he doesn't think rappers like 50 Cent can be blamed for the deadly gunplay on the streets of Toronto this year.

McGuinty told reporters Wednesday that he "wouldn't want to put too much stock'' in 50 Cent's influence and that of other rappers even if they do hold some sway with young people. He says the causes of Toronto's gun violence are much more complex than anything one rapper can influence.

source - CTV

[Guest .::BeatFactory::.]

wow

[Lord_of_the_Dense]

They can ban him here next.

[method77]

here too

[method77]

TORONTO - Anyone who acts on violent song lyrics has a pre-existing mental condition and banning artists such as gangsta rapper 50 Cent from entering the country won't prevent the bullets from flying, experts say.

Toronto Liberal MP Dan McTeague wants Ottawa to ban 50 Cent from entering Canada, claiming he promotes gun violence in his music.

If a young person acts on a song's lyrics, (he or she) would have had a pre-existing problem, said Dr. Jodi Lofchy, a University of Toronto. psychiatrist specializing in violence.

more...

[Shawn]

If you can feature it, Canada's big 'entertainment' show led off the story with the words "Rapper 50cent won't be allowed to perform in Canada if the Canadian gov't has anything to say about it".

This is the pet project of one guy.

[Excrement_Cranium]

Besides.... he like Eighty-Three cent Canadian.

[method77]

:rotfl:

[Shawn]

Naw the loonie is strong right now.

He's like 61cent.

[Malicious Intent]

It will be a sad world when muscians stop rubbing up politicians the wrong way.

[DudeAsInCool]

Dont care for his music - but his website is interesting - and i hear his movie isnt bad

[method77]

His music isn't that bad either if you like that kind. I just don't like that kind of hip hop

[Excrement_Cranium]

It will be a sad world when muscians stop rubbing up politicians the wrong way.

Yeah, they should remember the lube whilst giving handjobs.

[Wolfie]

The more the they make big deal out of it the more he'll sell records. So he won't be able to perform. He'll still rake in the money by being the center of contraversy. Kids like to buy stuff thier parents and congressmen hate. Its a fact of life.

As for 50cent I think he is a mediawhore but he is bringing the dough for sure.

[Ken]

I'm all for banning 50 cents...............from existence that is.

[Excrement_Cranium]

It's a good thing no other artist or musician in the history of the world ever pissed people off, or made music they thought was trash.

I mean, if it were anyone other than 50, it would be tragic.

I heard they aren't allowed to show below his navel when he appears on television.