Once Again, NY Drill Rappers Get Pulled From Rolling Loud New York After Pressure From NYPD

The NYPD has requested that drill rappers Ron Suno, Sha Ek and 22Gz be dropped from this weekend’s Rolling Loud New York festival.

Drill rappers continue to be targeted by New York police officials. Per The New York Times, New York-based rappers Sha Ek, Ron Suno and 22Gz have been pulled the Rolling Loud New York lineup at the request of the NYPD. Hailing from Brooklyn, 22Gz was also pulled from the festival’s lineup in 2019 after local police officials voiced their concerns about the rapper’s material. Also removed from the lineup that year were fellow drill artists Casanova, Sheff G, Don Q and the late Pop Smoke.

“The above listed performers have been affiliated with recent acts of violence citywide,” the letter from authorities read. “The New York City Police Department believes that if these individuals are allowed to perform, there will be a higher risk of violence.”

Following the announcement, Rolling Loud co-founder Tariq Cherif went to Twitter to admit that the festivals staff had to comply with the NYPD for the festival to continue.

The move echoes concerns from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who’s publicly criticized drill music’s violent content. Earlier this year, Adams expressed that the rap subgenre was reinforced by “violent people who are using drill rapping to post who they killed, and then antagonize the people who they are going to kill is what the problem is.”

Rolling Loud New York is being held this weekend from September 23-25, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky and Future.