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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

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Criticism over lyrics forces FAU to pull plug on rap concert
By Ted Hutton
Staff Writer

November 25, 2004

BOCA RATON – The plug has been pulled on the Ying Yang Twins before they had a chance to bring its rap to Pro Player Stadium.

A day after announcing that the popular group would be playing Dec. 4 at the Florida Atlantic vs. Florida International football game, FAU had second thoughts after reviewing the group's explicit and obscenity-laden lyrics that focus on sex, drugs, drinking and partying.

"It's the right decision," said Mary Cameron, director of FAU's Women's Studies program. "Everybody recognizes those lyrics are offensive and degrading to women."

FAU Athletic Director Craig Angelos, who helped arrange the booking of the group, said he was aware some songs would be a problem, and that is why the contract stipulated the show would be designed for all ages.

"We were assured that the concert would be a family-friendly show," Angelos said. "But the university does not want to appear to be endorsing the kind of language found in their other songs."

FAU is desperate to get fans to its games in order to meet an NCAA mandated average of 15,000 per game. The Owls are more than 42,000 short with two games remaining and were hoping to attract up to 30,000 to Pro Player.

Along with the Ying Yang Twins, a Million Dollar Scramble was scheduled, along with free admission for any student with a school ID.

FAU focused on students because they had been averaging 6,000 at the first three home games after averaging fewer than 500 last year.

"This was a concert they would enjoy hearing," Angelos said.

FAU players agreed.

"That's a pretty good group. They should draw a nice crowd," said defensive back Quincy Skinner.

The Atlanta-based duo is one of the more popular examples of a Southern-bred style of rap known as crunk. Crunk anthems such as Get Low – a collaboration between Ying Yang Twins and Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz – have become popular at sporting events as rally music and introductions for athletes.

Crunk came out of Atlanta but also has origins in "Miami bass," a high-tempo, low-frequency mix of beats and chanted rhymes associated with X-rated Miami rapper Luther Campbell.

Dexter LaMont, head of marketing for the athletic department, said Ying Yang Twins have had several songs that can be played on the radio and also clean versions of other songs.

"That group will help us reach college students that we are trying to get to," LaMont said before the decision had been made to cancel.

But when news spread across campus about the concert, the lyrics of the songs that can't be played on the radio became the focus. The Ying Yang Twins have released three full-length albums, and most of the songs fall into that category.

Available on the Internet, the lyrics are full of references to sex acts and littered with obscenities.

It was after looking at those, Angelos said, that the decision was made to cancel the $15,000 contract.

FAU will have to reimburse the group for the airline tickets they had already purchased, Angleos said.

FAU will try to find another group to replace the Ying Yang Twins, but with less than two weeks before the game, that was unlikely, Angelos said.
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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

I think they need to preform to boost attendence. We should write Brogan and try to get them back.
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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

That really hurts. Especially because numerous people were probably planning on going to the game and now won't go because they are upset about the concert being pulled. Hopefully they can scramble for a replacement that will bring some people to the game. At this point it is important to use any gimmick possible. Maybe invite Janet Jackson with a guarantee that she will expose her breasts!?! :o

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

I still say they should perform. The Ying Yang Twins even played at bush's inaguration.
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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

i agree…complete BS….here is a list of artists that played at FAU over the past 4 yrs…Ludacris…Cam'ron,Ataris,Dashboard, DAVE CHAPPELL… Wyclef(biggest pothead)….NAppy Roots…give me a f'n break….while i feel that there is a line…this def didnt cross it…i guess DJ SCOOBZ will be the halftime performance…whopti dooo..SUCKS
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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

Invite the Bethune-Cookman and FAMU bands for a battle of the bands. They would definitely get a good turnout.

2017 and 2019 Conference USA Champions
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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

Wow that sucks man, I understand they have explicit lyrics but if anything have multiple warnings throughout the game that the postgame concert should only be attended by individuals who do not find the lyrics offensive. FIU had Methodman and Redman and believe me they were not clean at all and there was absolutely no backlash. This kind of sucks because I would have enjoyed that concert after the game.

Panthers on the Rise
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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

That REALLY blows! >:(

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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

If this whole mess weren't such an embarassment, it would be amusing.

It's an example of how important it is for each of us to stick to our areas of strength. Offense plays offense; defense plays defense. And athletic directors, no matter how well meaning, should stick to scheduling games, not bands.

Most of them, like me, are out of their league trying to select contemporary entertainment acts.

Ah, the episodes of life. At times, to paraphrase a deceased Englishman of note, some can bring such sweet sorrow.

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Ying Yang Twins Canceled

Ying Yang Twins Canceled

I can see why this is an embarrassment, but I can also see where the university is coming from. My first reaction when they announced this concert was "Has enyone in the front office ever heard these guys?" I don't know who booked it, but they probably should have listened to their music before signing off on it.

President of the No Homers Club. Keepin' it real since 2001.
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