Q: Someone like Snoop, in Vegas, is likely to attract a bunch of tourists from the California suburbs who want to see the concert.
A: That may be true. But do we really want to sell that as the way we make our money in this town? We really only have one business, and that is entertaining people here and showing them a good time. If we have a reputation for entertainment that is going to cause negative consequences like violence and shootings, what is it we are trying to accomplish here?
Q: How do you define gangster rap?
A: I am not the proper person to define it in particular. I kind of leave that up to the promoters and the people that stage these types of events what the content of it is. I know—I raised three kids who listen to this—there is a big difference between rap and hip-hop and what I call gangster rap. I know Will Smith. He is a fine guy. He is a funny guy. He is a rapper. He doesn't go around making albums called 'Cop Killer' or promoting putting his wife on the street to work her as a prostitute, or selling drugs as the right thing to do. So, while my knowledge of that particular genre is somewhat limited I know there is a difference. I would start with 50 Cent—
Q: Who played House of Blues at Mandalay Bay about three years ago—
A: —and we had a near riot there and fight there that we couldn't control. Define it any way you want, my friend. I am not going to argue with you. I am responsible for the safety of this community, and if I know that in the aftermath of these concerts we are going to have shootings, murders and killings: Why are we having them here? I don't think we should be selling violence here in our tourist corridor. That's not Vegas. We are not a town that sells violence. It is the inability of us to prevent violent acts that are occurring around these folks. I am linking A to B.
Q: Does someone like Eminem concern you, too?
A:Well, Eminem's product, from what I've heard, has a combination of a lot of these things. Correct me if I am wrong; I am not an expert on these things.
Q: Well, I'd say he is not a gangster but on one typical song he talks about killing his wife.
A: Yeah, well, personally, I don't think we have a place selling that as a product here.
Q: Do you have any objection to the music being played here like a club spinning "In Da Club" by 50 Cent, or is it just the concerts and events featuring the rappers?
A: I am worried about the aftermath of events. This is America, and I love that people can listen to whatever they want.
Like I said before, I like the Sheriff and he seems far more open minded in conversation than this may read. But, despite his earlier claims, what he says here, I think, shows clearly his reaction has more to do with the content of the music than any crimes being caused at these events in the tourist areas. While the local rap scene has been plaugued by violence, there has never been a shooting death inside a casino resort related to a rap event. And, as noted before on the Buffet, there are very few of these events in the first place especially considering the massive commerical success of the genre. Rap shows by top artists on the charts are almost never held in any casino resort. For example, 50 Cent and Eminem have done their last two public concerts at a local stadium. But I did see Eminem perform at the Venetian a couple years ago; he was doing a private concert at a convention to convince clothes buyers to order his line of sweats, caps and shirts. There was no violence just commerce. Reminder: Tupac Shakur was killed after a boxing match. No one is talking about banning boxing.
photo by Fred Prouser/Reuters