Diddy raps Britain after Snoop is barred: 'We wanted to send a positive message'

[milmor_1]

Diddy raps Britain after Snoop is barred: 'We wanted to send a positive message'

By Ed Caesar
Published: 28 March 2007

When Snoop Dogg was arrested in Stockholm two weeks ago on drugs charges, he strutted on stage the next night and delivered a bilious rendition of the Niggaz With Attitude number: "**** Tha Police". Now that he has been denied an entry visa to the UK, causing the cancellation of his British tour with fellow rapper P Diddy, he might have material for a new number: "**** Tha Home Office".

Snoop, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, and P Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs, were due to play Wembley Arena last night, followed by sold-out gigs in Cardiff, Manchester, Glasgow and Nottingham. But John Reid was clearly not one of the ticket-holders. After late night negotiations between Snoop's lawyers and the British authorities, the Home Office re-iterated yesterday that it would not be allowing the rapper entry.

"The Home Office," said a spokesman, "does not comment on individual cases. The Home Secretary has the power to refuse entry clearance to non-UK citizens if he considers that their presence here would not be conducive to the public good." A government source said the decision not to allow Snoop to enter the country was related to his colourful criminal history.

The 35-year-old rapper is currently being investigated for weapons and drugs charges in America relating to three separate arrests in 2006. He was also cautioned in Britain last year - having been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder and affray at Heathrow - when his entourage did not take kindly to being refused entry to the British Airways first-class lounge.

Both he and P Diddy, though, argue that they were coming to Britain to promote a non-violence message on their One Love Peace Tour. And they are also distraught at the timing of the decision, which left them little opportunity to inform their thousands of fans of the cancellations. "They knew I was coming six, seven weeks ago, so they could have denied me access then," said Snoop, after Sunday night's performance in Amsterdam.

The Home Office, though, was unmoved. "The Home Office can not be held responsible for the commercial interests of third parties," said its spokesman. "We are responsible for protecting the interest of the British public, and will make decisions about foreign nationals on that basis."

Now the decision has been made, both P Diddy and Snoop are stoic. "Even though we don't agree, and we don't understand, this is not our country, and we have to respect your laws," says P Diddy, who is staying in London for two days. "What's disappointing is that Britain at the moment has a big guns and knife violence problem, and we were here to send out a positive message to the kids, because we've been through [those problems] personally.

"But I talked to Snoop today, and we both said that there are so many things going on in the world - children who are dying through lack of water, or food, or through disease - and all that happened to us was: we didn't get to do a concert. It hurts, it's depressing, but life goes on, and I'll be back to do a show here, and Snoop will figure out his situation, and he'll be back. He's one of the nicest people that I know, and the problem is that not many people know him."

Snoop is flying to Dublin, where the One Love tour will continue. P Diddy will join him after he has caught up with some old friends, including members of Manchester United, whose squad was invited to the now-cancelled Manchester gig.

Diddy raps Britain after Snoop is barred: 'We wanted to send a positive message' - Independent Online Edition > This Britain

[Woodmonkey]

Too bad we can't bar him and his crime from our country