Young Money artist Drake, who released his debut album “Thank Me Later” on Tuesday, was scheduled to perform at a free show at South Street Seaport in New York City. It is reported that 25,000 fans showed up at the pier to see the rapper perform. However the concert was shut down by police, after violence erupted in the crowd. I was a eyewitness to the violence at the scheduled outdoor show on the pier, and saw some fans waiting for the rapper to come out and perform throwing bottles, money and chairs(off the balcony of a restaurant) into the crowd below.
Eventually the NYPD shut the show down before Drake was even able to make it to the stage. About the canceled gig the rapper told the New York Daily News through a spokeswoman, “I am humbled by the crowd that showed up in support of my performance. “Unfortunately, the show was canceled by the NYPD due to overcrowding, leaving me without the chance to give my fans a real show.”
Police officials said they received a flurry of 911 calls, but they would not immediately confirm Drake’s claim that cops cleared the stage and sent thousands of fans packing. Two arrest were made at the pier.
Earlier on Tuesday, Drake signed copies of his debut album for 500 fans at a Best Buy location in New York City’s Union Square.