Young MC Will Not Perform at Freedom 250 Event

Young MC is the latest artist to walk away from the lineup of the Great American State Fair, the event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

The “Bust a Move” rapper was initially announced to the bill, alongside the likes of Martina McBride, Flo Rida, C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, The Commodores, and others, all of them participating in the 16-day “national exposition” kicking off June 25 and wrapping up July 10, with musical performances every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night.

In a social post, Young MC confirms he is out. “I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT,” he writes. “The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event. And despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan, SPIN magazine describes it as Trump-backed. I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged.”

A description on the Freedom 250 website downplays the political angle of the 250^th anniversary event. “The celebration will unite and showcase all 56 U.S. states and territories in a single World’s Fair-scale event,” reads the blurb. “This is an opportunity for visitors from across America to experience an unforgettable celebration of the people and traditions that define our nation.”

Also featuring carnival rides and stations showcasing the cultures of all 56 American states and territories, the festival will mark the finale of President Donald Trump’s year-long Great American State Fair, which also involves activations in state fairs across the country. The twice-impeached president first previewed plans for the celebrations in July last year, with the White House promising at the time that the administration would “throw the greatest birthday party in American history.”

Young MC joins Morris Day & The Time, which separately left the line-up with the message: “Contrary To Rumor, Morris Day & The Time Will Not Be Performing At The ‘GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR.’” A caption for the post adds “It’s a no for me,” with a smiley-face emoji wearing sunglasses.

Born in London, England, to Jamaican immigrant parents, and raised in New York city, the 59-year-old Young MC (real name: Marvin Young) was one of hip-hop’s earliest hitmakers on the Billboard charts, and enjoyed several top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

As a songwriter, he’s credited with two 1989 smashes for Tone-Loc that enjoyed crossovers, not just in the U.S. music scene but on charts and airwaves around the globe. “Wild Thing” went to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 – at the time, the genre’s highest peaking hit on the flagship chart – while “Funky Cold Medina” nearly duplicated the feat, reaching a No. 3 best. In the same year, he nabbed another classic, this time as a solo artist with “Bust a Move,” which blasted to No. 7 on the Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for best rap performance.