Common to perform at Duke after bad mouthing lacrosse team

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Rapper and actor Common is set to perform at Duke University's Last Day of Classes concert on April 25th. New York's Daily News reports that the rapper may get a cold reception because he dissed the Duke Lacrosse Team last year while performing at Emory University in Atlanta.

During the Emory concert, Common allegedly said, "F**k them damn n****s from Duke lacrosse. I really believe in my heart that those boys in Duke lacrosse did it -- that they raped a black princess."

LDOC chairwoman Beth Higgins said of his comments, "I had no idea because the concert at Emory was private." Likewise, many Duke students are similarly unaware.

Higgins looked into cancelling the show but the university's contract with Common is binding. She said, "After looking through the contract and talking to his agency, it just really wasn't possible. And it wasn't really something that we were seriously considering because (the contract is) legally binding.

Higgins added, "We're not actively seeking an apology. It's free speech. But we would like a statement from (his management) just so we know they recognize that to us it is a very grave situation."