Media slanted 50 Cent's visit

This is in regard to the article about the rapper 50 Cent and his performance Tuesday at the Next Level nightclub. I'm so sick of the city using The Next Level as a scapegoat for the problems of the foundering Main Street district.

I've been a patron of the area since it began and there was always stumbling drunks, loud hooligans, fighting bar patrons and bar goers from Club Electra blocking the same street that Next Level patrons are vilified for. The difference is those patrons were white.

I've seen the police break up fights in the middle of the street between white males and females and send all of the drunk combatants home with warnings. I never heard of anything negative happening in the local news media. As soon as there are the same problems but a different clientele it's a crisis.

The Enquirer doesn't help matters either by stating 50 Cent has had past run-ins with the law.

Think of one of Cincinnati's biggest musical icons, Jimmy Buffet. I haven't seen the paper mention his history. When he's in town it's like a quasi city holiday.

If the city ever wants to cure what ails it, put the racist double standard at the top of the list.

- Eric McDaniels, Forest Park

Talent trumps 50 Cent's troubles

The story on Feb. 18 "Hot act 50 Cent drops in to rap," reminded me why racial tensions in this town escalated to riots in April 2001.

I believe 50 Cent is immensely talented and have watched his career take off in the last month, after I was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of his video for the song "Wanksta" on BET in January. Yes, he is a former "crack dealer" but I do not believe he "brags" about taking nine bullets. He was hospitalized for 13 days after the incident and took five months to rehabilitate himself. In a interview with MTV recently, when asked about what happened on that night in Queens in 2000, 50 Cent said, "I was scared the whole time. Ain't nobody gonna tell you they ain't scared in that situation. It's a hit, man. You supposed to die in that situation. They're not playing."

- Lesley Adams, East Walnut Hills

City would rather promote fear

I was shocked to hear on one of the local news channels last night that police SWAT teams were on stand-by in case of violence at the 50 cent concert on Main Street. As cameras panned darkened upper floors of nearby buildings the voice over said that security was tight both seen and unseen.

Were such extreme security measures warranted in this situation? Why is there the assumption in Cincinnati that gatherings of black citizens equal violence. Would a concert by Eminem, Insane Clown Posse, or Marilyn Manson have brought out the SWAT team?

It seems city officials are more concerned with promoting fear and racism than the healing that Cincinnati really needs.

- Melissa Meyer, Amelia