Nelly Forced To Cancel Bone-Marrow Drive On College Campus

Yahoo! Music, Apr 2, 2004 6:00 pm PST
Nelly and his foundation, 4 Sho 4 Kids, were forced to cancel a bone-marrow drive scheduled for Friday (April 2), on Spelman College's campus in Atlanta, Georgia. MTV.com reports that the historically black women's college pressured the rapper and his foundation into canceling the event because they were upset with the way Nelly portrays women in his music videos.

Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Zenobia Hikes said, "Spelman is concerned about the negative images of women in popular culture, particularly the misogynistic lyrics and images that constantly portray women in a sexual nature."

Students were reportedly taken aback by Nelly's "Tip Drill" video, which features the rapper swiping his credit card through a woman's buttocks. The video has been airing online and on local rap video shows.

Students from Spelman and Morehouse Colleges were planning a protest but after hearing of the students' plans Nelly and his foundation pulled out.

Nelly has been conducting the bone-marrow drives to increase awareness of the need for marrow and blood-stem cell donors. The rapper's sister, Jackie Donahue, was diagnosed with leukemia and is currently in need of a donor.

Calls to Nelly's label, Universal Records, were not returned at press time. Nelly is currently working on a new album which will be released in June.

For more news at LAUNCH, click here.

More Artist News

Nelly, Scott among guests at BET Awards pre-party

Jun 24, 2008 6:00 am PDT

Beneath towering arches in an old cathedral downtown, a 20-member choir welcomed guests at the BET Awards pre-party with a rousing gospel tune. Nelly, Ashanti, Jermaine Dupri and Jill Scott were among those who gathered Monday at Vibiana ...

Nelly wants Springsteen collaboration

Mar 31, 2008 2:00 am PDT

Nelly is bummed he wasn't able to collaborate with Bruce Springsteen on his new album. "I was really trying to get The Boss, but The Boss is all over the world," Nelly told The Associated Press on the orange carpet at Saturday's Kids Choi...

Nelly hits red carpet in white T-shirt

Sep 9, 2007 5:49 pm PDT

Nelly was wearing a very expensive white T-shirt as he got ready to hit the red carpet at the MTV Awards Video Music Awards Sunday night. "It's a two-hundred-dollar white T," Nelly said. "It's got to be the most expensive white T I've ev...

Nelly's Sister Dies of Leukemia

Mar 24, 2005 10:00 am PST

The sister of Grammy-winning rapper Nelly died Thursday at a St. Louis hospital after a long battle with leukemia, the artist's publicist said. Jacqueline "Jackie" Donahue, 31, had been diagnosed with leukemia on March 29, 2001. The cance...

Nelly Nominated For Two Country Music Television Awards

Feb 28, 2005 7:00 am PST

Rapper Nelly already has three Grammy Awards on his mantle, but the rapper is hoping to add a Country Music Television Award or two to his collection. Allhiphop.com reports that Nelly was nominated for two Country Music Television (CMT) Aw...

1-6 of 29 videos