POP/ROCK - July 19, 1990

On the Rap Front: Two town officials and the police department in Hampton, N.H., have received death threats related to moves to ban the rap group 2 Live Crew from playing at a local club, police said Wednesday. The threats were contained in two letters sent to town offices Tuesday which made “threatening references” to firebombs, police chief Robert Mark said. The letters arrived a day after a widely publicized selectman’s meeting was held to explore ways to keep 2 Live Crew from performing on July 23 at the 1,700-seat Club Casino in Hampton Beach, a popular seacoast resort area. The club’s owners are describing the show as X-rated and said they would admit only people 18 years old and over. Hampton town officials decided they were powerless to stop the concert, but police said they would stop the show if they believe the state’s obscenity law is being violated.