EA reps: Let Snoop play

Daily Tar Heel: So why Snoop Dogg?

Tyler Bronzino: EA wanted to attach a big name to the game.

These kinds of conversations are above my head, but the policy seems kinds of ambiguous. People who perform here for other things are basically promoting their albums — James Taylor was here promoting the Obama campaign.

There’s a disconnect between the University hosting a free activity, and EA promoting a game.

DTH: What’s been the most frustrating thing as your bosses negotiate this concert?

TB: We’re not selling anything. EA Campus has had events on campus to promote other games before — we had a Madden tournament in the fall for “Madden 2011,” and others.

We are just promoting this game. EA just wants to create an enjoyable experience for students to enjoy on campus.

DTH: The University has not yet released a statement regarding the concert. What’s the latest?

TB: EA has said that it is willing to do the concert on campus without promoting “Bulletstorm,” and instead have an after-party at a local bar for the game.

DTH: How has EA dealt with the hurdles blocking the concert?

TB: I don’t think they really expected to have so many hurdles to jump.

Honestly, I don’t think EA Sports could have gone months in advance to every University in the country and asked, “Can we have a concert here?”

On March 15, the day after the contest ended, EA started talking with University officials. We didn’t need any group to help manage it.

The concert is set in a contract to be on April 23. We hope that it will be figured out by then.

DTH: People have said they don’t want Snoop Dogg to perform because of his lyrics — the violent or sexist lyrics. What do you think about that?

TB: We don’t want to comment on negative things. This is a free concert that our school won, and I want and a lot of other people want to go and enjoy it.

If people are making negative comments, it helps raise awareness.

With so many legitimate problems going on, are we really gonna complain about a free concert cause Snoop has explicit lyrics?

Brendan Kaminsky: We’ve had Fabolous, we’ve had Big Boi, we’ve had other rappers who stand for similar values, and they were on campus.

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.