Hip-Hop Concert Causes Controversy at Riverview Park

There’s a debate over the type of music allowed at a popular Des Moines concert series at Riverview Park.

Fans at the north side park have been able to listen to just about every kind of music at the new Amphitheater. But now we’re learning about a disagreement surrounding hip-hop music played on the stage.

“Every other word apparently was f-bombs,” said Des Moines City Councilperson Linda Westergaard.

Westergaard heard reports of a hip-hop group using vulgar language at what’s supposed to be a family-friendly event. She did not want that repeated {snip} This led to the resignation of one of the Parks neighborhood leaders and concert organizers Tanner Faaborg. Since then, he’s released a letter accusing Westerguaard of, “what I felt to be a discriminatory request.”

An online news report on the controversy also included information about Billy Weathers, also known as B.Well, a popular Des Moines rap artist. He posted on social media that he’s concerned about recent news stories of what he calls racist statements by Westergaard and Polk County supervisor Tom Hockensmith.

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