American hip-hop star Nelly, known for such hits as “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma,” popped into Iraq’s Kurdistan for a concert over the weekend.
Yes, Kurdistan. The rapper performed for a crowd of thousands in Erbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq.
Nelly was there to raise money for the Rwanga Foundation, an NGO working in Iraqi Kurdistan, with the proceeds from the event donated to “ those impacted by the recent conflict in the region .” With Erbil only 90 kilometers from Mosul, Iraq’s Kurds have been at the forefront of the battle against ISIS since ISIS took Mosul and swept through large swaths of the country last summer.
While the foundation and local officials said the event was a success, and lauded the rapper for helping them demonstrate that Kurdistan is a safe region, the concert drew some criticism on social media. Several critics focused on the cost of the event, as the regional government is struggling to pay salaries and provide weapons to peshmerga fighters engaged in fierce battles with ISIS.
However, spokesman Zirak Hamad told local BasNews that Nelly had not been paid to perform.
We just paid the travel expenses and accommodation. All the income goes to IDPs, refugees, and martyrs peshmerga families here.
On bizarreness factor alone - we’re going to call this a win for someone - just not sure who. Kurdistan for the fact that millions of Americans are now googling “Where is Kurdistan” or Nelly for reminding people that he still exists? The court is out.