'Bust a Move' rapper Young MC backs out of 'politically charged,' controversial Freedom 250 concert

Joey NolfiThu, May 28, 2026 at 1:35 PM UTC

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Young MC; Donald Trump
Credit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty; Aaron Schwartz/Sipa/Bloomberg via GettyKey Points -

"Bust a Move" rapper Young MC has backed out of the "politically charged" Freedom 250 concert.

"The artists were never told about any political involvement with the event," Young MC wrote online.

The artist is the latest to exit the event after Morris Day previously said he also wouldn't perform.

"Bust a Move" rapper Young MC will not participate in a controversial 16-day concert celebrating the United States' 250th birthday, the recording artist announced online.

After a June 26 lineup revealed Young MC would join other hitmakers for an I Love the '90s portion of the celebration, the 59-year-old released a statement announcing that he backed out of the planned concert.

"I HAVE INFORMED MY AGENTS THAT I WILL NOT BE PERFORMING AT THE FREEDOM 250 EVENT," he wrote late Wednesday in a Facebook post.

Young MC in 2019
Credit: Scott Dudelson/Getty

He added that "artists were never told about any political involvement with the event."

Young MC also cited media reports that the event is "Trump-backed" as a reason for backing out — "despite the claims by the organizers that the event is non-partisan," he noted.

"I hope to perform in D.C. in the near future at an event that is not so politically charged," the statement finished.

Another performer, Morris Day, announced Wednesday on Instagram that he would not be taking the stage at the concert.

"Contrary to rumor, Morris Day and the Time will not be performing at the 'Great American State Fair,'" he wrote in the post, which was captioned, "It's a no for me."

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Entertainment Weekly has reached out to representatives for Freedom 250 and the White House for comment.

A prior announcement described the event as "an unforgettable evening celebrating the iconic music, energy, and artists that defined a generation," and "an evening of 90s nostalgia, iconic hits, and live performances from some of the era’s most recognizable names."

Other performers announced Wednesday to play at the I Love the '90s portion of the event include C+C Music Factory, Vanilla Ice, and Milli Vanilli.

Young MC in 2013
Credit: Thomas B. Shea/Getty

Set to run from June 25 through July 10, the Freedom 250 concert series will welcome other acts for different portions of the event, including Flo Rida, Martina McBride, and Bret Michaels.

Freedom 250 is described online as "the national, non-partisan organization leading the celebration of our Nation's 250th birthday."

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The site continues, "Working together with the White House Task Force 250, federal agencies, and the Commission, Freedom 250 serves as the official public-private partnership that connects, aligns, and amplifies national and local efforts to deliver the defining presidential moments of this anniversary year."

The Freedom 250 event's I Love the '90s portion is still scheduled for Friday, June 26 at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall.

on Entertainment Weekly

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