In November 2021, rap superstars Kanye West and Drake hosted a benefit concert in support of efforts to free Larry Hoover from prison. The concert, titled “Free Larry Hoover,” took place at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and was streamed globally on Amazon Prime Video. Though tickets to attend the concert in person were free, the high-profile nature of the event and messaging around Hoover’s case generated substantial interest and debate.
Who is Larry Hoover?
Larry Hoover is a convicted felon currently serving six life sentences in federal prison for murder, conspiracy, extortion, money laundering and other charges. Hoover was a leader of the Chicago street gang Gangster Disciples in the 1970s. He was convicted in 1997 for a murder committed in 1973.
Hoover has been in prison for over 50 years. During his imprisonment, Hoover has denounced gang life and advocated for prison reform. His supporters, including his son Larry Hoover Jr., have petitioned for Hoover to be released on the grounds that he is rehabilitated and wants to better his community. Others argue Hoover still wields control over Gangster Disciples and should remain incarcerated.
What was the purpose of the Free Larry Hoover concert?
The official purpose of the Free Larry Hoover benefit concert was to advocate for Larry Hoover’s release from prison through raising awareness about his case.
Kanye West and others believe Hoover has reformed himself in prison and deserves clemency. The high-profile concert was meant to ignite public interest and put pressure on authorities to reconsider Hoover’s life sentences.
Others have speculated there were additional motivations:
– For Kanye West, the concert continues his interest in religion and prison reform. West wanted to support the redemption of Larry Hoover as an important cause.
– For Drake, performing with Kanye West at a historic venue like the LA Coliseum provided immense exposure and buzz around the rap icons patching up their ongoing feud.
– For Amazon, streaming the concert globally on Prime Video attracted new subscribers and enabled data collection on millions of engaged viewers.
So while advocating for Hoover’s release was central, the concert also intersected with promotional interests.
When and where did the concert take place?
The Free Larry Hoover benefit concert took place on December 9, 2021 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The venue was significant because it is the stadium where the Olympics and major sports teams play.
Kanye West, Drake, and a full roster of guest artists performed live on a levitating stage suspended over the field. The concert was globally livestreamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Over 30,000 people attended the concert in person in Los Angeles. The livestream enabled millions more to watch online for free on Prime Video, though an Amazon Prime subscription was required.
The LA Coliseum concert marked the first time Kanye West and Drake shared the stage since 2015. Their performance together capped over a decade of tension between the chart-topping rappers.
Key facts on Free Larry Hoover concert venue:
Venue | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
Location | Los Angeles, California, USA |
Capacity | Up to 78,000 |
Key events hosted | Olympics, Super Bowls, World Series, concerts, rallies |
How were tickets distributed?
Tickets to attend the Free Larry Hoover concert in person at the LA Coliseum were free. Anyone could request up to 4 tickets per household.
Tickets were only available online through a link that was shared and promoted by Kanye West and others in the days leading up to the show. The tickets provided electronic admission to the concert stadium in LA.
Demand vastly exceeded supply for the free tickets. The limited tickets were all claimed within hours after the link was posted online. Fans trying afterwards were waitlisted.
Those who secured the free tickets had to pick them up in person on the concert date at the LA Coliseum with government ID matching the name on the ticket reservations. Tickets were non-transferrable to prevent scalping.
The free distribution ensured tickets went directly to Kanye West and Drake fans who wanted to attend, instead of scalpers reselling at a major markup. However, many complained the tickets were so limited they essentially went to a select lottery of followers online at the right time.
Key facts on Free Larry Hoover concert tickets:
Ticket price | $0 per person for up to 4 tickets |
Total tickets | Over 30,000 |
Ticket release date | December 6, 2021 |
Ticketing partner | AXS |
How did people without tickets watch?
For those unable to attend in person on free tickets, the concert was globally livestreamed for free on Amazon Prime Video. Anyone with an Amazon Prime subscription could log in and watch the show live or on demand afterwards.
The concert livestream provided a high-quality experience with multiple camera angles of the performances. Additionally, within the interface, viewers could toggle different audio mixes and enjoy behind-the-scenes footage during breaks.
However, an Amazon Prime membership was still required to access the stream. Subscriptions cost $14.99 per month, or $139 per year. Non-subscribers had to sign up for at least a one-month membership to watch the Larry Hoover show for free.
Concert organizers also held public screening events in select cities including Atlanta, Chicago, Compton, and Times Square. Those communal viewing parties enabled more fans without Los Angeles tickets to share the free Larry Hoover concert experience.
Ways to watch without LA tickets:
Amazon Prime Video stream | Global free access with Prime subscription |
Public screenings | Free access in select hosted cities |
Who performed at the concert?
As headliners, Kanye West and Drake delivered full headlining sets at the Free Larry Hoover concert in LA. The rap titans even performed several songs together during the show’s climax.
The stacked lineup also included guest appearances from major artists across genres:
– Travis Scott (Rap)
– Roddy Ricch (Rap)
– Lil Baby (Rap)
– Sheck Wes (Rap)
– Fivio Foreign (Rap)
– Alicia Keys (R&B)
– Lauryn Hill (R&B)
– Roxanne Shanté (Hip hop)
– The Sunday Service Choir (Gospel)
The diverse, all-star group of guest artists underscored the significance of the event for both fans and Hoover’s clemency case.
Full lineup of Free Larry Hoover concert performers:
Kanye West | Host and headliner |
Drake | Host and headliner |
Travis Scott | Supporting act |
Lil Baby | Supporting act |
Roddy Ricch | Supporting act |
Alicia Keys | Supporting act |
Lauryn Hill | Supporting act |
Roxanne Shanté | Supporting act |
Sunday Service Choir | Supporting act |
What was the response to the concert and Hoover’s case?
The Free Larry Hoover benefit concert generated substantial buzz and controversy around Hoover’s continued imprisonment.
Many fans praised Kanye West and Drake for using their platform to advocate for criminal justice reform. High-profile celebrities including Kim Kardashian also voiced support.
However, the concert prompted backlash from legal experts and those impacted by Gangster Disciples criminal activity. Critics argued Hoover’s lifetime of orchestrating murders and trafficking drugs outweighed his recent work from prison.
After the concert, Chicago’s mayor rejected calls for Hoover’s release, maintaining he still posed a public safety threat. Protests also took place in Los Angeles while the concert was happening.
So the success in drawing attention to Hoover’s case also amplified contentious debate. Still, the widespread spotlight increased chances for legal action by sustaining public pressure.
Mixed reaction to Free Larry Hoover concert and cause:
Supporters | Fans, Kim Kardashian, prison reform advocates |
Critics | Legal experts, victim advocates, Chicago mayor |
Impact | Increased chances for legal action on case |
Conclusion
The Free Larry Hoover benefit concert offered Kanye West, Drake, and other artists a meaningful platform to advocate for prison reform. The event generated substantial publicity for Hoover’s controversial case.
While tickets to attend in person were free but extremely limited, the global livestream on Amazon Prime Video allowed millions more fans to experience the historic concert. The mix of celebrity star power and political activism made for a unique cultural moment.
Ultimately, the nuanced response to the cause indicates the complexities around justice and redemption in America. But the concert undeniably sparked new momentum and kept public focus on providing Hoover legal relief after decades behind bars. Looking ahead, time will tell if the grassroots awareness campaign successfully presses leaders to reevaluate Hoover’s prison sentences.