Anger at rap sheet rappers` tour

Bad rap ... hip hop star Akon has served five years in prison and once threw a boy off the stage into the crowd / Milan Scepanovic

• Akon served five years in prison
• Lyrics `glorify violence, anti-women`
• Immigration Dept yet to receive Akon visa

TWO American hip hop stars with long rap sheets are set to perform to thousands at an all-ages event in Melbourne next month.

R&B star Akon and rapper The Game - whose songs are laced with violent, racist, homophobic and sexist lyrics - are headlining the "Roc tha Block" tour on August 11 at Vodafone Arena.

Family groups have urged immigration authorities to step in.

Akon, of Senegalese origin, has served jail time for drug and theft offences.

His onstage antics, which included throwing a boy off stage and simulating sex acts with underage fans, have drawn plenty of criticism.

The Game, whose real name is Jayceon Terrell Taylor, also arrives in Melbourne with outstanding charges.

The West Coast rapper has faced disorderly conduct charges, was arrested for allegedly brandishing a gun and is due to appear in court after allegedly impersonating a policeman.

`No problem` with visas

Concert promoter Dwayne Cross said organisers expected no problems from the Immigration Department in getting visas for the artists.

"We`ve put through the visas. We don`t foresee any problems," he said.

But a spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said Akon`s visa application had not been received.

Spokeswoman Kate Walshe said The Game`s application was received on Wednesday and his case would be assessed.

The tour comes despite the ban on rapper Snoop Dogg, who was barred from Australia in April.

Family groups yesterday called for the concert to have age restrictions.

Songs `glorify violence, anti-women`

Family Council of Victoria secretary Bill Muehlenberg said the artists` songs glorified violence and were anti-women.

"The concert promoters are putting profit ahead of principle," he said.

Australian Family Association national secretary Gabrielle Walsh said under-18s should be barred from the event.

"We don`t really need people from the criminal end of town acting as heroes up on stages for our young people to admire," she said.

Mr Cross said it was "disappointing" the rap artists were attracting negative publicity.

"We`ve done these events now for four years and we`ve had no incidents at all," he said.

Artists on the bill incorporate drug references, swearing and use words such as "niggers" and "bitches" in their lyrics.

Mr Cross said it was a way artists could share their experiences.

"It`s a form of expression. I don`t think that they put any derogatory thought into their lyrics and do not mean to demean women," he said.

The artists are slated to tour Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide with Naughty By Nature, Juelz Santana and MIMS.

Five years in prison

Akon spent five years in prison for several offences.

Last month, footage surfaced of Akon demanding a boy from an audience be dragged on stage after he threw an object at him at a concert near New York.

Akon then lifted the boy over his head and threw him back into the crowd.

Another incident occurred at a concert in Trinidad in April, where the artist pulled an underage girl on stage and simulated sex acts.

The Game was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest in North Carolina in 2005.

He is also due in a US court in September over charges relating to allegedly impersonating a policeman and persuading a cab driver to run red lights.

In May, The Game was arrested at his home for allegedly threatening a colleague with a gun.