The New Orleans Police Department is increasing security in the Central Business District and the French Quarter on Sunday and Monday ahead of Baton Rouge rap artist NBA Youngboy's scheduled performances at the Smoothie King Center.
Over 400 police officers will work nightly and enforcement vehicles, including drones and armored vehicles, will be stationed throughout the areas, NOPD Assistant Superintendent Hans Ganthier said Friday afternoon.
The announcement comes as several concert venues across the U.S. have canceled NBA Youngboy's shows, including ones in Chicago, Detroit and, most recently, Atlanta. In September, a teen was arrested at the rapper's Kansas City show for attacking a worker.
Law enforcement is expecting the New Orleans concerts to garner large crowds, with the 17,000-seat Smoothie King Center potentially reaching full capacity. Depending on traffic conditions, street closures and barricades may be set around Canal, Poydras and Bourbon streets, Ganthier said.
Ganthier repeatedly urged visitors not to bring firearms ahead of the concerts.
"This is not an event where you need to bring your gun. If it is, I think you should think twice about coming to the CBD and the (French) Quarter," he said.
Ganthier added that information provided by other cities and local police departments about the concert “gives (NOPD) concern” and prompted the department to create a “robust” security plan ahead of the shows.
The announcement from NOPD comes hours after local news outlets reported the cancellation of NBA Youngboy's Saturday concert in Atlanta. Local officials did not give a reason for the cancellation.
The shows in New Orleans will mark the end of the MASA 2025 tour for Youngboy, whose legal name is Kentrell Gaulden. The concert series was his first headlining tour following years of legal entanglements. In December, he was sentenced to 23 months in prison after pleading guilty to gun charges.