LUDACRIS TO PLAY ORANGE ROCKCORPS AS ORGANISERS URGE GOVERNMENT TO LET BUSTA RHYMES PLAY TO 5000 CHARITY VOLUNTEERS

London 25th September: US rap star Ludacris has been added to the line-up for this Friday's Orange RockCorps gig following news that his friend, fellow hip-hop superstar Busta Rhymes has been detained at London City Airport on the eve of the gig for 5,000 charity volunteers. Organisers have responded by securing Ludacris, an act of similar international stature as Busta Rhymes.

Organisers are currently urging government to allow Busta Rhymes to perform to youth charity volunteers at the Royal Albert Hall this Friday.

The hip-hop star is due to play to 5,000 young volunteers - who have each given four hours of their time to charity in order to see him perform at the UK's first-ever Orange RockCorps gig. Fans didn't buy their tickets, they didn't win their tickets, they earned their tickets in a series of four-hour Orange RockCorps community projects over the summer, clocking up 20,000 collective hours. Busta Rhymes was the first act to be announced for the Orange RockCorps show.

Busta Rhymes arrived in the UK at 07:26 this morning. He was initially denied entry to the country due to, ""unresolved convictions in the USA."" His lawyer, Philip Trott (Bates Wells & Braithwaite London LLP) intervened and presented papers in support of Busta's case for entry. The Immigration authorities repeated he was to be denied entry and made arrangements to fly him back to Amsterdam on a flight at 09:30.

Contact was made with the duty High Court Judge, Mr Justice Flaux, who granted an injunction at 08:58 to prevent Busta being returned to Amsterdam. He is currently detained pending a decision on temporary admission by the Immigration Officer. Documents are being prepared to apply for Judicial Review as early as possible today.

At Busta Rhyme's insistence his friend Ludacris was contacted immediately. The rapper will make his way to the UK at the eleventh hour to ensure that fans will definitely get to see a major US hip-hop act. The Automatic, Guillemots, Lethal Bizzle, John Legend and Feeder will also perform at the Royal Albert Hall.

Busta Rhymes was told he did not have permission to work due to his minor criminal record, despite the fact that:

• He has a valid work permit for Friday's performance • He has been into the country twice already this year to perform commercial gigs two commercial gigs including Nike Midnight Madness at Wembley arena • Busta has already been let into the UK this year for Orange RockCorps work, when he completed charity work for Sports Action Zone in Lambeth, which was aired on T4 • 5,000 fans who gave their time to charitable causes are expecting to see him play tomorrow night • 20,000 hours of voluntary work have been completed by young volunteers in the UK in order to see Busta Rhymes perform • Busta Rhymes has never served any time in prison, and has completed community service for his convictions

V, the most significant of the government-funded programmes to boost volunteering, set up by Gordon Brown in 2006, currently lists Orange RockCorps as ‘Opportunity of the Month'. The initiative is also endorsed by the Princes Trust and the GLA, and has the full support of Mayor Boris Johnson.

Stephen Greene, co-founder of RockCorps comments: “We're shocked at this sequence of events and this treatment of Busta. He has the necessary work-permit and has been in the country twice already this year, so we're a little puzzled that a question mark is now being placed over his ability to enter the country to perform to volunteers.

“Orange RockCorps has inspired thousands of young Brits to help their community, get involved and make a real difference through a love of music, so we have every confidence that the government will rule in our favour later today and allow us to fulfil our promise to these positive young people by allowing Busta Rhymes into the country to perform.”

Justin Billingsley, Brand Director for Orange UK adds: “Busta has been a brilliant draw, and has played a huge role in motivating 5,000 young people. Given the facts, we see no reason why the government should decide to take a different approach now at the expense of these young volunteers. We're hoping that Ludacris can join Busta in what will be an incredible night bringing the best of talent from both sides of the pond to those who have given their time.”

Marcus Alexander Neil, who completed a project for CSV at Winton Primary school says: “I'm shocked to hear the news that Busta Rhymes may not be allowed to play the event as advertised. I volunteered at Winton Primary school and had a brilliant time doing so, but Busta has certainly been a motivating factor for me and loads of my mates, so I don't see why our hard work should be penalised now. Although we're gutted that Busta may not perform, it's brilliant about Ludacris.”

Fifty volunteer projects in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff and Southampton have been conducted since July in collaboration with over 40 charities, including Sports Action Zone, Thames 21, Envision, Crisis, CSV, Young Timebank, and Hoxton Hall. All volunteers are encouraged to strike up a long-term relationship with these charities, without the lure of a gig ticket.

RockCorps has been running in the US for four years, collaborating with artists including Kanye West, Kelis, Panic at the Disco, Nas, Korn, and Nelly. More than 35,000 young people have participated in projects that have benefited their local communities, and over 35% of those participants have volunteered again within 12 months.

Busta Rhymes has supported RockCorps in the States since it began. He has played three shows in three cities and volunteered for 10 community projects.

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