"LET BUSTA RHYMES PLAY TO 5,000 VOLUNTEERS, URGES ORANGE ROCKCORPS "

London 26th September: Legal teams will work through the night in a bid to ensure that Busta Rhymes can perform to 5,000 volunteers at the Orange RockCorps gig tomorrow night at Royal Albert Hall.

A High Court judge ordered Busta's release this evening after he was detained at London City Airport from 07.26am yesterday morning. At present he has been granted entry into the UK, but has been denied the right to perform.

A judicial review of the immigration decision is scheduled to begin at 2pm today . This could mean that the final outcome will be made very close to the gig's starting time of 7pm.

Despite a long wait, an energetic Busta Rhymes says: “I came to the UK to perform for all of the Orange Rock Corps volunteers who put in time in their community and that's what I'm going to do! I support the RockCorps movement in the States because I believe in giving back to one's community and I think it's important to spread that message worldwide. I am here officially in the UK, and thanks to all parties involved hopefully I will be able to put on an incredible show for the kids tomorrow.”

The 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. Busta Rhymes was the first act to be announced for the Orange RockCorps show. So far, 20,000 collective hours have been given by young people in order to see the star perform.

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 and he been into the country twice already this year to perform two gigs including Nike Midnight Madness at Wembley arena.

In addition to Busta Rhymes, Ludacris has agreed to come and support the movement and will be joining the Orange RockCorps line-up, which also includes The Automatic, Guillemots, Lethal Bizzle, John Legend and Feeder.

Stephen Greene, co-founder of RockCorps comments: “Busta's release is an extremely welcome development. 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 tomorrow and allow us to fulfil our promise to these positive young people by allowing Busta Rhymes to perform.”

Justin Billingsley, Brand Director for Orange UK adds: “Our number one priority is the fans and ensuring they get the gig that they deserve and have earned. We're working through the night, and are hoping that Busta can join Ludacris — who we secured earlier today - 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.”

Fifty Orange RockCorps 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, 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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