The reason why Nas was blamed for a man’s kidnapping in Angola
When Nas failed to show up to a gig he was scheduled to play in Angola in 2012, there were consequences. Very serious consequences indeed.
But Nas himself didn’t bear the brunt of them. It was someone else who apparently ended up taking the fall for the legendary rapper not showing up for this gig, and they had an extremely rough time of it.
Nas reportedly had accepted a $300,000 fee to perform in the Angolan capital city of Luanda for New Year’s Eve in 2011, a fee which he received upfront. This gig had been arranged by an American promoter called Partick Allocco, who, as a result of Nas’ no-show, was now forced to face the music.
Someone else who was, to put it lightly, disappointed by Nas not appearing for the gig was an Angolan concert promoter called Henrique “Riquhino” Miguel. It was Riquhino, apparently, who fronted Nas’ fee in the first place.
Riquhino was by no means happy to have shelled out $300,000 for a gig that never happened. He felt burnt from the experience, so, according to allegations made by Allocco, he took matters into his own hands.
Allocco in 2012 claimed that Riquhino kidnapped him because of Nas’ no-show, demanding that his money be returned. Allocco was reportedly stopped at gunpoint, whereupon he was taken to jail.
Allocco claimed that, during his captivity, he was constantly beaten and threatened by those he referred to as Riquhino’s “henchmen.” His account of what had happened to him was harrowing, and, to add insult to injury, Allocco was naturally unable to work during this period. He later claimed that this resulted in a loss of earnings.
Allocco’s predicament was only resolved after the US Embassy got involved. Allocco was allowed to leave his jail cell, but even then he wasn’t yet totally free. He had to remain under house arrest at his hotel.
After an ordeal that lasted for more than a month, Allocco was finally released after Nas returned the $300,000 he’d been paid. But the saga wasn’t over entirely, as Allocco later sued Nas for $10 million. It is unclear how this case has been resolved in the years since.