Allocco: Nas Lying About Concert No-Show

The Morris Plains concert promoter on fraud accusations after Nas didn't appear for a series of New Year's Eve shows disputed the platinum-selling rapper's account of the ordeal Thursday.

In an MTV News interview, Nas said Patrick Allocco didn't arrange for the rapper's basics—a travel visa and return tickets—so he skipped the event, and instead performed at NBA star Lebron James' party in Miami. Nas also said he was upset that Allocco, CEO of AllGood Entertianment, wouldn't pay him until he boarded a plane to the African nation.

"Basically, he was a promoter that I never worked with, and he wanted me to come to Africa for New Year's, which, for me, I thought, would be the best way to spend New Year's," Nas said during the interview. "The business wasn't handled. There was nothing sent to me, and there were no flights. By the time he did send money—he did eventually send money to me—but it was too late to go. I didn't even have a visa to get in the country. So that's canceled, the show's canceled."

But Allocco said Nas, who eventually returned the $300,000 he was fronted for the concerts, wasn't telling the truth.

"He's revising history right now," Allocco said.

Allocco made the trip to Angola with his son and was apprehended and interrogated by Angolan officials after Nas was a confirmed no-show. The pair spent almost two months in a hotel in Luanda, the nation's capital, under a travel ban while negotiating their return to the U.S.

It was only when his funds ran almost dry, Allocco said, that American embassy officials stepped up their actions and helped them onto a flight to Lisbon. Allocco said while he and his son are healthy, they still owe Angolan concert promoter Henrique “Riquhino” Miguel about $75,000 in lost expenses.

Throughout the ordeal, Nas kept silent about the issue. But Allocco said he took exception with the hip-hop artist's rendition of the events.

Miguel not only arranged for Allocco's flights and visas, but was also supposed to do the same for those of Nas and his management, the Morris Township resident said.

What's more, Nas' manager, Anthony Saleh, told Allocco's business partner, Carolann Santacruz, that the star would only make the trip when he was paid in full, Allocco said.

Allocco said Nas was paid $150,000 up front. Then when Saleh texted Santacruz a photo of a boarding pass for a flight from Atlanta to New York, where Nas was then to take a flight to Angola, the rest of the money was wired to Nas' account, Allocco said.

But 45 minutes after Nas' Atlanta-New York flight left, Santacruz learned Nas never boarded the plane, Allocco said. The father and son, however, were already en route to Africa, Allocco said.

Allocco said he didn't know if Miguel actually ever arranged for Nas' visa or flights, but said he found it hard to believe that his plans were taken care of and those of Nas, the headlining act, weren't.

"I find it hard to believe Nas' was the only one whose paperwork wasn't completed," Allocco said.

Allocco said he experienced chronic fatigue for two weeks after his return, but that he's back to normal and trying to resume work.

"It didn't matter where I was or when it was, I'd just fall asleep," he said.

Debt has been his biggest problem, Allocco said.

"Thing have been good," he said. "The biggest problem has been money, to be honest with you. We came out of there with less than $1,000 in our pockets. [We were expecting] a profit of almost $75,000 to $100,000.

"We're almost $200,000 in debt right now."

Allocco also said he's been speaking to lawyers about filing a civil suit against Nas, but hasn't made a decision.

"We're still just evaluating our options," Allocco said. "Haven't made a decision yet either way."