Rap artist 21 Savage is being sued for breach of contract over a 2016 club performance.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported March 8 that a week after the Liberty County District Attorney’s office rejected a felony case against the Atlanta rapper for a contract dispute regarding a 2016 performance, the club promoter has re-filed it as a civil case in Fulton County, where the artist lives.
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Sadaetirs Kent Smith, who hired the rapper for a show, is seeking $60,000 for breach of contract and $1 million for emotional distress. She is also requesting a trial by jury.
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Smith filed for a warrant in October 2016, but didn’t pursue the matter until 21 Savage, who’s legally known as She’yaa Bin Abraham-Joseph, was arrested Feb. 3 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for overstaying his visa and residing in the country illegally. The rapper spent 10 days in the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla before a federal immigration judge in Atlanta approved his release on a $100,000 bond.
Dina LaPolt, a lawyer for 21 Savage, said in an emailed response, “This is a civil matter and will be handled accordingly.”
Smith alleges that 21 Savage accepted a payment of $16,500 for a Sept. 4, 2016, concert at Club Bo’Maz in Hinesville, but never performed.
The rapper, 26, is alleged to have caused “damage to the property of the event’s venue as he departed” and for “sneaking out of the venue after getting paid.”
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Smith’s filing also notes that 21 Savage was granted up to 30 complimentary admissions for his guest list at a cost of $1,200. Additional money was spent for security and concert production, such as sound and lighting, the filing notes.
21 Savage was nominated for two awards at the Grammys, including record of the year for Rockstar alongside Post Malone. His second solo album I Am I Was, released in December, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.