DUBAI // Superstar rapper Snoop Dogg is being sued in the United States over claims he defrauded the Lebanese promoter who brought him to Abu Dhabi last year.
The Young, Wild and Free rapper, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, appeared at Yas Arena on May 6 last year in a concert organised by Flash Entertainment and attended by thousands of people.
Roger Kalaouz of Roger Kalaouz and Associates (RKA) claims he made Snoop's appearance in the UAE possible but did not receive his pre-negotiated payment for doing so.
"RKA entered into negotiations with concert promoters in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other countries in the region to schedule concerts in the Middle East," the company said in its claim, filed at a US District Court in California on April 26.
The claim says RKA's efforts on Snoop's behalf made the concert possible but "Snoop failed and refused to pay RKA the consulting fees it was entitled to".
Todd Wulffson, the lawyer representing RKA, told The National the court has yet to receive a response from Snoop Dogg and his lawyers.
"Usually after the serving of the notice a response has to be filed to court within 20 days," he said. "We are expecting a response by next week, as we have granted them two extra weeks to get their response to the court ready."
According to Mr Wulffson, both sides will argue the merits of the case before it is decided if the case will move forward.
Flash Entertainment said they were aware of a lawsuit being filed concerning the Beirut concert, but not the Abu Dhabi performance. They added that they were not involved in any way.
Apart from suing Snoop personally, RKA is also suing his company Doggy Style Music and its president Ted Chung.
Mr Kalaouz, who organised Snoop's first Middle East concert in Beirut in 2009, said he also incurred expenses promoting the latest Lebanese concert. "RKA performed all of its obligations under the agreement and incurred out-of-pocket expenses in excess of $800,000 directly related to promoting and arranging the concert," the claim read.
RKA also says Snoop "severely damaged" its reputation by being videotaped "conspicuously smoking" marijuana in a Beirut bar and failed to pay a fee when it organised his collaboration with Lebanese superstar Haifa Wehbe and Egyptian artist Tamer Hosny on two records.
All in all, Mr Kalaouz is seeking damages for breach of contract, fraud, concealment, conspiracy and false promise, unfair competition, and intentional interference with prospective economic advantage.
Snoop Dogg rose to fame after he was taken under the wing of producer Dr Dre. His debut album, 1992's Doggystyle, topped the Billboard Hot 100. The rapper has gone on to release another 10 studio albums, recorded E! reality TV series, Snoop Dogg's Father Hood, and has made multiple cameo appearances on the silver screen.
While his entertainment career has enjoyed an upwards trajectory, his personal life has involved multiple arrests for a variety of misdemeanours and he was once banned from re-entering the United Kingdom and Australia after legal troubles there.
amustafa@thenational.ae
RACE RESULTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) 1hr 21min 48.527sec
2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
9. Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams) 1 lap
10. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams) 1 lap
11. Jolyon Palmer (GBR/Renault) 1 lap
12. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL/McLaren) 1 lap
13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps
The specs: 2019 Infiniti QX50
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.0L, turbocharged, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 268hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm @ 4,400rpm
Fuel economy: 6.7L / 100km (estimate)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Get inspired
Here are a couple of Valentine’s Day food products that may or may not go the distance (but have got the internet talking anyway).
Sourdough sentiments: Marks & Spencer in the United Kingdom has introduced a slow-baked sourdough loaf dusted with flour to spell out I (heart) you, at £2 (Dh9.5). While it’s not available in the UAE, there’s nothing to stop you taking the idea and creating your own message of love, stencilled on breakfast-inbed toast.
Crisps playing cupid: Crisp company Tyrells has added a spicy addition to its range for Valentine’s Day. The brand describes the new honey and chilli flavour on Twitter as: “A tenderly bracing duo of the tantalising tingle of chilli with sweet and sticky honey. A helping hand to get your heart racing.” Again, not on sale here, but if you’re tempted you could certainly fashion your own flavour mix (spicy Cheetos and caramel popcorn, anyone?).
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Scoreline
Bournemouth 2
Wilson 70', Ibe 74'
Arsenal 1
Bellerin 52'
