LUANDA, Angola — A Morris Township concert promoter said he is stuck in Angola and has been threatened at gunpoint by a local promoter following the cancellation of a performance by rapper Nas in the southwestern African country.

Patrick Allocco, CEO of AllGood Concerts, said in an interview Sunday that he and his son, also named Patrick, are in a hotel in the Luanda capital, but cannot leave the country because of an investigation into the concert.

Allocco arranged to have Nas perform a New Year’s concert in Angola, but the rapper never showed.

That infuriated local promoter, Henrique "Riquhino" Miguel, who fronted $300,000 for the show, Allocco said.

Miguel is insisting Nas return the $300,000 plus $50,000 in expenses before the Alloccos can leave. The Alloccos, ages 51 and 22, are in good spirits but battling dysentery. They have access to a cell phone and have contacted the U.S. Embassy.

"The parties are working toward a resolution, and Embassy officials will continue to provide all appropriate assistance," said a U.S. State Department official who asked to remain remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak about the matter.

Allocco has not been arrested, he said, but there is a hold on his passport.

"The investigation could last forever," Allocco said.

Allocco’s wife Abby said Sunday that she has spoken to representatives from the State Department and U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen’s (R-11th Dist.) office.

"I just want them home," she said.

A Frelinghuysen spokesman confirmed his office was working on the matter.



"After we became aware last week of Mr. Allocco's predicament in Angola, Congressman Frelinghuysen reached out to Ambassador Christopher McMullen and our office has been in regular contact with U.S. embassy staff," said Steve Wilson, a spokesman for the congressman. "We understand that Mr. Allocco and his son are safe and negotiations to allow them to return home will hopefully be concluded soon. In the meantime, we remain in touch with the Allocco family here in New Jersey."



The father and son helped arrange two New Year’s performances by Nas and Jemiah Jai in Luanda, Allocco said.

But moments after he arrived at Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport on Dec. 30, Allocco said, he learned the rappers weren’t coming.

"When I told the local promoter that the acts had not traveled, he became extremely angry," Allocco said. Nas has wired $200,000 to Allocco’s attorney, Allocco said.

"He is supposed to send another $100,000, but now he is reneging," Allocco said.

Nas could not be reached for comment.

TMZ.com, which broke the story, reported that Nas did initially agree to perform in Angola, but called it off because of a "miscommunication" about travel plans.

Allocco said, and a report in The Miami Herald confirmed, that Nas instead attended a star-studded New Year's Eve party with the Miami Heat's LeBron James.

Fearing for their safety, Allocco said he and his son hailed a cab to the U.S. Embassy. Instead, he said, the driver dumped them in a lot surrounded by two dozen gun-toting men who threatened to throw them in jail.

The men, the Angolan promoter’s security guards, Allocco said, carted them to jail, where they endured hours of interrogation in Portuguese — which they do not speak.

"When we first arrived at the jail for questioning, they made sure to show me where I would be staying if I couldn’t get the act or the money right away," Allocco said. "It was a Third World holding cell that smelled of sweat and human body odor."

At the behest of U.S. Embassy Vice Consul David Josar, Allocco said, the father and son were released to a Luanda hotel, where they await a resolution of this "nightmare."

Allocco said he is an experienced promoter who has booked shows for James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire and Jermaine Jackson. He has worked in Colombia, Trinidad and India without incident.

Staff writers Dan Goldberg and Bob Considine contributed to this report.