Pay Up! Rapper Silentó Stuck in the UAE

Looks like U.S. rapper Silentó, of Whip/Nae Nae fame, is experiencing his own version of locked up abroad over in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The 19-year-old, real name Ricky Lamar Hawk, cannot leave the Middle Eastern country until he pays just over $81,000 to Makki Taj El Sir Abdel Halim, who claims Silentó failed to appear at concerts in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain last month.

Halim said the concerts were to be held in the afternoon in Al Ain for $4,000 and another at night in Abu Dhabi for $5,000. In addition he alleges he covered costs for travel, accommodations and other incidentals, only for the rapper to be a no show for the two shows, as well as one in Muscat, Oman.

Al Ain Civil Court imposed the travel ban on February 20 and ordered Silentó to surrender his passport to authorities in Al Ain until payment was made or the case settled. The court issued its order after being presented with signed contracts and receipts for the payments made to Jenna Kadhum, who is representing Silentó in the Middle East on behalf of his U.S. management team, Capitol Records’s Carlos Welch and Chester Wilkins.

The ban isn’t stopping the young star from enjoying his Middle East adventure and making that paper. He went ahead with plans to perform at Dubai’s XL Beach Club after meeting fans at Box Park in Jumeirah, Dubai and performed at The W Hotel’s Crystal Lounge and Bar in Doha on March 2. The only worry Silentó seems to have at the moment is that he can’t sleep in his own bed, according to a tweet the star sent out on March 1st. Let’s hope he gets back to his own bed soon.