#FREESILENTO Silento, the Atlanta rapper whose hit song “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” is stuck in the Middle East over an apparent performance no-show. The rapper can not travel back America until a business dispute with an United Arab Emirates promoter is resolved. In the city of Al Ain, a court ruling was made against Ricky Lamar Hawk aka Silento on February 20. The “Nae Nae” rapper was ordered to pay the promoter 300,000 dirhams ($81,500 USD) in lieu of him not performing for two scheduled shows. He was scheduled to perform both shows at the Emirati capitl, Abu Dhabi, and in Al Ain, according to Mackie Entertainment’s Makki Taj El Sir Abdel Halim. The court also place a travel ban on the 19-year-old artist and order him to give up his passport until the case is settled. However, Silento just learned of the travel ban on Wednesday (March 1). Silento’s UAE representative, Jenna Kadhum, claims that the promoters allegations are false and that it was him that failed to live up to the contractual agreement. “Silento did not cancel any shows at all,” Kadhum said. The promoter is seeking to recover lost expenses, including performance fees as well as travel and marketing costs. Source
