Patrick Allocco of AllGood Concerts and his son, Patrick Jr., were still in the African country of Angola Jan. 30, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been called upon to help.
The two men have been held as U.S. and local officials work out a money dispute over two canceled New Year’s Eve concerts with rapper Nas. A Morris Township, N.J., official asked Clinton to ramp up efforts to free them.
“I ask that you increase your efforts and the efforts of the United States Government to bring home Patrick [Allocco] and Patrick Jr. They are our countrymen and my neighbors and friends,” Deputy Mayor Bruce Sisler wrote in a letter to the Secretary, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger.
Allocco, from Morris Township in New Jersey, booked the performer for the shows and accepted $300,000 up front but Nas didn’t make the trip. Angolan promoter Henrique Miguel wanted his $300,000 back plus $75,000 in additional expenses,
Nas has since returned the $300,000, which was given to Miguel, the Star-Ledger said.
“Today’s deal du jour from the local promoter is that we pay an immediate additional $50,000 and then defer $25,000 in installments upon our return home,” Allocco said on Facebook, according to the Morristown Green.
The U.S. State Department and Angolan officials continue to sort out the details.