Fat Joe, Tyga cancel Israel show
Rappers back out of Thursday concert due to ‘security situation’
Famed rappers Fat Joe and Tyga have both pulled out of the upcoming Shaka Festival slated for this week in Rishon Lezion, citing the “security situation.”
The pair of American musicians were set to headline the festival at the Rishon Lezion Live Park on August 9. The acts were to scheduled to be joined by a long lineup of Israeli hiphop artists.
But on Sunday afternoon, the festival’s publicist announced that both musicians were canceling their appearances “due to the security situation.”
It was not immediately clear what security situation the publicist was referring to. While Israel keeps a wary eye on both its northern and southern borders, things have been relatively quiet over the past few weeks.
The local production company said the entire festival was being canceled, and tickets would be fully refunded.
The concert would have been the first Israel performances for both Tyga, a Grammy-nominated artist and regular gossip column feature from California, and Fat Joe, a rapper, actor and Grammy-nominated performer from the Bronx.
The Shaka Festival took place last year for the first time, with rapper Sean Paul performing for close to 15,000 fans.
Earlier this year, as tensions along the Gaza border flared up, Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil canceled an upcoming show over the “sensitive moment.”
But since then many international acts, including Enrique Iglesias, Ringo Starr, Maluma, Flo Rida, Ozzy Osbourne, Alanis Morissette and Jason Derulo have put on major shows in Israel this summer.