Promotions company, 800 Entertainment, is looking to get some serious cash from Busta Rhymes after a lawsuit claims the rapper lied about his warrant for arrest so he could book an appearance. Page Six reports that the company booked Busta, born Trevor Smith, to perform at the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Somerset, New Jersey, on April 21st.
Apparently, the company agreed to pay Busta $17,000 to perform a few verses from three of his songs. Two weeks before he was set to hit the stage he said he couldn't make it "because he had to be in court that day to answer a child-support warrant.” 800 Entertainment says they suspected something was off since he was keen on doing the gig on Saturday “and no federal courts are open on weekends.”
Busta then posted a flier to his Instagram promoting a gig at another club on the same night. Busta gave 800 Entertainment back their $17,000 but the company wants more. The publication says they are looking for $100,000 for breach of contract, $500,000 for lost revenue, $500,000 for emotional distress and $1 million for “punitive damages for willful breach” of contract.