Dancehall entertainer Kraff has been called out by a promoter for failing to meet his contractual agreement after not showing up to Galiday Bounce. The New York-based New Year’s Eve event, which he headlined, was ultimately postponed, and its head organiser, Galdiez Mendez, lashed out, demanding a refund from Kraff.
Mendez took to social media Wednesday with accusations aimed at Kraff, including unfulfilled promotional duties. Venting his frustration, he said in a video that the entertainer refused to participate in advertising for the event, including sharing flyers and promotional material online, despite being paid.
Mendez argued that promotion by the headlining act was critical to ticket sales and visibility for the show. He said he had to get someone in Jamaica to push Kraff to do the promotions, and he eventually shared a few flyers on his social media pages.
The event was scheduled at the Amazura Concert Hall, and Mendez insisted that preparations for the event were complete, which he said cost him around US$59,000. Alongside Kraff, other entertainers such as Tatik, Kkrytical, Sita, Foota Hype, Joe Young, FyaaMan, and Kayson Full Charge were booked for the event.
According to the promoter, he was there waiting with other performers and members of the production team. “Me deh a Hilton a wait on the boy,” Mendez said in one video and went on to name multiple entertainers who were already in the city. He insisted that everything was arranged, including reservations at the DoubleTree Hotel in Queens.
He demanded the return of a payment he said he made to Kraff in advance. In a heated moment online, Mendez called on the artiste to refund more than US$21,000, claiming the funds were part of the agreed booking fee.
Before the rant, Kraff’s management team had informed fans on Tuesday that he would not be performing at Club Amazura for Galiday Bounce. The announcement was made in a statement that said Kraff and his team had allowed the promoter “extensive time and repeated good-faith opportunities” to address outstanding issues, but those matters were not resolved.
The statement also pushed back against suggestions that the performance was intended as a benefit concert. “At no point was this performance contracted, discussed, or approved as a benefit concert,” the team said, noting that they only became aware of that description after it appeared in promotional material and media coverage.
On Wednesday night, Kraff released a video of his own in response to Mendez’s claims. He rejected claims that he or his team were being unreasonable. He accused the promoter of failing to properly compensate entertainers and said attempts were being made to pressure or “bully” performers into proceeding without the agreed arrangements in place. “You do everything else except send the bread,” Kraff said, adding that travel and other requirements had not been fulfilled.
In a further statement, Kraff’s team outlined their position in detail, saying the promoter paid a total of US$19,400 through multiple fragmented transactions. They maintained that this amount did not meet their contractual terms, but they still did some advertising and promotion for the event. The statement added that on the day of the event there were no confirmed flights, accommodations, transportation, per diems, or secured balance, making it impossible for the performance to go ahead.
The cancellation has left fans scrambling for refunds through the promoter, while Kraff’s team maintains that the singer will not return to New York unless future plans are handled properly.
