Local touring company Peace Music has issued a statement today explaining why Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s November-slated tour has been cancelled. The dates for the two members of A Tribe Called Quest were announced right here on inthemix in August, but it seems those plans have been derailed by a dodgy agent overseas. Over to you, Peace Music.

“It has very recently come to light the agent for the tour has grossly misrepresented the artists involved, and misappropriated payments made to him on behalf of the artists,” the statement details.

“Despite meeting with management in Australia in August, the fact that the tour dates were little more than an elaborate scam did not come to light until very recently. On further investigation Peace discovered that the ‘agent’ in question, one James Richardson of Abstrakt Visions Entertainment, had defrauded three different European promoters in connection with misrepresenting Phife earlier in the year, and that he appeared to be little more than a career con man.

“Despite their best efforts to keep the tour in place, today through consultation with management, Peace Music reached the understandable decision not to proceed with the tour. Peace would like to express our most sincere regret to all those who purchased tickets in connection with this tour and look forward to presenting some of the world’s best hip hop artists this summer, including De La Soul and Mos Def.”

In addition to their headline shows, Ali and Phife were also on the second round line-up for Canberra’s Foreshore Festival. Peace Music has announced that the triple-bill of Pharoahe Monch, Jean Grae and Boogie Blind will now be filling the gap at the Metro Theatre in Sydney on Friday 26 November. Ticket-holders for Ali and Phife are entitled to a full refund or two-for-one tickets to the Pharoahe show.

source: http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/aust/48442/Phife_Dawg_and_Ali_tour_undone_by_fraud