BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - AMERICAN rapper Rick Ross will be the headline act at an international concert to be held at the Warner Park Football Stadium on the eve of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Finals.
Speaking at a press conference today (Jun. 10) held at the Pavilion Christophe Harbour, CPL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Damien O’Donohoe announced that they had landed the rapper after two months of negotiations.
“This is very much a combination of sport and entertainment and I think what we proved last year showed exactly what we hope to do.
“In relation to the entertainment side of things, when Minister Phillip and I spoke he wanted an international act to be a part of the deal and I asked him to put down a list of three acts. They were pretty high quality but I think the one that was number one on his list was Rick Ross. After two months of negotiations we finally agreed. Mr. Ross is one of the biggest rappers in the States, and to get him to come and put on a concert on the 15th, right before the Finals, is something we are excited about and looking forward to.”
Also today, Sir Ian ;Beefy’ Botham announced the plans for Beefy’s Bash, a charity T20 game, which is expected to feature some former legends of the game as well as media personality Piers Morgan.
“We will have this game which will be a charity event for a local charity here on the island. There will be a lot of international players. I am trying to get Viv Richards, Piers Morgan, Shane Warne, Kevin Pietersen, WasimAkram and Brett Lee.
“It will be exciting; it will be a proper game! Brian Lara will be captaining the other side. I am looking forward to it and I think the island should look forward to it, and I think you should embrace it because it is special.
“These kinds of fixtures you expect to go to Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica! No...it will be here in St. Kitts.”
An ecstatic Minister of Sports Hon. Glenn Phillip expressed his delight for the Federation hosting such big events with the CPL.
“This journey began about a year ago when we began negotiating with the CPL to come here in St. Kitts and Nevis. We intend to host great matches in St. Kitts...great atmosphere. Like my good friend usually say, we are going to have great calypso cricket.
“Today, I am pleased to be here, pleased to be associated with the CPL.”
The multi-million selling rapper will top the bill at the concert, which will be held at the Warner Park Football Stadium on Friday August 15, the night before the CPL Final.
The Miami rapper will bring yet more international star quality to the high octane cricket tournament, which boasts some of the most exciting players on the planet, as well as Hollywood shareholders Mark Wahlberg and Gerard Butler.
Also known as ‘Rozay’, Rick Ross has scored five number one albums in the US and collaborated with the likes of Jay Z, Kanye West and Drake, and fans would be hoping to see him perform some of his biggest hits, including ‘The Boss, ‘Aston Martin Music’ and ‘Nobody’= from his latest album, Mastermind.
The concert will undoubtedly add spice to what already promises to be a thrilling Finals week in St. Kitts, ensuring that the CPL lives up to its reputation as the Biggest Party in Sport.
