Why did Grizzly Touring sue Rod Wave? Rapper countersues promoter against $27M tour lawsuit

Rod Wave has pushed back on Grizzly Touring's lawsuit against him.

Hot97 has reported that the rapper is alleging that the promoter company is attempting to force him into a renegotiation following a string of axed performances. The dispute stems from his “Last Lap” tour, which was originally scheduled for last year but was pushed to 2025.

Grizzly Touring has alleged that Rod Wave is contractually obligated to continue working with them, despite tensions over the delays. However, the latter pushed back on the claims against him by contending that their work made it "logistically impossible" for him to perform as scheduled due to issues with production and routing.

Rod Wave and Grizzly Touring's legal struggles explored:

Hot New Hip Hop has reported that Rod, who dropped his new single, Leavin, recently, is now asking for the judge to let him self-promote his forthcoming "The Redemption Experience" tour in support of his new album. To do so, the judge would have to render his contract with Grizzly Touring null and void.

Rod Wave's lawyer, James Sammataro, reportedly said in a statement:

"Grizzly is not entitled to this improperly requested specific performance or equivalent injunctive relief, which effectively amounts to an indentured servitude. Defendants have lost confidence in Grizzly as their tour promoter and no longer wish to perform services for Grizzly or receive Grizzly’s services."

Grizzly Tour is also alleging that the cancellation of several shows was an infringement of their contract, and that they must be reimbursed with $27 million in in “unearned and unrecouped advances." Per Complex, they reportedly agreed to pay the rapper $40,250,000 for 35 shows, half of which was given upfront.

“[Rod Wave] has only performed 26 shows since the Last Lap Tour began in October 2024,” Grizzly’s attorney wrote. “That means [Rod] has only earned $29,900,000 against the guarantee, pursuant to its terms, and, as a result, now owes Grizzly $27 million for the amounts Grizzly advanced and paid on [Rod’s] behalf.”

They also claim that the rapper spent all the advance on "private jets and lavish second homes," instead of returning it to them. Rod, however, claims that the company breached the contract with their "unilateral, onerous and inexplicable routing and booking decisions."

"Rod Wave frequently learned only at the last minute that [they] rescheduled [a show], often only after seeing tickets for these rescheduled shows available online," his countersuit claims. "Only 12 of the 35 scheduled [shows] occurred at the date and venue originally announced."

In a statement obtained by Complex, Rod Wave's lawyers accused Grizzly Touring of trying to force him into an “exclusive arrangement.”

"Grizzly Touring’s lawsuit is baseless and an unfortunate extension of its prior failed attempts to trap Rod Wave into an exclusive arrangement," the statement reads.

Back in January, he took to Instagram to announce the cancellation. At the time, he seemingly alluded to the same issues:

"Ok. So bout the tour. Yall [know] it was f*cked up from the beginning. Because of production!" he wrote. "They had to cancel and reschedule. And it just wasn't makin any sense. The second leg had the same problem."

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Rod is reportedly pushing for financial compensation for the cancellation of several shows and damage to his reputation.

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