SOB x RBE Reunion Set Axed Amid Conflicting Claims of Threats and Non-Payment

The reunion of Vallejo, California rap collective SOB x RBE has hit a snag. After disbanding in 2019—the same year former member Lul G faced murder charges—the group recently returned with their first single in seven years, “Ten Summers.” Following a successful comeback performance at the Back 2 The Bay festival on August 13, the group was scheduled to appear at the New West Coast Festival in Salt Lake City this past Saturday. However, the performance was canceled just hours before showtime.

Festival organizers attributed the cancellation to security concerns, citing “threats made to our team.” In a statement later removed from their Instagram account, the New West Coast Festival team claimed, “After being threatened, we no longer feel safe having the artist or their entourage at our festival. The conduct we experienced did not meet the level of professionalism, respect, or cooperation we expect from the artists and teams we work with.”

SOB x RBE presented a starkly different account of the incident via Instagram, alleging a payment dispute. The group claimed that despite the promoter stating they could not be paid, the artists offered to perform for free to accommodate the fans, but were still refused. The group has since offered to assist fans who purchased tickets specifically to see them in obtaining refunds.

The group’s agent, Jason Gazzini, echoed this frustration in a post reshared by the artists. “Some of you promoters should stick to 300 cap rooms. You’re messing up the ecosystem!” Gazzini wrote, while promising Utah fans a “special” announcement next week regarding a performance that “will actually happen.”

Despite the drama, the New West Coast Festival proceeded with Shoreline Mafia—featuring AI hitmaker Fenix Flexin—as the headliner. In a defiant move, SOB x RBE opted to perform a surprise late-night pop-up set for their followers.

This incident adds to a string of recent instabilities in the Salt Lake City event scene, following the cancellation of the inaugural Yours Always festival, which was slated to feature Benson Boone and Sombr.

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