Keyshia Cole and Jamaican Dancehall crooner, Dexta Daps (Louis Grandison Jr.) were billed as the headline acts for the inaugural event, and several thousand patrons assembled, all expecting what was advertised: a full hour performance from each of the two stars. However, American R&B Singer Keyshia Cole left the stage abruptly and without explanation after singing only three songs last Saturday night. Her brief appearance and sudden departure effectively left patrons of the first-ever “R&B Brunch” event in Trinidad confused and disappointed.

Cole posted on her Instagram page earlier in the day about waking up hungover and visiting a local KFC restaurant on her way from the Piarco airport just after 2 pm. After the event, Cole’s Instagram page read:
“I have to come back and do a real show. I was only asked to do 3!!! And that’s not ok, you guys wanted and EXPECTED MORE 😥 I’m so sad.”

Scheduled and advertised to take the stage at 8 pm, Cole did not arrive at the venue until 9.45 and only appeared onstage just after 10 pm. Following her initial fifteen-minute appearance, there was confusion throughout the venue as she returned to her executive dressing room with no explanation to the assembly of approximately 3000 patrons.

Scorch Founder, Kwesi Hopkinson, who also celebrated his birthday at the event, told Overtime Media yesterday that their contract with the booking agent was for 45 minutes, but it was revealed after the fiasco onstage that the agent had only paid Cole for a twenty-minute set. On the night, Cole was reportedly subsequently paid an undisclosed amount backstage and returned to the stage briefly during Dexta Daps’ set. The American singer, songwriter, TV personality, and actress also used one expletive during her initial appearance, but had the ladies singing along word for word.

Jamaican singjay Dexta Daps saved the night with his dynamic onstage presence, charismatic and alluring performance, and flawless renditions of his well-known catalogue. Crooning out the ladies’ favorite hits such as “Breaking News”, “Owner”, “Call Me”, “No Underwear”, “Wifi”, “God Got Me” and “Seven Eleven” among others, Daps had the ladies screaming and singing along, as he also shared a few roses and wished the audience, the nation and even his fellow headliner, a Happy Mother’s Day.
“I don’t wanna take up too much of your time and I don’t wanna do too much,” said Daps to Cole onstage, while down on one knee before her, “but we are pulling up on Mother’s Day, so I just want to say Happy Mother’s Day to you. Love you and wish you all the best!”

Earlier on that night,  the local contingent enjoyed their fair share of time on stage despite a somewhat late start to the entertainment program with Soca star and Freestyle Champion, “Preedy” churning the assembly into a Carnival frenzy for a few minutes amidst the tranquil R&B atmosphere. Complete with a new venue and a cosy layout in the savannah area opposite QRC, as well as endless delectable dishes and bars galore to supply all needs and desires, the event also featured performances from rising star, “Coutain”, as well as singer/songwriter, “Hey Choppi”; “Jimmy October”, “Mela Caribe”, “Erphaan Alves”; Reggae singer, “Jamelody” and others.

The event ended just after 1 am with memes and comments flooding across timelines on social media about Cole’s abbreviated appearance:
“Keisha pulls a Stuart Young!” said one female. “She said they only booked her for 3 songs, blame y’all’s promoters, not Keyshia.” Said one of her fans. “I won’t doubt it’s cause she cuss. It’s against the law.” Said another. To help you decide for yourself, we include a copy of the contract, with some words blocked out, as given to us by the promoter.