Rapper's Show Cost Almost $900,000
7:00PM ET December 8th, 2010
Contributor : Hip Hop Blog Staff
A Rocky Williform Company

Trinidad and Tobago could be dire straits financially after spending over $869,000 on a November Nicki Minaj concert. The concert was featured on the rapper's "My Time Now" documentary. Expenses included local advertising ($150,000), culture costs ($26,000), a tie-in fashion show ($60,000), artists fees ($40,000) and boarding fees from the Hilton Trinidad for approximately $60,000.

Oh, and booking Nicki Minaj? A cool $382,000.

Nicki Minaj was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and the concert was held to launch the Ministry’s Localize It campaign but the turn-out fell far below what had been projected. One major factor blamed for the low attendance was the cost of tickets; VIP sections for the show cost patrons $250 and $450. There was also a Kids Zone which cost $1oo for kids and $200 for Adults accompanying the kids. VVIP and MTV Zones at the show (which were probably the best seats in the house) cost $900.

According to reports, government officials are being accused of denying funding to youth organizations because of the expenditure on the concert. The government could face an audit.