CLAUDE MILLS

ONE876 EDITOR

Dutch concert promoter Nicardo “Papa” Blake is breaking his silence about the 2021 Amsterdam incident involving reggae star Jah Cure, saying he has forgiven the artiste but will always remember what took place.

Blake said he decided to speak publicly to defend his reputation, as people continue to accuse him of shady business practices and claim he still owes Jah Cure money. According to Blake, those allegations are completely false.

“I forgive him, but I will never forget.”

Blake recalled that he survived the encounter only by luck. Medical professionals later told him that if the blow had landed with a little more force or at a slightly different angle, he might not have lived.

“Because I’m a God-fearing youth, I forgive him,” Blake said. “But forget? Never. Me and him can never be friends. Everything that happened, him cause it.”

How the Problem Started

Blake said Jah Cure initially came to him for help with booking shows. He was hesitant because “every time him come, is always some issue,” but through a mutual contact named Collie Boy, they eventually secured a performance at Melkweg, a major venue in Amsterdam.

Blake and his partner delivered €500 in cash as an advance. Cure reportedly commented that he hadn’t seen those kinds of notes in a long time and planned to take the money back to Jamaica for safekeeping.

Blake says things changed when Cure realized how prestigious the venue was. He allegedly demanded his fee be doubled from $5,000 to $10,000, along with additional payments for his band. Wanting to protect their reputation with the venue, the promoters agreed to adjust their expenses so the event could go forward.

After the show, however, the band requested €1,500 instead of the previously agreed €500, and Blake transferred €2,000 to help cover the band and Cure’s remaining balance.

Despite the transfer, Blake said Cure insisted he also needed €500 in cash, and the following day demanded another €2,000, claiming he could not access the earlier deposit.

Tensions Rise

At that point, Blake told the artist that he would cancel four upcoming African shows—performances that could have earned Jah Cure around US$100,000. Blake says this led to a series of threatening voice notes from the artiste, messages he never released publicly or used against him in court.

“When they arrest him, first him say he didn’t do nothing. Then him change it and say self-defense,” Blake said. “But him send himself to prison.”

According to Blake, Jah Cure later phoned him calmly, asking him to come so they could settle the matter. Cure even recorded a short video showing he was at Dam Square, which made Blake feel like they could talk things out.

Blake went later with his son. When he arrived, Cure stood behind two men while another associate, Penko, stood near Blake. Penko was the person whose account Blake had used for the €2,000 transfer the previous night.

Blake said that when he suggested Penko simply return Cure’s money so the disagreement could end, the artiste suddenly reached between the two men and struck him with a sharp object. Blake didn’t feel it at first—he only noticed a tear in his jacket before confusion broke out and Cure fled the area.

Doctors later confirmed that Blake suffered serious internal injuries, requiring emergency surgery. Months later, he still reflects on the moment that nearly cost him his life.

The Netherlands Court of Appeal also detailed the internal damage he sustained, confirming the severity of what happened.

Even with everything he endured, Blake says he carries no hatred for Jah Cure.

“Everybody know his ways,” Blake said. “At the end of the day, whatever him get is the hole him dig. But him claim I robbed him — and that is a lie. The only reason we fall out is because him ask for more money and I said no. And when me cancel the Africa shows, him vex.”

Blake emphasized that he never used the voice notes in court and only appeared when officially required.

His attorney, R. Baumann, said he was satisfied with the outcome. He added that Dutch prosecutors often push for strong charges when incidents happen publicly and pose danger to life.