Inside Young Stunners' India debut controversy

It started with a promise on August 1 when Rolling Stone India excited South Asian hip-hop fans with a report – Pakistan's rap powerhouse, Young Stunners, was finally making its India debut. But what began as a groundbreaking tour has ended in a very public implosion.

In the latest on the debacle, Rolling Stone India has confirmed that the hip hop duo will not be performing in India, citing organisational and financial disputes as the reason behind the cancellation. Young Stunners' management denies any wrongdoing but remains tight-lipped on why exactly the tour was scrapped.

The highly anticipated tour, featuring Talha Anjum and Talhah Yunus, was slated for December, with stops in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi. Despite the excitement, many fans were sceptical. After all, cross-border entertainment between India and Pakistan is often a logistical minefield.

Red flags started popping up earlier this month when the Young Stunners abruptly cancelled a show in Sydney. Live Vibe Australia, one of the tour's backers, claims the artists pulled out "due to their management's choice" but didn't return the booking fee.

In an Instagram post, Live Vibe Australia laid it all out: "As many of you may know, the Sydney show was not cancelled; rather, the artists made a decision not to perform due to their management's choice. Despite this, we have not received a refund for the deposit initially paid for the show."

Live Vibe also revealed that attempts to reach the Young Stunners' team had gone unanswered. "Deposits for the India tour remain unreturned as well," the post read, warning the music industry to steer clear of any contracts with the duo until the situation is resolved.

On November 18, the Young Stunners finally addressed the Sydney fallout, posting on Instagram: "Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to inform you that our scheduled performance tonight at the Oxford Art Factory in Sydney has been cancelled."

Their statement painted a picture of a team battling significant mismanagement and alleged mistreatment by organisers. "Our label prioritises the well-being and respect of its artists," they asserted, cautioning others to think twice before working with Live Vibe and Desi Disco Entertainment, helmed by Vaheed Khan.

This isn't the first time cross-border tours have faced turbulence. Back in August, Alina Naghman, the duo's business manager, had reassured fans that visa approvals were the only hurdle. "Both sides are working tirelessly," she had said.