A planned concert by rapper Rick Ross was cancelled last night after Immigration Minister David Burch refused to allow the star into Bermuda to perform.

Promoter Kendricks Zuill said he was shocked by the last-minute decision, which cost his organisation thousands of dollars and disappointed fans across the Island.

Mr. Zuill said he was informed on Monday that his application for a work permit for the rapper had been turned down because there were concerns he did not "possesses good character and conduct".

The rapper was the anticipated headliner at a Cup Match Extravaganza planned at Snorkel Park by Rise and Shine Entertainment and Envy Productions.

Mr. Zuill said he first thought the department had mistaken the rapper, whose real name is William Roberts II, for 'Freeway' Ricky Ross, now in a California prison for trying to purchase 100 kilograms of cocaine from a federal agent.

"I was assuming that they may have had the wrong person," he said, insisting that he then tried to convince the Ministry that they had made an error in judgement.

"I've been trying to convince them that he is a man of good conduct. I was providing them with information, but all they told me was that the Minister was not satisfied. It's something personal."

Prior to becoming a rapper, Mr. Roberts worked as a corrections officer in Florida.

According to Mr. Zuill, the entertainer has never been imprisoned or convicted of a crime but was arrested in January 2008 in Florida on gun and drug charges. The charges were later dropped.

"A nickname does not define the character of who they really are," he said. "He was denied even entry. What's so dangerous that he's not able to even visit Bermuda?

"Bermuda has seen the likes of many other artists with bad character and conduct come to the Island, and even the Bermuda Music Festival has had the likes of many artists that have been in prison for felony charges."

Lyfe Jennings, who performed at the Bermuda Music Festival last year spent ten years in prison for arson.

After several days trying to sway the Ministry, the organisers decided to cancel the show, offering to refund the 500 tickets that had already been sold.

"The fans are disappointed, and out of everything, the total loss for us is $10,000 to $15,000," said Mr. Zuill. "I have spoken to Rick Ross, and he is saddened. He views it as a defamation of character. He has never been denied entry to a country before."

Mr. Roberts is scheduled to tour the UK next month, and has already been approved to perform on multiple nights.

Under the name Rick Ross, Mr. Roberts has released three hit albums, including 'Port of Miami', which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart with 187,000 copies sold in its first week.

After watching this event fall apart, Mr. Zuill said that he is not interested in attempting to organise another show on the Island.

"This whole thing has dampened my spirits. It's not something I'm looking forward to doing right now."