This story has been updated with comments from the VPD and organizers.
After his show, Rick Ross received an unwelcome surprise at the Ignite Music Festival in Vancouver.
The event, called "the largest Canada Day festival" by organizers, took place June 30 at the Plaza of Nations in downtown Vancouver, featuring Ross as the headliner, along with S!ck!ck and Merkules.
Multiple videos of Ross at the side of the stage after his performance show a violent incident. As Ross left, Kendrick Lamarr's diss track "Not Like Us," which targets Canadian rapper Drake played. Ross and Drake also have a feud.
Videos posted to social media show Ross confronted by some people at the side of the stage. The confrontation escalates as it appears a man in a mohawk throws a punch at Ross, who responds in kind.
It quickly becomes a brawl between Ross's crew and those who decided to confront Ross. A security guard in a yellow vest can be seen nearby, overwhelmed by the outbreak of violence.
One man who appeared to be a part of Ross's crew is separated from the group and attacked by two men while on the ground.
Things calm down for a moment while the two groups continue to yell at each other.
Violence once again breaks out backstage and at least one man is left unconscious on the ground.
Videos don't show what happened next.
Lindsay Sparrow, owner of Canadian Events Agency (CEA), one of the companies involved with organizing the event, says she saw the incident from a distance but wasn't certain what had occurred.
"It didn't actually go on for very long," she says. "It seemed to settle out very quickly."
Sparrow notes the incident happened behind the fencing separating performers and crew from the audience. She doesn't know who was involved aside from Ross and his personal security team and entourage, but notes there were a variety of groups in that area.
"Between guest lists and everybody else that can be back there it can be fairly decent sized group from what you might see at other concerts," she says.
The audience, she adds, left the venue without incident.
CEA, she notes, dealt with booking and promotion of the event. Other vendors dealt with security at the event. However, she says safety was discussed beforehand and "a fair amount of security" was on hand, between the artists' personnel and locally hired companies.
"Everyone is just in their camps figuring out and trying to piece together what happened and what needs to be discussed," she tells V.I.A. on July 1.
Ross has not addressed the incident directly on social media, but has posted Instagram stories of himself laughing, having breakfast and a goodbye message to the city.
"Vancouver, it was fun, ‘till next time," reads a message, with Ross standing in front of a private jet.
Others have responded online. Drake has liked videos of the attack.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) says the incident may have been resolved by onsite security. Sparrow says she isn't sure how many and the extent of any injuries that may have occurred and organizers are still investigating the incident.
"We don’t have any reports to police about this," Const. Tania Visintin with the VPD. "I also checked with ECOMM and confirmed no one called police."
WARNING: Videos contain coarse language.
@luckysexoticbodega #rickross and his crew get jumped for playing #notlikeus by #kendricklamar in #vancouver @WorldStar Hip Hop @6ixbuzzTV ♬ original sound - Lucky’s Bodega
Correction: An earlier version of the story said Waka Flocka Flame performed. He did not due to passport issues prior to the show.
