Rapper Jadakiss Floats Racial Profiling Allegations Against NoMad Las Vegas

Posted on: December 4, 2023, 03:16h. 

Last updated on: December 9, 2023, 01:50h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Rapper Jadakiss says that he was racially profiled while gambling at the NoMad high-roller casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

Jadakiss Las Vegas NoMad Park MGM
Rapper Jadakiss believes he might have been racially profiled while in Las Vegas. He claimed in a social media video that the incident occurred at the NoMad inside the Park MGM casino resort on the Strip. (Image: X/Casino.org)

The Lox hip-hop legend said on social media that he arrived in Las Vegas on November 29 for the last leg of Usher’s residency at Park MGM’s Dolby Live Theater. Jadakiss said he had been staying at the NoMad, which occupies the top four stories of the Park MGM.

In a December 2 video shared on X that has since gone viral, Jadakiss, 48, whose real name is Jason Terrance Phillips, says he was gambling at the NoMad for several days before security asked him to leave. In the video, Jadakiss suggested racism was behind the request.

Don’t ever gamble at the NoMad ever again,” Jadakiss said. “I don’t know what happened. I’ve been gambling here since Wednesday. I’m a tax-paying citizen. I’ve been losing my shirt, socks, everything.”

Jadakiss continued that security approached him on December 2, the night of Usher’s final performance at the Strip resort, asking for his identification.

“They come to me at the end of the night… I didn’t win nothing! Is this racial profiling?” Jadakiss asked. “I’m out of here. I’m never coming back. And I’m a millionaire.”

NoMad Las Vegas Hotel

MGM Resorts overhauled the Monte Carlo to the Park MGM in a rebranding project that was completed in March 2018.

Part of the revamp included MGM partnering with the Sydell Group, which at the time owned and operated NoMad hotels in New York City and Los Angeles. NoMad NYC closed permanently amid the COVID-19 pandemic. NoMad Los Angeles closed in 2021.

The Sydell Group continues to manage the NoMad Las Vegas in partnership with MGM. Park MGM’s real estate assets are owned by Vici Properties.

NoMad shares many of its amenities with Park MGM, including its smoke-free casino. But right inside the NoMad hotel entrance and lobby is the resort’s high-limit table games area, where Jadakiss was gambling.

Jadakiss hasn’t responded to media inquiries about what specifically happened before the social media video where he expressed his displeasure with NoMad/Park MGM security. He also hasn’t posted about the incident on his various social media outlets.

Criminal History

Jadakiss has had several run-ins with the law.

In 2004, he was arrested on marijuana and illegal gun possession charges. He later reached a plea deal on misdemeanor charges and paid a $900 fine.

In 2006, Jadakiss was arrested in his hometown of Yonkers, NY, on illegal gun and drug possession charges. Those charges were later dropped after it was determined that Jadakiss was riding in the backseat of the vehicle and the driver and front-seat passenger were the ones who possessed the illegal marijuana and firearm.

Jadakiss’ Yonkers home was raided in August 2009, where police found heroin and marijuana. Law enforcement concluded that the narcotics belonged to two individuals who were residing in the home while Jadakiss was on tour.