California-based rap artist Tyga is downplaying allegations by TMZ that he sparked a 1,200 person riot at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park on January 6 by failing to show up for a scheduled concert.

Says TMZ:

“A rep for the WBC tells us Tyga bailed on the show without warning ... and when the crowd realized he wasn't coming, they went BERSERK -- completely trashing the place.

“We're told private security tried to break up the madness, but it was too insane ... so they called the San Diego PD for backup. “

The report goes on to claim that 12 SDPD officers were needed to restore order, and that damage to the Center included “busted floors, walls, [and] destroyed property.” TMZ claims the Center’s manager “is furious,” and has banned Tyga for life.

Tyga’s take on the matter was quite different.

“I was paid to do a host. Somebody wanted me to walk through a club. What a host is, you come and chill at their club, say ‘What’s up’ to people and stuff like that. That’s what I was paid to do even though people thought I was performing. It sucks because how can I perform when I don’t have a DJ? I’m not prepared for a performance. But I still was going to f*ck with the crowd, but they shut it down. There was like 1,500, 2,000 kids out there,” the rapper said in a video response touching on the incident and setbacks that have forced his new album to be delayed beyond its scheduled December 20 release date.