Video: Princess yacht rented by rap producer bursts into flames outside popular Miami club

A luxury yacht reportedly rented by American music producer and rapper Metro Boomin caught fire and sank outside a notorious strip club in Miami, creating a dramatic scene for onlookers.

The 29-metre Princess X95 motor yacht, reportedly named Monopoly, docked at the Booby Trap on the River club at approximately 3am on Sunday morning (19 January 2025).

According to eyewitness reports gathered by Local 10 News, smoke was detected about 15 to 30 minutes later. Club employees and crew quickly evacuated the approximately 10 guests onboard, including Metro Boomin, whose real name is Leland Tyler Wayne. Five crew members were also evacuated from the vessel.

Michael Marhefka, director of security at the Booby Trap on the River, recalled: “Around 3 o’clock, the boat arrived. It was Metro Boomin. The boat pulled up, and they were on the boat for maybe 30 minutes at the dock, and we noticed what sounded like fire alarms going off. When we looked at the boat, we did see some smoke inside the boat. We made the determination to evacuate the boat immediately.”

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) arrived at the scene around 4:05am, deploying over 30 units, including fire rescue boats. In a statement, Nicholas DiGiacomo, a spokesperson for the department, said: “Fire crews immediately conducted a fire attack from both land and water. The firefight was made difficult due to the vessel’s size and fuel load.” At one point, crews used a ladder truck to combat the flames from above.

Videos shared on social media captured the chaotic evacuation of both the yacht and the club, showing dancers and patrons fleeing the scene. One video shared by an eyewitness on Instagram showed patrons and dancers continuing the party in the car park outside the club, as the yacht blazed in the background.

Despite firefighting efforts, the flames burned through the night, and the yacht ultimately sank into the Miami River just before 7am, taking two pylons with it. After the fire was extinguished, MDFR said, firefighters tried to limit the fuel runoff with “specialised oil spill response equipment that entails an oil-absorbent boom. This strong mesh-like sleeve encases a highly absorbent material that soaks up oil and surface sheen.”

Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the blaze.

The vessel, launched in 2022, featured design elements by Pininfarina, with accommodations for up to eight guests and a crew of four. It was powered by twin MAN engines and had a top speed of 26 knots.

Metro Boomin, recognised for his collaborations with artists like Travis Scott, Drake, and The Weeknd, recently confirmed he is working on a new album for rapper Young Thug. This marks Young Thug’s first project since being released from jail in November after spending over 900 days in custody.

The St. Louis producer shared the update on his Instagram story while also addressing reports of his rental yacht catching fire in Miami over the weekend. “Don’t believe everything you see online,” he wrote in a cryptic message. “Clout got the world in a chokehold. Back to working on [Young Thug’s] album.”