50 CENT DETONATES AT MYSPACE SHOW

By Nadia Chanté

On a chilly Monday night in downtown New York City, a rowdy crowd gathered at the Highline Ballroom for the 50th concert event of MySpace Music’s “The Release.” Who better to get the audience revved up for the celebration than 50 Cent, who was also reveling in his own release, his fourth album Before I Self Destruct. The event, hosted by Hot 97’s Peter Rosenberg, K.Foxx, and DJ Cipha Sounds, got off to an energetic start with Cipha spinning everything from classic Mobb Deep to Jigga.
Never alone, Fifty appeared alongside his best cohorts and fellow G-Unit members Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks. Opening the show with “Crack a Bottle,” Fifty, with his entourage in tow, went on to hype the crowd with Eminem’s party starter. The head of the G-Unit regime spit through fan favorites like “I Get Money,” “What Up Gangsta,” and his latest single, “Baby by Me.”


A surprise appearance by Beanie Sigel had those in the audience gasping and grabbing for their camera phones. His energetic performance of “Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)” and “Beanie (Mack Bitch)” reinforced the reason why Jay-Z signed the Philly native in the first place. Sigel’s appearance stirred up controversy amongst the concertgoers, especially after he and Fifty performed their latest collaboration, “I Go Off.” Beans quickly left the stage after his cameo and, ever the professional, the Queens headliner continued on with his show, performing well over 20 songs in just over 60 minutes. As quickly as the event started, it ended. The only difference is the effect it had on 50 Cent’s followers. “He touched me twice,” said one fan. “[And] he made eye contact!” All part of his master plan.

Photos by Cassidy “Sparrow” Maldonado for Rap-Up.com