50 Cent’s rise to the top of the rap game has been impressive, but he remains dogged by critics who claim that his fame owes more to a compelling personal history than any remarkable talent. Shows like this represent an excellent, defiant response to the haters, but not quite enough to dispel all lingering doubts about his rap credentials.
50 is curiously unwilling to hog the limelight – MC duties are shared evenly amongst himself, Young Buck and Lloyd Banks (members of 50’s G-Unit collective) during the show’s opening half, and there are guest appearances from Olivia (G-Unit’s first lady) and Ma$e (baby-faced former P Diddy affiliate). Still, the rapid-fire run through 50’s finer moments is undeniably fun – particularly on the bracingly poppy ‘Candy Shop’ and the melancholy chug of ‘21 Questions’.
50’s principal quality as a rapper has always been his drawled, pleasingly melodic vocal style, but this more textured delivery is difficult to appreciate over the live beats’ earth-shaking volume. Still, this lack of nuance is atoned for by boundless energy and frantic, visceral thrill.
50 departs at the half-way stage, along with his G-Unit cronies, to make way for legendary New York duo Mobb Deep. After their short set, 50 Cent re-emerges alone, poised and immaculate in a spruce white suit, and delivers a stylishly amoral double-blow – ‘P.I.M.P.’ and ‘Get In My Car’. It’s the night’s highlight, and again it makes one wonder whether 50 was wise to let his posse share centre stage for large sections of the show: the crowd are visibly more enthused when they have their hero all to themselves.
The show manages to keep up a decent momentum after this – M.O.P. briefly take the stage to deliver a rapturously received rendition of their smash hit ‘Cold As Ice’, while the headliner’s ‘In Da Club’ is still a thing of towering magnificence.
50 can be pleased with his night’s work, but if he is to achieve the legend status he so desperately craves, he needs to stamp his personality more thoroughly on his live show.
Pic: Emily Quinn