Latest news
G-Unit Clothing Company
Monday 21st July, 2003
50 Cent mania continues to spread, the Queens rapper is now set to team up with established designer Marc Ecko for his forthcoming G- Unit Clothing line. Meanwhile, the platinum rapper is booked to rock Canada - ironically after Ja Rule's Canada show was recently cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
The collection will first debut a limited men's clothing line around the holidays and then reveal a full men's line next spring. Though a children's wear and a woman's wear are in future plans, the collection won't be confined to fashion as G-Unit watches and leather goods will also be available over the next three years. The 50 Cent ideal will be carried through the collection as all items will have a /home/free/cgi-bin/util/sitebuilder.50 price point, for instance a pair of jeans might cost .50.
"It's not new for a rapper or pop artist to launch a clothing line, but what is new is that a design-driven company like us is partnering with an artist to offer the marketing and merchandising - it's sort of like Nike and (Michael) Jordan coming together for Air Jordan," Ecko told The Associated Press.
50 fans will now be able to rock his apparel from head to toe, from T- shirts to his recently secured G-Unit sneaker collection to be unveiled by Reebok . 50 Cent "has an interesting point of view, a clean, crisp sense of style," Ecko said. "The simplicity is what will be refreshing to the market."
It also seems as though 50 has managed to deliver another blow to Ja Rule's ego. While Rule's Edmonton, Canada show was reportedly cancelled because he couldn't sell the mininim 1,000 tickets, 50 has just confirmed to rock Saddledome, The Calgary Flames' home building on August 26.
Though a slew of Canadian shows have been canceled in recent memory, Calgary's community has nothing to fear. According to the Calgary Sun, 50's show which features Fabolous as an opening act is being handled by mega concert promoters, House Of Blues.
With sales of 250,000 units to date, 50's Get Rich Or Die Trying is currently double platinum in Canada.
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P.I.M.P." Video Is Out
Saturday 12th July, 2003
The video for "P.I.M.P." with 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg is now out. Click here to go to Launch.com and watch it!
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Ja Rule Fuels Beef With 50 Cent
Saturday 12th July, 2003
Radio 1 reports Ja Rule has continued to fuel the fire regarding his beef with 50 Cent during a press conference in South Africa. "This sh** that bugs me out is he came to the awards, performed for y'all, accepted his two awards and broke the fu** out, that ain't gangsta man, however you wanna put it that ain't gangsta man," Ja fumed. "Eminem not taking his seat at the last awards, that ain't gangsta man, so they can say whatever they want, they can talk all the beep they want on record, studio gangsta sh**, I'm the true fu**er, I'm here and I'm in the club, poppin' the bub, like he say in his song, thats what I do."
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Shady News
Monday 7th July, 2003
Accept the Obie Trice album is done, the G-Unit album is on hold, 'cuz of Yayo (Tony Yayo is still in jail, but he's comin' out in October). The D-12 album "Halloween" is nearing completion and Eminem is scouting unsigned talents in the D.
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50 and MYA
Monday 7th July, 2003
HARDMAN rapper 50 Cent isn't such a tough guy after all - he's gone all gooey over cute R&B star MYA.
The couple have been secretly dating for the past month after meeting at an LA awards ceremony.
In fact, Mya - who starred in the Oscar-winning movie Chicago - even phoned the muscle man as he was about to walk on stage for his first UK gig last month to wish him luck.
Mya and 50 Cent, who has dated sexy superstar BEYONCE KNOWLES, were keen to keep their romance secret in case his bad-boy image put her fans off.
The former crack dealer from New York's tough Queen's district, far right, has in the past been arrested on gun and drugs charges.
There were also concerns about how safe Mya would be with her new squeeze, who often wears a bulletproof vest - and with good reason. He has been stabbed and once survived an attempt to kill him in which he was shot nine times.
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Death After 50 Cent & Jay-Z Concert
Monday 7th July, 2003
A man was shot and killed following a Canada Day concert featuring 50 Cent and Jay-Z on Tuesday (7/1), according to Canadian press reports.
Police reportedly said that Hamilton resident Msemaji Granger, 24, was at the concert at Ontario Place with several friends. After leaving the show to view fireworks at the venue, two men shot Granger several times at close range.
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50 Cent Takes out Old Blue Eyes
Sunday 29th June, 2003
HARTFORD, Connecticut -The ctnow.com Meadows Music Centre was on fire Wednesday night, not only because of the sweltering summer temperature, but also because a hip-hop heat wave had just taken over the town.
Jay-Z handled the pressure, 50 Cent made people believe the hype, Bonnie shook her bon-bon and the Chairman of the Board was left lying in a pool of blood. Hip-hop's most anticipated show in years, the Rock the Mic Tour, officially opened the curtain on its road trek.
The show's co-headliner, Jay-Z, knows that even though he'll be taking the stage last during the tour, his is not necessarily the name with the most drawing power. After all, 50 Cent Mania is in full swing and fans have been very vocal about riding hard for him. So Jigga pulled out all stops on his performance. He not only brought out his omnipresent crew and a "special friend," he also treated fans to what's a rarity for him: back-up dancers. Yes, back-up dancers.
Hov's lauded performance was preceded by video footage of helicopters soaring on two big screens that hung on both sides of the stage, as well as four smaller screens onstage. Then the stage lights slowly began to illuminate, revealing the set, which mirrored a military- like compound, complete with jungle vines hanging from the rafters, a bunker-like structure and Hov's DJ, Just Blaze, surrounded by sandbags spinning on the turntables.
Dancers dressed in army fatigues marched out to the beat of Hova's "Takeover" and stepped into formation until their leader, Shawn Carter, made his grand entrance. Wearing dark shades, a black military officer's shirt - complete with a colorful array of medals - and matching shorts, Jay kicked off his set with "Jigga My N---a."
Jigga's dance troop did a brief jig behind him before exiting. "Hovi Baby" came next, with Jay mesmerizing the audience by confidently spouting the second verse a cappella.
"Seven straight summers, critics might not admit it/ But nobody in rap did it, quite like I did it/ If you did it, I done it before, you get it, I had it/ Got mad at it and don't want it no more."
The audience roared when the first few chords of Panjabi MC's "Beware of the Boys" began to play. Their response wasn't loud enough for Jigga, who told them they were at about a seven on the energy scale, and that he was prepared to take them to a 10. His foolproof method? One of his biggest records ever, "I Just Wanna Love You."
As soon as he spit his opening line, "I'm a hustla baby," almost everyone in the venue started singing. Roc-A-Fella CEO Dame Dash, dressed in a basketball jersey and matching shorts, then came from backstage to dance at the end of the song, visually squashing any rumors of friction between him and his longtime friend and partner. The heads of the Roc slapped each other five and shared a few laughs over Dash's crazy footwork.
Jay took a break in the show to give a tribute to some of music's fallen stars, including the Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur and Aaliyah. Anything but solemn, the Roc played a few songs by Biggie and Pac before Hova performed his verses from Aaliyah's "Missing You" remix.
"Hartford's missing you," he said while the crowd held the peace sign upside down to form an A.
Later, Jigga teased the crowd a little, playing a snippet of the beat to "'03 Bonnie and Clyde." But then Just Blaze quickly switched up the track, keying up the commanding horns of Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love." Jay's dancers returned to the stage moments later, accompanied by Beyoncé herself.
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50 Cent and Jay Z news
Sunday 29th June, 2003
As Jay-Z and 50 Cent kicked off the Rock the Mic tour in Connecticut on Wednesday, so began a summer packed with tours led by the biggest names in hip-hop, all united to become less dependent on record sales. The concert business is becoming a sure-fire way for artists to make money, struggling from the dissonant reality of the recording music industry. At the same, a heavy burden is placed on the headliners who bring the fans out to support the lesser artists - ultimately placing the fate of many in the hands of two.
Hip-Hop artists are diversifying their revenues by touring after seeing record sales take a battering three years straight - from billion to .5 billion - blamed in part on digital piracy and a lackluster flow of hot new acts according to a Forbes. Only the top ten percent of artists make money selling records, according to artist manager Scott Welch, and touring seems to be the remedy.
Forbes reported the tour business has profited four years straight - from $1.3 billion in 1998 to .3 billion in 2002. Although ticket sales have been soft across the board - due in part to a struggling economy, an over saturation of tours, competition for the concert dollar, competition from multi-band radio shows putting their own concerts and the downturn in the music business - this summer could shape up as one of the most lucrative in years, especially for hip- hop.
The 33-city Rock the Mic tour, which also features Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Snoop Dogg (who will also open up for the Red Hot Chili Peppers during the month of June), Sean Paul and several other rap acts may turn out to be the biggest of them all - recording the strongest first day sales of any summer tour in history, of any genre.
Artist's who didn't make the mega bill will opt for the smaller, grassroots venues reminiscent of Hip-Hop's early day. Grammy-award winning rapper Nelly and the St. Lunatics will kick-off an intimate 25-city tour titled Up Close & Personal introducing Murphy Lee on July 10 in Grand Prairie, TX. The rapper will play venues with capacities from 2,000 to 6,000. Lil Kim, who will do a series of small theater shows- her first as a headliner and the AND 1 Mix Tape Basketball Tour will feature Jadakiss, Cash Money, Nate Dogg, Obie Trice, and Talib Kweli, who is also signed on to the Vans Warped Tour.
Naysayers caution the artist tour rush, saying the 2003 summer touring season is soft. "We have an industry that has managed once again to ignore reality," said veteran concert promoter and Co-CEO of Metropolitan Talent, John Scher. "The economy is in bad shape, there's fear of congregation, [plus] ticket prices and service charges are out of control."
Meanwhile, another concern is looming for artists looking to take the tour money and run. Record labels, which traditionally are not entitled to share tour revenues, are now looking for a piece of the pie. Label execs pursuing deals with new acts are paying millions up front, in addition to lucrative per-album advances, in exchange for a percentage of non-music revenue - including tours. Hip-Hop powerhouse, Def Jam is said to be creating its own tour division.
Nevertheless, rap entrepreneur Jay-Z should take home in excess of million for his summer's work while 50 Cent, Eminem and Nelly can expect to see up to 35% of the night's gate and up to 50% of the dollar flow from merchandise sold shows. Of course, their record labels won't see a dime of it but hip-hop artists of the future will definitely have to ante up.
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50 Cents Next Luv?
Sunday 29th June, 2003
Star magazine reports 50 Cent and Mya may be a couple. The pair were spotted together at the W Hotel in Los Angeles and she's often been seen in his backstage dressing room and accompanying him on tour.
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50 cent steals the show at the bet awards
Wednesday 25th June, 2003
Tuesday's third annual BET Awards proved an accurate reflection of what's truly hot in urban culture lately - 50 Cent, 50 Cent and 50 Cent.
The red-hot rapper not only won two of the ceremony's most coveted trophies - Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and Best New Artist - he opened the show with a sizzling medley featuring guest appearances by Missy Elliott and Nate Dogg.
It's no wonder all anyone could talk about on the red carpet leading into the Kodak Theatre was Mr. "P.I.M.P." himself.
Not many of the headliners (Jay-Z, P. Diddy, Ashanti, et al) visited the 100 or so reporters lined up along Hollywood Boulevard, but those who did, including Snoop Dogg, Rakim and Kelly Rowland, sang praises of 50 Cent for bringing a new level of excitement to hip-hop.
"50 Cent, like Eminem and Nelly before him, is exposing hip-hop to a wider audience than ever before," St. Lunatics' Murphy Lee said. "By selling so many albums, he's opening the door for guys like me to come in and get recognized."
With his two BET Awards, 50 Cent tied B2K, who won Best Group and, for the second year in a row, the Viewer's Choice Award (beating out 50 Cent and the producer behind the group's latest single, R. Kelly).
Other winners included Elliott for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, India.Arie for Best Female R&B Artist, Snoop and Pharrell Williams for Best Collaboration, Erykah Badu and Common for Video of the Year for "Love of My Life," and R. Kelly and Jaheim, who tied for Best Male R&B Artist.
Kelly, Arie, and Snoop and Williams performed during the show, along with Beyoncé Knowles, Ashanti and Lil' Kim. Darryl "DMC" McDaniels introduced the turntablist quartet of DJ Premier, Kid Capri, Grandmaster Flash and DJ Jazzy Jeff, who cut and scratched a variety of Run-DMC classics in a tribute to the late Jam Master Jay.
James Brown was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented by surprise guest Michael Jackson, who showed how the Godfather of Soul influenced his dancing with a short routine reflective of Brown's moves.
Jackson called Brown the greatest influence on his career and even broke into tears during his short presentation, which included several pauses to acknowledge screaming fans (for him, not Brown).
Earlier, Bone Crusher got the party started right on the red carpet by stripping his shirt off for a performance of "Never Scared" on BET's "106 & Park" stage.
The only ones to upstage the rap giant didn't exactly do it fairly, considering they weren't officially a part of the festivities. Alien Ant Farm interrupted the red carpet flow by playing their new single on a rooftop across from the Kodak Theatre almost three times in row before cops shut them down. The performance was filmed for the band's new fish-out-of-water-themed video.
AAF left many on the carpet speechless, but not Killer Mike. "This is amazing," he said, pumping his fist to the tune. "Tell these guys I want to tour with them!
"First they stole Michael Jackson's single ['Smooth Criminal'], now they're stealing LaToya Jackson's final moment in the spotlight," Mike added, joking about the Jackson sister who curiously made media rounds at the show.
Other eye-catchers on the red carpet were Lil' Kim, who wore the kind of revealing outfit she has become famous for; 3LW, who, dressed in all white, sang an impromptu sampling from their new album; and Tyrese, who was escorted by 11 ladies, all wearing shirts decorated with different astrology signs.
"I figured instead of bringing a posse of dudes, I would bring beautiful women," remarked the "2 Fast 2 Furious" star, whose upcoming single is about horoscope signs. "This is my protection."
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50 Cent: Coming To A Theater Near You
Tuesday 24th June, 2003
There were some cool battle scenes and a couple of exciting fights in Eminem's "8 Mile," but only one dude got shot and that idiot shot himself.
The upcoming 50 Cent movie, by comparison, should be far more pulse-pounding.
After all, 50 has been shot nine times, and that averages out to about once every 12 minutes of the movie.
Obviously staring death in the eye is no laughing matter and so appropriately, 50's camp has commissioned a real gangster expert to tell the tale.
The film is being developed with "The Sopranos" writer Terry Winter, according to a spokesperson for the 26-year-old rapper, and will chronicle 50 Cent's life from his impoverished upbringing in Queens, New York, to his emergence as an international rap superstar. The movie will likely include scenes about the death of his mom when he was just 8, his introduction to crack dealing at age 12, his years as a thug and his foray into hip-hop.
50 decided he wanted to create a biopic after the rampant success of "8 Mile," which made million at the box office and earned Eminem a top-charting soundtrack and a Grammy for the song "Lose Yourself."
There is no title yet for the 50 Cent movie and neither representatives for the rapper nor the writer would speculate on when production will begin.
Over the next few weeks, 50 Cent plans to work with Snoop Dogg to shoot a video for the "P.I.M.P." remix. Additionally, the two rappers will hit the road with Jay-Z this summer on the Roc the Mic Tour.
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50 Slams Ja
Sunday 22nd June, 2003
50 Cent has heightened the dangerous feud between rap rival Ja Rule with a savage attack on the star's musical credibility - claiming his career is "over".
The hip-hop superstars have been attacking each other in the press over the past months - with the bad feeling becoming so bad Ja Rule's Murder Inc. label mate Ashanti having to call for the pair to make up earlier this month because the feud was "getting very heavy.
However, 50 Cent, an ex-crack cocaine dealer who has been shot nine times, has slammed Ja Rule once more - attacking his rap enemy for recording boring tracks and always having a "chick singing the chorus".
And the In Da Club hitmaker believes Ja Rule is always attacking him in the press in a desperate effort to reignite his record sales, which pale in comparison to 50 Cent's.
50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - says, "Last year they weren't talking about me because last year - who was 50 Cent? Now, that's all they can talk about. I'm done with it.
"I don't sell a single record more because of Ja Rule, but every time I talk about him I'm doing him a favor. He's over. The guy sucks! Ja Rule sucks.
"Every song is the same. It's always about a relationship, it always has a chick singing the chorus, it's always the same formula.
"I did something different and he can't change. He needs to do something new, but he can't. And now people have realized it, it's over.
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50 Cent News
Saturday 21st June, 2003
Rapper 50 Cent has revealed he's making a movie of his life, just like his mentor Eminem. 50 - as he's affectionately known - is in talks with Sopranos writer Terry Winter about a script for the film. And the star certainly has an interesting story that should make for an action-packed movie. He was a crack dealer by the age of 12 and has been shot nine times. Oh, and his mum died when he was only eight. The movie will be similar to Eminem's 8 Mile, which was loosely based on his life.
50 Cent, who supports Em tonight at Milton Keynes, said: "I've started developing a film with Terry. It's similar to 8 Mile but based on my life".
The soundtrack to 8 Mile earned Eminem an Oscar for best song for Lose Yourself. He even won critical acclaim for his acting.
50 Cent, talking to Radio one yesterday also confirmed that Slim Shady - Em's alter ago had dated Mariah Carey Asked by DJ Jo Whiley whether he had bedded the troubled warbler, he added: "No. Em was with Mariah Carey. I'm single".
Meanwhile, Eminem spent yesterday shopping on Paris before tonight's Milton Keynes gig.
He was due to fly into the UK last night ahead of his sell-out gigs at the Bowl this evening, tomorrow and Monday.
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Pimp Remix Video
Saturday 21st June, 2003
50 Cent says that he can work his "Magic Stick" for hours, but how good is he with handling a pimp cane?
We'll probably get to see before the summer is over. According to sources from both 50 and Snoop Dogg's camps, tentative plans are underway for the rhyme kingpins to shoot a video for the "P.I.M.P." remix in the next few weeks.
"P.I.M.P.," of course, first appeared on 50's Get Rich or Die Tryin' before a remix of the track featuring Snoop rhyming about being a "C.R.I.P." hit the mixtapes earlier this year. A second remix of the song has just surfaced, containing a verse from 50 off the original mix, Snoop re-rapping his lyrics off the first remix and new vocals by G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Young Buck.
50 and Snoop will spend plenty of time together this summer away from the video set as well. Snoop joins the Queens MC and Jay-Z on the Roc the Mic Tour starting July 9 in Cincinnati.
Source: MTV
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Snoop, 50 Cent Join Forces; D-O-Double G Does Song With Marvin Gaye
Friday 13th June 2003
When you mention hip-hop superpowers, obviously the 50 Cent, Eminem and Dr. Dre holy mic trinity comes to mind. However, the streets will soon be toasting to the teamwork by 50 and Snoop Dogg.
After blazing the mixtapes and radio with the remix to "P.I.M.P." (Snoop rhymes about being a "C.R.I.P." on the record), members of both the MCs' camps have been putting down more work in the studio together. Some of the music they've birthed pops up this week in a handful of new mixtapes put together by 50's turntablist, DJ Whoo Kid.
First there's part two to the G-Unit Radio CD series, International Ballers. This mixtape features Lloyd Banks, Snoop and Nate Dogg on "From Southside to Long Beach," and the dirty South's Lil' Flip teams up with G-Unit on "Get That Money, Man." And you know no G-Unit mixtape would be complete without a dis aimed at Murder Inc.
"It Is What It Is" finds 50 freestyling over the track for Talib Kweli's "Get By," sending more shots at the Murder Inc. camp ("You little monkey Irv ...You little jackass," he rhymes before laughing that the fans are not feeling Ashanti), and clarifying that he has no beef with Scarface or Bun B.
"They gave their blessings and said man, get your money/ Man, we ain't called you snitch, we ain't mad that you rich/ Keep on making hits," he spits.
In addition to the new songs and freestyles, portions of 50's recent Hot 97 Summer Jam concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey are included via Summer Jam Live & Uncut. Showing that he's been grinding heavily, the Queens record spinner also offers up Lloyd Banks' Money in the Bank, which highlights many of Banks' most salacious verses. Then there is Westside Reloaded, which features a bunch of new Snoop Dogg records, including collaborations with R. Kelly, Ron Isley and the late Marvin Gaye.
Similar to Erick Sermon's "Music," the untitled Snoop Dogg and Marvin Gaye track finds the Dogg rapping with the deceased legend harmonizing in the background. "Sing that song," Gaye belts out over a mid-tempo groove. "Together at last," he continues.
You also hear R. Kelly and Isley singing over Caribbean-flavored guitars and pianos on "Doin' It Big," talking about how much they like chicks, Cristal in their cups and wilding out in clubs.
Not to get left out of the playarific frolicking, Snoop rhymes, "Walking around with a tall glass of pimp fluid/ Matching outfits to go along with my cup/ Now you wanna kiss me slow/ Saying Snoop Dogg's irresistible."
Snoop also collaborates with dancehall heavyweight Barrington Levy on "Murderer" and with the Eastsidaz on "Back on the Block."
Whoo Kid gives shine to a new artist, Game, who is signed to Aftermath Records. He's highlighted on "Brooklyn to Compton," where he and Fabolous go back and forth over some of rap's most famous beats. On "See Murda" he gives props to the incarcerated C-Murder and speaks of his own mic capabilities.
