Kanye West And JAY-Z’s Unreleased 2007 Collab “Buildings” Leaks Online

It’s been a strange week for Kanye West music. The rapper announced that his new album, Vultures 2, will drop August 3rd. Then, a few hours after, he took the date down from his website. Fans have been waiting to hear the second installment in the Vultures trilogy for months, and they have to keep waiting. On the bright side, a Kanye West song has mysteriously leaked online. It’s not from Vultures 2 sessions, but from the Graduation sessions back in 2007. If that doesn’t sweeten the pot, the inclusion of JAY-Z will.

The leaked song is titled “Buildings.” Kanye West has never mentioned the song, and no snippet of it had ever been released prior to July 31. That said, fans can now listen to the entire four minute collab online. JAY-Z kicks off the song with a predictably excellent verse. The most interesting part of his verse is that some lines, particularly those referencing Cuban cigars and “doing donuts” in a lambo, were eventually repurposed for the single “Otis” in 2011. The contemplative, finally-made-it feel of the song is perfectly suited to name-dropping designer labels, which is what JAY does here. A few months later, Hov would drop American Gangster (2007).

Read More: Big Sean Reveals Whether Or Not He Believes Kanye West Helped Leak His Album

Kanye West And JAY-Z Reflect On Rap Stardom

Kanye West wins the song, though. The production is clean, with crisp piano keys littered throughout, and his verse is filled with clever bars. “Just tryna eat dog, tryna stay fresh,” he raps. “Now I got meals and I’m tryna eat less.” There’s even a reference to 50 Cent, who West was famously beefing with back in 2007. “Yeah mommy, I see you G, on the treadmill, bumping 50,” he spits. “Oh, I get it. You tryna loose that G-G-G-G-U-T.” There’s a ramshackle quality to West’s delivery, and given how polished the rest of Graduation is, one has to wonder whether he would’ve re-recorded his vocals. Regardless, the rawness is fascinating as a sort of studio time capsule.

The strangest part of “Buildings,” though, is Kanye West’s prediction of the future. The rapper was on top of the world in 2007, and hearing him reflect on his status is akin to hopping in a time machine. “As I caught a glimpse of my future,” he raps. “I got that feeling, knowing one day I’ma crush these buildings.” Kanye West wasn’t wrong. Listening to “Buildings” is going to be a bittersweet experience for anybody who misses the old Kanye. It’s a reminder of how relatable his music used to be, and a stark contrast to the music and statements in the present.

Read More: Kanye West Admits To Porn Addiction In Leaked Version Of “Carnival”

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50 Cent Calls Himself The Only Person From ‘Hip-Hop Culture’ Who Has ‘Produced Quality Projects’ (Including A Doc About Diddy)

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A Netflix documentary about Prince is “dead in the water,” but not so for one about Sean “Diddy” Combs. The docuseries is being overseen by 50 Cent and his G-Unit Film and Production Studios, and will look into the lawsuits and allegations leveled against his long-time rival.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, 50 Cent was asked about why he wanted to produce a documentary about Diddy. “I’m the only one from hip-hop culture that’s produced quality projects,” he said. “We do have a lot of talent within our culture where the talent has developed a comfortability in front of the camera, so they’re usually a part of it as an actor or driving force of why someone would watch the project; not the behind-the-scenes production, producing the whole project, so there’s a difference.”

The rapper and TV mogul was also asked about not attending Diddy’s parties. “He asked to take me shopping. I thought that was the weirdest shit in the world because that might be something that a man says to a woman,” he explained. “And I’m just like, ‘Naw, I’m not fucking with this weird energy or weird shit,’ coming off the way he was just moving. From that, I wasn’t comfortable around him.”

The Netflix documentary about Diddy does not currently have a premiere date.

50 Cent Advocates For Removal Of New York Judge After Troubling Video Surfaces Online

50 Cent joined the calls to remove New York State Supreme Court Justice Erin Gall from her position. Earlier this week, police bodycam footage of the incident was released following an investigation. The video shows Gall telling Black teenagers to leave a high school graduation party following a confrontation over uninvited guests. 

She tells them, “You’re not going to find your keys. You got to call an Uber and get off the property.” Gall added, “You’re going to get a cop escort home.” Gall also tried to get the police to arrest the Black teenagers for trespassing. “I’ve done this for a million years,” she said. “I’m a lawyer. I’m a judge. I know this.” She also adds that if the teens returned for their keys, “you can shoot them on the property. I’ll shoot them on the property,” a message for the police officers in the video.

50 Cent Advocates For Removal Of Judge

The judge’s behavior outraged 50 Cent. On Wednesday, he took to Instagram with a new report featuring body-cam footage of the incident. “SMH, she should be removed. This is bad. Repost this video.” 50 wasn’t the only person left outraged. The State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued its report detailing their investigation of this incident on Monday. The report recommended Gall’s dismissal and found that she “created at least the appearance that she harbored racial bias,” during the July 2022 incident. Moreover, the panel also said Gall “repeatedly invoked her judicial office,” in her repeated attempts to have the Black teenage partygoers arrested.  

“Her wide array of misconduct severely undermined public confidence in the judiciary and in her ability to serve as a fair and impartial judge,” the commission added in their report. ” [Erin Gall’s behavior] was as shocking as anything I have seen in my 40 years of judicial ethics enforcement,” said Robert H. Tembeckjian, the commission’s administrator. Gall’s attorney, Robert Julian, plans to challenge the ruling, according to CBS News. Gall is currently on paid suspension, having been unable to serve in her day job since the investigation began. It is unlikely that she’ll work in law again anytime soon.

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50 Cent Can’t Get Enough Of Cardi B’s “Bodak Yellow” Video Outtake

50 Cent has a near universal approval rating as a social media presence. He regularly posts hilarious memes, trolls the likes of Diddy, and links up with artists he likes. 50 Cent and Cardi B are both New York legends, and we’re happy to assure readers that there’s no beef brewing between them. Instead, the G-Unit mogul dug up behind-the-scenes footage of Cardi B’s breakout video “Bodak Yellow.” The footage sees Cardi B very clearly freaked out by wild animal she interacts with, and 50 thinks it’s hilarious.

50 Cent posted the footage on his Instagram. The quality is not top-notch, but Cardi B can clearly be seen trying to rap “Bodak Yellow.” As anyone who’s seen the official video can recall, Cardi is holding a leopard on a leash during one of the set-ups. It’s a cool visual, but it’s one that evidently stressed the rapper out. Cardi B raps a few bars before the leopard turns her way and hisses. The rapper is very clearly (and understandably) freaked out by the incident. “Okay, no, no, no,” she tells someone off screen. “Come hold him.” A man is then heard ordering someone to “take him” away from Cardi B.

Read More: 50 Cent Mocks Opps After Ex-Detective Confirms There’s “No Way” He Cooperated

50 Cent Admits He’d Be As Scared As Cardi B

Obviously, the rapper got through the shoot unscathed. Knowing this, 50 Cent found the footage to be absolutely side-splitting. “Yo this this sh*t had me crying,” he wrote on Instagram. “Cardi said no come get him.” The rapper had a good laugh, but he admitted that he would be just as freaked out to be close to a wild animal without protection. “Lol hahahahaha,” he added. “I be scared of that sh*t too f*ck that.” 50 Cent is no stranger to music video complications, either. In 2012, the rapper was hospitalized shortly after the release of the video for “Complicated.”

50 Cent’s bulletproof SUV was rear-ended by a Mack truck on New York’s Long Island Expressway mere hours after the video dropped. The rapper, along with his driver, were sent to the hospital around 3 a.m. Fortunately, neither man was seriously hurt. According to XXL, they were released within hours. When he’s not scrolling through Instagram, 50 Cent is busy making tons off the streaming profits to his classic single “Many Men (Wish Death).” The song became a meme after the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, and streaming numbers have shot up a staggering 300%.

Read More: Drake & 50 Cent Link Up In Toronto

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50 Cent Has Kendrick Lamar Fans Saying He’s ‘Not Like Us’ After He Teased A Collaboration With Drake

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While a huge part of the rap world has seemingly sided with Kendrick Lamar in his feud with Drake, there’s one cultural titan who isn’t letting their conflict get in the way of potentially collaborating with the Canadian hitmaker. 50, whose involvement in the vendetta has to date been limited to teasing his longtime rival Rick Ross for supposedly being attacked by Drake fans in Canada, shared a photo of himself hanging out with Drake at a club with a caption that suggested that they might be working together in the near future.

“Brain 🧠 storming last night me and @champagnepapi gonna get the 🎥 rolling,” he wrote. “Biggest ting on your TV.”

Of course, that prompted a bit of a backlash in 50’s comments section, with fans quoting lines from Kendrick’s infamous diss track “Not Like Us” and comparing the Toronto rapper to 50’s own onetime (possibly forever) enemy, Ja Rule. “Nah 50 he ain’t it,” wrote one fan. “That’s Kendrick’s Ja Rule.” Meanwhile, others cited 50’s connection to Dr. Dre, who co-signed Kendrick way back in the day and appeared at K. Dot’s Ken & Friend concerts to introduce “Not Like Us” — proving once again, that a lot of rap fans take this stuff WAY too seriously.

With 50 looking to expand his Power universe, perhaps the project they “brainstormed” on has something to do with Drake’s history as an actor and a producer — Top Boy crossover incoming? Now, that’s something worth getting excited about.

50 Cent Teases Drake Collab, Is Accused Of Betraying Kendrick Lamar

Fans are accusing 50 Cent of betraying Kendrick Lamar after meeting up with Drake at a party in Toronto over the weekend and teasing a collaboration. 50 posted a picture of the two together on Instagram on Sunday afternoon. “Brain [brain emoji] storming last night me and @champagnepapi gonna get the [camera emoji] rolling biggest ting on your TV GLG,” the caption reads. This suggests that 50 and Drake’s collaboration is related to television, not music. 50’s an accomplished TV producer, with his Power franchise celebrating ten years on the air last month. Drake is an executive producer on Netflix’s Top Boy revival and Euphoria. The latter is one of the most popular shows on HBO.

50 Cent meeting with Drake angered fans of Lamar. Some of them pointed out 50’s own history of attacking those who sided with his rivals. “You can’t do Ja Rule like that and go hang with the modern day Ja Rule,” said one user. Another user mentioned Drake’s own history as an actor, saying that they “don’t want to see [Drake] in Power” after this.

50 Cent Accused Of Betraying Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar and 50 Cent have shared history. The two of them collaborated on the 2013 track “We Up.” Lamar also made a cameo in the fifth season of Power as Laces, a homeless drug addict who gets shot in the head by Kanan Stark, portrayed by 50 himself. Of course, the two of them have connections to Dr. Dre and Eminem. Both signed to Aftermath Entertainment at different points in the last two decades and found massive success. The two have since departed to forge their own paths. 50 went into TV and Lamar founded the pgLang production company.

Fans have also pointed out that 50 Cent and Drake’s meetup was likely in part because of a shared enemy: Rick Ross. Ross and 50 have had beef since the 2000s. Drake and Ross’s relationship deteriorated earlier this year, with the two of them taking petty shots at each other during the much bigger battle between the former and Kendrick Lamar. Drake claimed credit for Ross’s crossover success. Ross referred to Drake as “BBL Drizzy,” alleging that Drake uses Ozempic and paid for ab sculpting surgery. Ross recently got into a fight for playing “Not Like Us” in Vancouver. Drake’s and 50’s meetup is a hot topic, and it will be interesting to see what comes of it.

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Irv Gotti Accused Of Sexual Assault & Abuse: What We Know

Music mogul and cofounder of Murder Inc. Records, Irv Gotti, faces serious allegations of sexual assault and abuse. According to People, an unnamed woman has come forward with claims against the 54-year-old producer, detailing a harrowing two-year ordeal. The accusations, outlined in a lawsuit filed on July 11 in Miami, span from 2020 to 2022. The plaintiff, who met Gotti through a mutual friend at a poker game, alleges multiple incidents of coercion and assault. Here is a detailed breakdown of the allegations and their implications.

Read More: Irv Gotti Faces Trolling Amid Ashanti & Nelly Pregnancy Reports

Initial Meeting & Allegations

irv gotti faces allegations of abuse
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 20: Music producer Irv Gotti attends the BET Networks 2016 Upfront at Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 20, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/BET/Getty Images for BET Networks)

The plaintiff states she first encountered Irv Gotti in 2020 at a poker game facilitated by a mutual acquaintance. Shortly after this meeting, Gotti allegedly invited her on a trip to St. Martin. During this vacation, she claims he pressured her into a sexual relationship, threatening to send her home if she did not comply with his demands. This marked the beginning of what she describes as a prolonged period of abuse.

The Relationship & Ongoing Abuse

Irv Gotti of Inc. during Ja Rule’s Birthday Party at LQ Nightclub in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Upon returning from St. Martin, the woman asserts that she entered into a relationship with Gotti that lasted until 2022. Throughout this period, she alleges she was subjected to continuous abuse. The plaintiff describes instances of forced sexual acts, including a particularly traumatic incident in January 2022, where she claims Gotti coerced her into performing oral sex in a hotel elevator in Miami.

Read More: Elliott Wilson Takes Issue With Irv Gotti’s “Drink Champs” Appearance: “Petition To End All Irv Gotti Interviews?”

Irv Gotti of Inc. during Ja Rule’s Birthday Party at LQ Nightclub in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

The abuse allegedly continued with another forced sexual encounter in the back of an Uber in Atlanta later in 2022. According to the lawsuit, these repeated assaults caused the plaintiff severe emotional and psychological distress, ultimately leading to her hospitalization in a psychiatric facility. Her legal team emphasizes the profound impact of these events on her mental health.

The lawsuit demands a jury trial and seeks compensatory damages for the alleged abuse. The plaintiff’s attorney, Adriana AlcaldeIn, highlights the courage required to come forward with such allegations, noting the supportive environment fostered by the #MeToo movement. Efforts to contact Gotti’s representatives for comment were unsuccessful.

50 Cent, however, didn’t spare Irv Gotti after the news broke. “The legal fee’s are gonna break his ass in half, he ain’t got no money. Welp that all folks,” he wrote on Instagram. Considering the magnitude of the allegations, we don’t expect Gotti to respond anytime soon.

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10 More Rap Video Games For Fans Of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Game

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YouTube / Merle Cooper

Apparently, no owls were harmed in the making of Kendrick Lamar’s hilarious video game version of “Not Like Us,” but fans are having a blast bopping the birds in the Whac-A-Mole-esque browser game for the past few days. For what it’s worth, the little “Wop”s that pop out when you make contact is an adorable touch.

Kendrick isn’t the only rapper whose had their music turned into a memorable digital mayhem, though; he’s actually the latest in a long line of rappers with games tied to their songs — a list that includes superstars like Future, Kanye West, and more. Sadly, some of the simple, browser-based games have gone offline after their initial releases, since they were timed to help promote specific projects.

But over the years, there have been big studio-produced games that put fans in the shoes of their favorite MCs to do everything from shooting hoops to brawling in the streets. Here’s a list of 10 more rapper-approved video games to feed your fix for beats, rhyme, and extra lives.

50 Cent: Bulletproof

A third-person action shooter in the vein of genre classics like Max Payne, this PlayStation 2-era revenge story was widely panned for having bad gameplay. While it proved 50’s early interest in expanding his G-Unit empire, it also betrayed a lack of care in how it did so.

Chance The Rapper: SuperMe

The story behind this game’s creation is more endearing than the game itself, thanks to its simple gameplay. However basic it is, though, it’s cool that Chance worked with Chicago’s public school system to encourage kids to learn to code.

Doja Cat Website for Planet Her

While not technically a game, per se, the 16-bit pixel art style for the interactive redesign of Doja’s website circa Planet Her made it very game-like. That you also navigated a tiny avatar of Doja through the titular world makes it all the more a shame it’s not accessible anymore.

Earthgang: Mirrorland

Pixel artist Ali Graham has had a lot of fun turning popular hip-hop moments into cute, 8- and 16-bit animations on Instagram. Atlanta rap duo Earthgang tapped him to make a full-blown side-scrolling adventure platformer for the release of their 2019 album, Mirrorland.

Future: I Won

Probably the grossest game on the list (although its attitude toward women isn’t exactly an outlier in either games design or hip-hop), this basic game is a bit like a ring toss, only the targets are scantily clad digital women, and the rings are chain necklaces. Yeesh.

Kanye West: Lil Ye Adventures

Although technically not officially endorsed by Kanye himself, this one’s almost too good not to include. Another of Graham’s creations, this one is based on Graham’s first cartoon avatar, a child-like version of Kanye from when he was way less problematic.

Metro Boomin: Heroes & Villains

Aside from the games no longer in circulation, this one may very well be one of the hardest to obtain. A promotional product hyping his 2022 album Heroes & Villains, this dungeon crawler was released in limited quantities as a physical Game Boy game. I can’t exactly speak to its quality — despite having a copy, I haven’t actually owned a Game Boy since like 2003.

Nicki Minaj: The Empire

A lifestyle simulator might have seemed like a home run for Ms. Minaj’s first foray into mobile gaming, but its dated format is a relic of several outdated ideas about women in gaming (and its developers’ lazy assumptions that Nicki’s audience would be primarily women).

Def Jam Vendetta, Fight For NY, and Icon

Like a video game version of a posse cut, these games collect a roster of rapper to beat the hell out of each other in martial competition. The first one was a groundbreaking delight, the second is a damn classic, and the third tossed out a winning formula, effectively killing interest in the format. This is my semi-annual request for someone to figure out a way to do a new one of these with contemporary rappers (in the style of Fight for NY, not Icon).

Rap Jam Volume One

An utterly legendary release, likely thrown together to compete with the popularity of the NBA Jam franchise, Rap Jam has the distinction of being the first game to bring together a collective of real-life rappers — ’90s staples like Coolio, House of Pain, LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, and Yo-Yo — for an unhinged basketball game that flouted the rules. It was developed by Motown during another one of the label’s ill-fated attempts at branching out, and while its name might suggest that there were more of these, its unimpressive quality meant that it was also the last of its kind.

50 Cent Shares His Thoughts On Eminem’s Album “The Death Of Slim Shady”

So far, Eminem’s new album, The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), is shaping up to another successful release. The hard numbers and projections prove that, as the project is already over 100 million streams on Spotify in just two days and it looks to move over 300,000 copies in its first week. In relation to the latter, if that turns out to be true, it will be the biggest debut for any rap tape this year. Fan reactions for the most part have been pretty favorable too, with many labeling it the best Eminem album in the last decade or so.

Listeners are also just appreciating the fact that he is continuing to make music at this stage in his career. “The album is really 🔥 but these kids don’t appreciate how lucky we all are that he’s still making music”, one IG user writes. Another even goes as far as to predict that Shady’s lyrics will be analyzed in school. “One day people will be studying Em in schools like they do Shakespeare.” These replies can be found underneath 50 Cent’s post in which he shares his feelings on Eminem’s new album.

Read More: Young Thug’s Lawyer Delivers Strong Statement Following Judge Glanville’s Recusal

50 Cent Leaves Glowing Review Of Eminem’s New Album

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by 50 Cent (@50cent)

Obviously, these two are extremely tight and have been working together since the early 2000s. So, his review is going to biased but, at least it is not far off from the general consensus. “Yo @eminem s*** is crazy it takes me a while to understand the details of this one. 🔥 @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi”. While it would have been cool for this dynamic duo to have collaborated on this project in some shape or form, it is great to see that they continue to support each other. We supposedly have a deluxe version on the way, so fingers crossed until then.

What are your thoughts on 50 Cent’s review of Eminem’s album, The Death of Slim Shady? Do you share similar feelings to the Detroit MC’s close pal, why or why not? What songs have you been gravitating toward the most so far? Who had the best feature on the record? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Eminem and 50 Cent. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.

Read More: Jaylen Brown Reacts After He Was Caught Saying Bronny James Isn’t NBA Material

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50 Cent Brings “Final Lap Tour” Lite To Canadian Festival Circuit; Killer Mike Takes It To Church: FEQ Recap

At the BET Awards last week, Killer Mike delivered a poignant speech as he accepted the award for Best Rap Album – another triumphant award show night for the Atlanta rapper in 2024. “Technically, I was not supposed to be here,” Killer Mike said about his infamous arrest outside the Grammy Awards earlier this year. That same night, he took home three Grammy Awards for Michael. “I was put in handcuffs, and I was marched out of this building. But I wanna tell you, look at God because I’m back, baby. I’m back.”

His faith in God is at the forefront of his efforts, naturally sprinkling references to his faith across his catalog, whether alongside El-P as Run The Jewels or in his solo catalog. His latest album Michael is an autobiographical body of work that explores his Atlanta roots, both through vigorous levels of rhyming over soulful backdrops and a deep dive into how God brought him through hardships to glory. These Grammy wins and accolades symbolize how he overcame trials and tribulations throughout his life and still surpassed the circumstances that could’ve led him astray. But this message becomes more urgent during his live shows. Accompanied by the Mighty Revival and DJ Trackstar, Killer Mike brought the good folks of Quebec City to a church sermon (albeit, with a bit more cussing and weed smoke).

Read More: Killer Mike Speaks On His Arrest At The GRAMMYs On “HUMBLE ME”

Michael‘s Victory Lap

via Etienne Dionne/FEQ

As part of his summer 2024 tour dates, he made his way through several Canadian cities in support of his excellent 2023 album, Michael. His performance at Festival D’Été Quebec on Friday night (July 6th) felt like another victory lap in a storied career that has seen him reach incredible heights without compromising his artistic integrity. His stage show brought a distinctly Southern feel that embodied his resilience, tenacity, and faith in a Higher Power. The jewels he dropped weren’t those of solely a rapper but one who delivers his words with the conviction of a pastor. 

He admittedly tried to stray from religious reference, though stories about Solomon prefaced the emotionally charged “MAMA” and his mini-speeches in between songs felt like notes of inspiration for those who’ve also felt like their back were against the wall. Still, this was a rap show after all, and songs like “RUN” and “DOWN BY LAW” got the energy right for the remainder of the evening. But, at the core of Killer Mike’s performance was bringing Atlanta to the Canadians. The album cuts got the audience excited, for sure, but hard-hitting bangers including Big Boi’s “Kill Jill” and Bone Crusher’s “Never Scared,” alongside cuts from Run The Jewels and R.A.P Music, kept the crowd’s vibrancy at an all-time high. 

Following such a triumphant year so far – even with a few mishaps – Killer Mike’s performance felt like a victory lap for an artist who never played the industry game yet exceeded every expectation set against him. But with a breath of gratitude to his tone, his recent feats and festival performances are a testament to his grind and reaping the fruits of his labor. 

The Final Lap Tour Makes Its Way To Quebec City

via Etienne Dionne/FEQ

The greatest measure of an artist’s hit-making prowess is how it translates to crowds outside of their prime demographic, specifically those that don’t even really speak the same language. At le Festival D’Été Quebec in Quebec City (a primarily non-English city), 50 Cent served up a platter of bangers for an hour-and-a-half that affirms his presence as one of hip-hop’s greatest showmen. Following 50 Cent’s epic Final Lap tour in 2023, which saw him celebrate the 20th anniversary of Get Rich Or Die Tryin, he’s clearly in high demand for the summer festival circuit across the world. As we covered in 2023, the Final Lap tour was undoubtedly the tour of the summer, one that brought hip-hop fans, both old and new together, to witness one of rap’s greats perform his biggest hits; timeless classics that have become a staple in hip-hop and pop catalogs.

50 Cent initially stated the Final Lap tour would be his final haul on the road before focusing on his television and film productions. But, after surpassing over $100M in ticket sales last year (making it one of the highest-grossing hip-hop tours of all time), there are plenty of markets that ha highly sought after in plenty of markets that he didn’t hit last year. Joined by his hypemen, Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda, the G-Unit trifecta delivered a more toned-down version of what they brought across North America last year, likely due to the venue change. Festivals provide ample room for pyrotechnics but the setup didn’t necessarily welcome some of the more theatrical elements, such as the wild t-shirt change that went viral last year and even the complex transitions throughout the set (i.e. popping out from under the stage).

The People Love 50

via Etienne Dionne/FEQ

Nonetheless, his performance in Quebec City is a microcosm of 50 Cent’s global appeal. Though the audience might not be entirely tuned into Power (“Big Rich Town” certainly wasn’t even close to being the highlight of the evening), the epic run as a solo artist and with G-Unit throughout the 2000s formed the baseline of his set that transcended language barriers, further emphasizing the grip he’s had on the world since the release of Get Rich Or Die Tryin’.

“I’m On Some Sh*t” may have felt like a bit of a lackluster opener for this audience, especially since the majority seemed unfamiliar with his mixtape run. But, you could imagine that records like “What Up Gangsta,” “Just A Lil Bit,” and “If I Can’t” had the nearly 80,000+ in attendance singing along word-for-word. But once he started going into the real hit records, from his collaborations with The Game to songs like “Candy Shop,” “In Da Club,” and other definitive songs of the mid-2000s, it further affirmed Fif as one of the culture’s pivotal figure who contributed to hip-hop’s global appeal, from his days bullying his peers on his early mixtapes to outshining each of them once he formally entered the game. 

Read More: 50 Cent Continues To Terrorize Rick Ross While Touring In Canada

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