Current:Home > Contact50 Cent, Busta Rhymes celebrate generations of rappers ahead of hip-hop's milestone anniversary -WealthMindset Learning
50 Cent, Busta Rhymes celebrate generations of rappers ahead of hip-hop's milestone anniversary
View
Date:2025-04-19 13:26:00
BROOKLYN, New York – 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes are bridging the gap between generations of hip-hop.
Thursday night, on the eve of the genre's 50th anniversary, the rappers paid tribute to the past for 50 Cent's The Final Lap Tour — an homage to the 20th anniversary tour of "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" — and showed the future how it's done.
"At midnight tonight, hip-hop turns 50 years old," Busta Rhymes (real name Trevor George Smith Jr.), a Brooklyn native, said to a roaring crowd at Barclays Center. "Can you believe this? 50 years old. At midnight."
The moment proved to be extra emotional as an audience mostly decked out in New York-branded apparel celebrated hip-hop's anniversary a few boroughs away from the genre's birthplace.
50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) played into the nostalgia of the crowd with favorites from his debut album including "In Da Club," "21 Questions," "P.I.M.P.," What Up Gangsta" and "Many Men (Wish Death)" as smoke, fire and sparks were set off on stage.
Several of the songs reference his upbringing in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York, and 50 Cent paid homage with a digital set showing brownstone buildings, the Queens Plaza Station stop on the subway and bodegas.
50 Cent, 48, had the energy and charm you'd expect from his 20s when he released "Get Rich or Die Tryin,'" proving that rappers have the same vocal longevity as pop stars.
The Queens rapper offered the glitz in the form of pricey jewelry and his troop of background dancers added the glam. For his raunchier numbers, the dancers sauntered across the stage and flexed their athleticism from the poles to a synchronized chair dance.
50 Cent later diverted from his debut with hits "Hate It or Love It," "Candy Shop," "This Is How We Do," and more, with the help of Uncle Murda and G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo.
Speaking to USA TODAY in May, 50 Cent promised his tour was going to get into some of his less popular songs. "Sometimes out of habit, you go to certain records. People love other things on it, so I want to make sure I touch those records before I don’t do those anymore," he said.
On Thursday, he delivered, separating fans of his popular music from die-hards as he got into "Hustler's Ambition," "Soldier," "Gotta Make It to Heaven," "Southside," "In My Hood" and more.
The rapper's set was loaded, as were his guest appearances.
Fat Joe, Young M.A, Bobby Shmurda, A Boogie wit da Hoodie, PHresher and 50 Cent's tour opener Jeremih took the stage throughout his set. 50 Cent also paid tribute to Pop Smoke, performing his verse of the late Brooklyn rapper's post-humous song "The Woo."
Previous:50 Cent on what fans can expect on his 20th anniversary tour (not upside down crunches)
Busta Rhymes brings out Lola Brooke, Remy Ma and Scar Lip
Prior to the headlining performance, Busta Rhymes, 51, upped the ante with an explosive set.
The rapper and his longtime collaborator Spliff Star had the stadium holding their breath as they tackled "Touch It," "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II," "I Know What You Want" and more with hardly any breaks.
His set also included tributes to the birthplace of hip-hop in the form of younger talent.
Brooklyn's Lola Brooke joined Busta Rhymes on stage to rap her hit "Don't Play With It," Harlem rapper Scar Lip kept the crowd in line with her song "This Is New York" and Bronx legend Remy Ma spit her verse in M.O.P.'s "Ante Up" remix, which also features Busta Rhymes.
If there's one message 50 Cent communicated Thursday night: hip-hop is the past, present and future.
If you don't get Monaleo,she says you're not listening: ‘It really gets under my skin’
veryGood! (67346)
Related
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- How Allison Holker and Her Kids Found New Purpose One Year After Stephen tWitch Boss' Death
- She began to panic during a double biopsy. Then she felt a comforting touch
- Chinese state media say 20 people dead and 24 missing after landslide
- From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
- Former gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur gets new lawyer who points to ‘historic’ trial
- New Mexico police discover explosive device, investigate second suspicious package
- Arkansas judge tosses attorney general’s lawsuit against state Board of Corrections
- Intel's stock did something it hasn't done since 2022
- 'Send your pup here!' Video shows incredible dog help rescue its owner from icy lake
Ranking
- Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
- Judge blocks tighter rule on same-day registration in North Carolina elections
- Nicole Kidman Says We Can Thank Her Daughter Sunday for Big Little Lies Season 3
- Texans QB C.J. Stroud makes 'major donation' to Ohio State NIL collective 'THE Foundation'
- Spooky or not? Some Choa Chu Kang residents say community garden resembles cemetery
- County legislators override executive, ensuring a vote for potential KC stadium funding
- Macy's rejects $5.8 billion buyout ahead of layoffs, store shutdowns
- Missing man's body found decomposing in chimney of central Georgia home
Recommendation
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
Tech CEO Sanjay Shah Dead at 56 After Freak Accident at Company Party
Below Deck Med's Natalya Scudder Makes a Shocking Return to Cause Major Chaos
Florida man charged with battery after puppy sale argument leads to stabbing, police say
Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
China’s critics and allies have 45 seconds each to speak in latest UN review of its human rights
Billy Joel prepares to 'Turn the Lights Back On' with first new pop song in decades
US targets Iraqi airline Fly Baghdad, its CEO and Hamas cryptocurrency financiers for sanctions