Thoughts on 50 Cent [PICS/VIDEO]
Jamm Aquino photos
I’ve got to admit I’m a little surprised at the lack of 50 Cent fans in Honolulu.
Rough estimates pegged Friday’s crowd at about 3,000 people (a bit generous, if you ask me). That’s only a few hundred more than his first trip here five years ago.
Most of the crowd appeared to be in their 20’s and 30’s, with a few parents walking around with teenagers (and pre-teens, WTF!?!?) in tow.
In case you missed it, I reviewed the concert in yesterday’s Star-Bulletin.
Staff photographer Jamm Aquino was kind enough to provide a few more pictures from that night, so I’ve got those posted after the jump. There’s also a short video clip from EMIRC’s opening performance.
The Southpaw Outlaws were the first to perform on Friday. From what I gathered, they “won” the chance to play after entering a contest organized by promoter Tihati Productions.
I’m told the group had to pay an entry fee in order to be considered for the gig.
Not a good look, Tihati. Not a good look.
Hawaii hip-hop representative EMIRC was up next, flanked by DJ Jimmy Taco.
He turned in a decent effort, introducing a new track and pushing his Flip the Bird clothing line, but it’s still kind of obvious that he needs a solid hype man during his live performances.
Here’s a video I shot during his performance. I wasn’t sure I could get in with my HD rig, so the point-and-shoot got strapped to my belt instead:
(Click here for the lo-res version uploaded to YouTube)
Promoter/performer Afatia Thompson then took the stage after five Samoan guys came out to deliver a chant (sans shirts), which got the ladies at the Blaisdell screaming.
But I’m sorry, that was NOT something that happens at a hip-hop show (I’m talking about the topless dudes, not the screaming women). And I’m not sure the sleeveless T-shirt and athletic pants Afa wore was the right choice of attire, either, especially when one of his backup singers rocked a dress shirt and blazer.
He did, however, make an admirable attempt to put on an entertaining show during his six-song set, complete with a crew of dancers that mixed hula and Tahitian with hip-hop choreography.
Then it was 50’s turn, albeit after a completely worthless 15 minutes spent picking out the “finest hoochie mama” from the crowd and an awkward moment when Thompson was re-introduced… just so he could introduce 50 Cent.
Read my review to see what I thought about the headliner for this strange night.
Call it what you want, but Friday’s concert wasn’t the best example of local residents showing love to a successful hip-hop artist.
I’m not the biggest fan of 50 myself, but filling less than half the seats at the Blaisdell has got to be more than a little disappointing both for him and the promoters he worked with.
Hey, I guess Honolulu is more of a Kanye town.
March 31st, 2008 at 7:52 am
kanye was definitely a better show, lol.
i peeked in on this one towards the end and it seemed as though there were a lot of people. i mean, the floor was packed. the mezzanine was sprinkled with people but everyone i saw was having a blast. kind of reminded me of public enemy or something. i wouldn’t say the crowd was embarrassing in the slightest. not like fountains of wayne or anything. ;)
all i ever hear is ‘we need more concerts’ then we get more concerts and people don’t want to go. it’s hard on the promoters i bet. hip hop will always be a tougher category.
my dream show? chromeo! which should have happened…..
March 31st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
The floor was packed for the first 15 to 20 rows. I could see a number of pukas further back, and there were plenty of seats where I was sitting near the sound board. Other than three or four sections upstairs that were straight back from the stage, that part of the Blaisdell was virtually empty.
For an artist like 50 Cent, it is definitely embarrassing when you fill considerably less than half of the 8,000 seat Blaisdell Arena. Public Enemy was an embarrassment as well.
He’s sold millions of albums and has waaaaaaay more material now than he did in 2003, and yet 50 only drew about 500 more people than he did during his first visit.
Maybe it would have looked better if he did the show in the Blaisdell Concert Hall like Tool did in 2006.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:15 pm
hi jason, i agree 100% with your comments. I’m not a big 50 fan but i was invited and thought why not check it out.i love hip hop. never too thrilled at the pipeline cafe venue so this was at least diff. =you’re right, it seemed like there were many holes in seating through the place. it is kind of embarassing.i heard the chris brown show was sold out so they had to add another show? maybe the younger folks have more money via their parents? don’t get it.
All the opening acts confused me. I almost forgot what concert I was at.Seriously we had perplexed looks on our faces with all the opening acts.never heard of Afatia and i’m sure he has loyal fans but i didn’t think he or the other opening acts were right for this show (or any hip hop show). i don’t know overall the concert was just downright weird. not horribly awful but werid.and yes I too saw some really young pre-teens in the audience. dont’ have kids and don’t want to tell other parents how to parent, but that was a bit unsettling.don’t think i’d take my 11 year old daugther to see a two live crew reunion tour ya know.