American Hip-Hop star 50 Cent was engaged in a scuffle with the entourage of another rapper in a Lagos, Nigeria airport last night. 50 Cent was in the African nation taking part in the annual Star Mega Jam, which brings top name talent to perform along side popular Nigerian artists. The incident started in an airplane belonging to the Aviation Development Company, before an aborted trip to Port Harcourt for a final performance. Eyewitnesses stated that Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem attempted to sit in a seat reserved for the internationally known 50 Cent, but was prevented from doing so. Abdulkareem’s entourage protested, resulting in a brawl inside the airplane. The scuffle carried on to the tarmac of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammad Airport, drawing the attention of employee’s and other passengers. The rapper left without completing the performance due to the incident. An official at the American Embassy in Lagos confirmed the incident, but said it was not policy to intervene in personal disputes. “Although he is an American citizen, he came here under a private arrangement and it is not our business to ask him to go back. It is his decision," an Embassy official told Nigerian newspaper The Guardian. “The decision is up to 50 Cent’s management team and his sponsors.” The Mega Jam was staged in four Nigerian cities between December 1 and 5, 2004. Prior to the concert, organizers said they had taken elaborate measures in terms of security, but others questioned their choice of artist and location. "It was still difficult to understand what influenced the choice of 50 Cent, a gangster rapper and Tafawa Balewa Square, a known stronghold of hoodlums," stated the Daily Champion in a November article. A spokesperson for the concert, now in its 5th year, said they chose 50 Cent based on requests from the Nigerian public, who chose this year’s international star. ADC Airlines, nor representatives for 50 Cent were available for comment as of press time.
American Hip-Hop
star 50 Cent was engaged in a scuffle with the entourage of another rapper in
a Lagos, Nigeria airport last night.
50 Cent was in
the African nation taking part in the annual Star Mega Jam, which brings top
name talent to perform along side popular Nigerian artists.
The incident started
in an airplane belonging to the Aviation Development Company, before an aborted
trip to Port Harcourt for a final performance.
Eyewitnesses stated
that Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem attempted to sit in a seat reserved
for the internationally known 50 Cent, but was prevented from doing so.
Abdulkareem’s
entourage protested, resulting in a brawl inside the airplane.
The scuffle carried
on to the tarmac of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammad Airport, drawing
the attention of employee’s and other passengers.
The rapper left
without completing the performance due to the incident.
An official at
the American Embassy in Lagos confirmed the incident, but said it was not policy
to intervene in personal disputes.
“Although
he is an American citizen, he came here under a private arrangement and it is
not our business to ask him to go back. It is his decision," an Embassy
official told Nigerian newspaper The Guardian. “The decision is up to
50 Cent’s management team and his sponsors.”
The Mega Jam was
staged in four Nigerian cities between December 1 and 5, 2004. Prior to the
concert, organizers said they had taken elaborate measures in terms of security,
but others questioned their choice of artist and location.
"It was still
difficult to understand what influenced the choice of 50 Cent, a gangster rapper
and Tafawa Balewa Square, a known stronghold of hoodlums," stated the Daily
Champion in a November article.
A spokesperson
for the concert, now in its 5th year, said they chose 50 Cent based on requests
from the Nigerian public, who chose this year’s international star.
ADC Airlines, nor
representatives for 50 Cent were available for comment as of press time.
