50 Cent @ Leeds Festival 2004
By Mark Casci50 Cent are an altogether different affair as drums and guitars are cleared from the stage and the essential tools of hip-hop, two turntables and a microphone, are set up. He blasts onto the Leeds stage with his compares G-unit and commands everyone with a love for hip-hop to "throw their hands in the air".
Unfortunately the vast majority of those in attendance at the Leeds festival fall into "the student indie rocker" category opposed to the "motherfucking original gangster" category. Subsequently the first few numbers of "fiddy's" set leaves Leeds looking somewhat bemused as he disses the "fakers" who besmirch the hip hop game while gun shots echo around Bramham and security begin to look very nervous.
Within two numbers 50 is shirtless and displaying more muscles and tattoos then all other bands this weekend put together. Slowly but surely the crowd starts to get into it and after 20 minutes 50,000 pasty faced students are transformed into original gangsters, hollering out the battle cry of "g g g g G UNIT"!!!!
50's set was a brave and audacious move by Mean Fiddler's organisers this year and represents a welcome departure from the very staunch white, indie rock policy of previous years. And it certainly appears that hip-hop has a place in the hearts of Leeds, unlike Reading where the man was actually booed off the stage by those craving something white.
"21 seconds", "PIMP" and "Back down" crown his awesome set and full marks to the jokers who question 50's grammar with an "it's spelt 'in THE club'" sign.
Fuck those losers at Reading - 50, come back soon.
