On Friday, March 1, 50 Cent brought a sizzling, sexy, and high-energy performance to RodeoHouston, inviting 74,729 fans to join him “In Da Club” known as NRG Stadium.
It was one of the highest-attended RodeoHouston shows for a hip-hop headliner, just over 800 tickets away from Cardi B’s record-setting performance (75,580) in 2019 and ahead of Houston’s own Bun B (74,573) in 2023.
Born Curtis Jackson in Jamaica, Queens, New York, the career of 50 Cent is an American success story, going from selling drugs in the streets to being a multi-media mogul, with his hands in music, movies, TV, spirits, and more. He’s a multi-millionaire due to selling 30 million albums worldwide but also by being business-savvy, getting in early with Vitamin Water and establishing his liquor company Sire Spirits, with two themed bars on the club level at NRG.
Now a Houstonian, the agile hip-hop star ingratiated himself with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo elite over the last few years, either spending hundreds of thousands on bottles of wine at the annual Rodeo Uncorked! events or selling his own wine at record setting prices. It was only a matter of time before he found himself on stage as a music headliner.
Even though it was his debut performance, 50 made the cavernous space his own with two hypemen, two keyboardists, a drummer, and DJ situated on risers that resembled a nightclub built onto the star-shaped stage. A gaggle of dancers joined him throughout, oftentimes nearly turning that nightclub into a gentleman’s club — with skimpy outfits that left little to the imagination.
If that was any indication, the night’s show was most definitely geared towards the adults. The family-focused rodeo’s no-swear rule was seemingly on hold for one evening, and there was little effort to censor lyrics and content. Not that anyone minded – cowpokes and hip-hop fans danced and swayed in the aisles, reciting the lyrics to 50’s catalogue of hit songs, cowboy hats nodding along to the bass-heavy tunes.
The night’s set started off with the No. 3 hit “P.I.M.P,” with 50 looking sharp in an off-white, two-button suit and black fedora, the Caribbean steel drum melody recalling the multicultural sounds of his Queens upbringing. It was the first of many outfits, a reflective glass door built into the stage hiding a makeshift changing room.
“I Get Money,” from 2007’s Curtis was a sly nod to 50’s ability to rack up cash through his many business ventures. That led into the banger, “Hate It or Love It” and “If I Can’t,” the first swaggering club track of the set. Following “Magic Stick,” the rotating stage stopped to allow his dancers to provide him and his hypemen a hot-under-the-collar lap dance.
The stage lighting, audio, and tech mirrored what was on stage, with lasers, fireworks, spotlights, and pyro synced with all his songs, including for the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ track, “What Up Gangsta,” that drew a call and response from the crowd.
Massive tunes, the No. 1 “Candy Shop” and “Disco Inferno” were a one-two dancefloor punch before the first guest of the night, Da Baby, joined 50 on stage for two songs, including “Shake Sumn,” the controversial rapper decked out in a black cowboy hat, cowhide vest, and silver necklace bling.
The second guest star of the evening, Flo Rida was one of the most electric highlights of the evening with the inescapable earworms, “Low” and “My House.” And sultry R&B singer Jeremih cranked up the vibe of NRG Stadium well into the red level for 50 Cent collab, “Down On Me,” and on the solo spotlight, “Birthday Sex.”
The latter featured the Usher-sounding crooner playing a baby grand piano while one of 50 Cent’s dancers grinded slowly on top, posterior firmly in the direction of the singer. The RodeoHouston cameras had to cut away when it got to be too steamy, much to the crowd’s delight.
Other highlights included hit songs, “Lil Bit,” with 50 decked out in a black and white track suit and New York Yankees ball cap. That outfit got replaced with an Astros jersey and hat, repping his new city, before "Many Men,” when at one point, multiple jerseys were ripped from his body, leaving only a white tank top to go with his matching white pants and kicks.
“Ayo Technology,” which originally featured Timbaland and Justin Timberlake, brought us back to 2007 and a golden age of slinky, progressive club jams. Standalone 2016 single, "I'm the Man,” slowed things down, with 50 rising high into the air on a star-point in a much-earned solo moment, ending with a thrilling guitar solo.
And of course, the evening’s proceedings ended with No. 1 smash, “In Da Club,” the song that introduced 50 Cent to the world, still his best song, so huge it landed him a guest spot in the Super Bowl halftime show in 2023. The crowd reacted accordingly, singing along to every single word, before the night ended with 50 on the back of a pickup truck, sporting a feathered cowboy hat and a huge smile.
50 Cent’s live show chops certainly have grown over the years, and it was obvious that he understood what it takes to put on a crowd-pleasing show. That came across during his RodeoHouston debut as a fully realized concert. It was the first memorable performance of the year, making all 74,573 in attendance feel like it was their birthday.
Setlist
"P.I.M.P"
"I Get Money"
"Hate It or Love It"
"If I Can't"
"Magic Stick"
"Hustler's Ambition"
"How We Do"
"What Up Gangsta"
"Candy Shop"
"Disco Inferno"
"Window Shopper" - Da Baby guest star
"Best Friend" - Da Baby guest star
"21 Questions"
"Star Dance Solo"
"Lil Bit"
"Big Rich Town"
"The Woo"
"Ayo Technology" - Flo Rider guest star
"B'Day Sex" - Jeremih guest star
"Baby By Me"
"Many Men"
"I'm the Man"
"In Da Club"
Courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
50 Cent made a memorable Rodeo debut.
