Nigerian rapper Eedris Abdulkareem addressed an altercation with 50 Cent, which took place at The Star Mega Jam, which was staged in four Nigerian cities between December 1 and 5, 2004.
According to Abdulkareem, he had been asked by concert promoter Nigerian Breweries to perform at the concert, as one of Nigerias most popular rappers.
"You cannot treat me as a second and or third class citizen in my own country, I will not take it from anybody," Abdulkareem said after the infraction. "If 50 Cent is a star in America, I am equally one in Africa."
Because of his treatment and a contractual dispute with Nigerian Breweries, he went to meet organizers in the plane.
He said 50 Cents security team came in and thats where the issues started.
"I was sitting down at the VIP end of the plane and [they] said hey, you gotta get out of that seat. I asked, get up from which seat? They said it was 50 Cent's seat, but I said I was sorry 50 Cent can't sit here. This is my seat, Abdulkareem told the Nigerian News.
After some arguments, the guy came over and held me in my neck. The rest joined in and they started punching me. My boys had to come from the back. But as the first came, they punched him with buckled fingers on the face. That was when I told them that I am Eedris Abdulkareem, you have done your worst. Are we going to Port Harcourt? Then you will not play in Port Harcourt. Call Americans to come and rescue you.
A representative for Nigerian Breweries tried to mediate the situation between Abdulkareem and 50 Cent.
He said 50 Cent told him that he didn't know that I was an artist. So I asked why they didn't tell him. He said they were sorry. He also said 50 Cent wanted to see me and shake hands with me and have a duet with me. I said I was not going to have any of such and I also told him that they should go and do what they ought to do. That was the point 50 Cent took the decision to go back to America immediately.
The man in Abdulkareems entourage that was punched with the object is still in a Nigerian hospital, according to published reports.
50 Cent denied Abdulkareems version in an interview with Funk Master Flex on New Yorks Hot 97.
They sat in the seats reserved for us, 50 Cent told Funkmaster Flex last week. Security asked them nicely. Nah they didnt ask them nicely, they moved them out of the seats. It was crazy, it was for no reason.
Mr. Justin Akpovi Esade, a journalist for The Guardian newspaper supported 50 Cent's version.
"He [Abdulkareem] just went crazy. He reigned abuses on everyone who called him to order, including journalists whom he described as fools because he felt we were not on his side on the issue. By what he has done, other foreign musicians would be scared of visiting Nigeria on performance tours. And this can ruin the musicians career except he tenders an apology to all Nigerians and to journalists whom he has insulted."
Abudlkareem said that from the onset, he was not out to cause any trouble, he just wanted to resolve his dispute with Nigerian Breweries.
After the altercation, which was carried out on the tarmac of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammad Airport, 50 Cent canceled his Port Harcourt performance and left the country.
"50 cent came to Nigeria like other African-American stars and there has never been any break down in communication before now. You all know that Africans welcome all stars, he or she, black or white, pink or blue. Africa is the Mother colour, the rainbow colour. 50 cent and I had performed together at two venues ( Abuja and Lagos), and sincerely each time his security have presented themselves as "RabbleRousers."
Abdulkareem revealed that he is suing 50 Cent and Nigerian Breweries for an undisclosed amount.
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