The story of the infamous fight between Legendary and talented Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem and his US counterpart, 50cent is one that will definitely remain indelible in the musical history of Nigeria and even in Africa for many years to come.
It couldn’t have been wrong if anyone had tagged it a “clash of Titans or giants”, as both of them were at the peak of their music career at the time this incident happened; Eedris was one of the biggest musical talent out of Africa at that period, especially at a time there weren’t many music stars like we have today, on the other hand, 50cent was dominating the globe at same period as well, with his great raps like In Da Club, Many Men, P.I.M.P, and others.
It was a clash of egos as well, yes, because it all boiled down to how the other artist was treated differently from the other artist, most especially because he’s a foreigner. Well, it was sometime in 2004, Nigerian Breweries PLC, NBL, has put up one of the biggest music events in the country/Africa, their annual “STAR MEGA JAM”, both Eedris Abdulkareem and 50cent were among the big names billed to perform at the event across several cities in the country.
It all began when 50cent was reportedly interested in having the sitting position were Eedris was seated at that moment inside their flight, and it was the front seat. Eedris Abdulkareem insisted on maintaining his sitting position, as he considered it an affront on his personality to get up for the visiting 50cent to have his position. In the midst of the drama, the security onboard the flight had to forcefully remove Eedris from the position, coz they considered 50cent a bigger artist who should always have his way regardless of whose feet is stepped on or whose ego is bruised. Besides, it was reported that the position in dispute was originally reserved for 50cent and his crew members.
Unfortunately, it didn’t just end there as Eedris bounced back few moments later, as he showed with his own boys to equally force the American rapper out of that sitting position, though security men and others present quickly intervened, and ensued the situation doesn’t escalate.
Well, the organizers of the event were blamed and heavily criticized by many people, mostly by Nigerians for booking 1st class seats for 50cent and his crews, while Eedris, his crew and other Nigerian artists were relegated to the economy seats/position inside same flight. Even though some other Nigerian musicians inside that very flight accepted their fate without a protest, Eedris who is probably the biggest artist in the country at that time refused to accept that very fate for himself.
Besides, it was reported that Eedris Abdulkareem and other Nigerian musicians onboard that flight had to wait for 50cent and his crew for over two hours before he finally showed up, which allegedly contributed to the ugly incident witnessed inside the flight.
After that incident, it was alleged that 50cent warned Eedris Abdulkareem never to step his foot into US, as a result of the fight they had inside the flight, which the American rapper considered disrespectful to his personality. Fortunately, few years after the ugly incident, the duo had to put everything that happened behind and became good friends.
On the other hand, many people considered that incident as the turning point in the way Nigerian artists were treated. Yes, they started getting better treatment from organizers of music events and from their colleagues, both in and outside the country, including better renumeration as well.
(Photo credit: Pulse, Opera NewsHub, Daily Post)
