Eminem joins 50 Cent onstage at Pine Knob as farewell tour hits Detroit
Eminem helped give 50 Cent a rousing Detroit sendoff Sunday night, joining his longtime friend and collaborator onstage at Pine Knob Music Theatre.
The Detroit star hit the stage a half-hour into 50's show, igniting a roar from the 15,000-plus on hand for the latest stop on the New York rapper's Final Lap tour, a farewell outing underway since July.
50 Cent had made his way through the opening verses of 2003’s “Patiently Waiting” — and you could sense the crowd’s growing anticipation as the song got to the part where Eminem joins in on record.
And sure enough, there he was, emerging from the back in his familiar hoodie, launching into his lines and roaming the stage as Pine Knob went wild. The song was soon followed by “Crack a Bottle,” the chart-topping Eminem song with 50 as a featured guest.
It was Eminem's second onstage cameo in recent months, following his surprise link-up with Ed Sheeran at Ford Field in July.
Sunday's appearance, while unannounced, wasn't exactly a shock: Indeed, considering the circumstances — 50 Cent’s likely final show in Eminem’s backyard — it would have been more surprising if the Detroit rapper hadn’t shown up. Fans who spotted Eminem’s daughter, Hailie, entering the venue earlier in the evening only added fuel to the fire.
“Detroit, make some noise for one of the best friends I’ve ever known: 50 Cent!” Eminem said. “Make some noise for hip-hop’s 50th birthday, y’all — it’s still hip-hop’s 50th birthday. Detroit, I love y’all!”
50 Cent's farewell tour also marks the anniversary of his multiplatinum debut album, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," released by Eminem's Shady Records. That 2003 release was accompanied by a memorable State Theatre show in Detroit, where Eminem was a not-so-surprise onstage guest as he linked up for "Patiently Waiting," "Love Me" and "Rap Game."
The two went on to collaborate on more than two dozen tracks over the years, most recently 2019's "Remember the Name" with Sheeran.
If this is 50 Cent’s touring swan song, he’s going out with a bang: The Final Lap is full of high-end flash — mobile video cubes, multiple outfit changes, myriad fireworks. A coterie of dancing girls, 10 strong at times, was part of a production that included a five-piece live band and a pair of breakdancers.
The rapper born Curtis Jackson, in recent years known more for his acting and entrepreneurial work, sounded polished in a 100-minute show where he was flanked by a pair of hype men for much of the night.
“Get Rich of Die Tryin’” was the show’s main musical source, including a feel-good “In Da Club” that came complete with streamers and gold confetti.
Sunday's show traversed the signature styles of 50’s catalog: the catchy dance floor hits (“Candy Shop”), the soulful jams (“21 Questions”), the racy club numbers (“Just a Lil Bit”), the bling-loaded bangers (“Window Shopper”), the champagne-popping takes on gangsta life (“If I Can’t”).
And there was the introspective side — the inward-looking examinations that have been part of his song repertoire since 2003’s “Many Men (Wish Death),” a highlight late in Sunday’s set.
Contact Detroit Free Press music writer Brian McCollum: 313-223-4450 or [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Eminem joins 50 Cent onstage at Pine Knob as farewell tour hits Detroit