50 Cent, born Curtis James Jackson III, is an American rapper, actor, entrepreneur and investor who rose to fame in the early 2000s with hits like “In Da Club” and “Candy Shop.” At his peak, 50 Cent was one of the biggest names in hip hop, selling over 30 million albums worldwide. However, in recent years 50 Cent has focused more on business ventures and acting roles than his music career. This has left many fans wondering if 50 Cent will ever embark on a major concert tour again.
Brief history of 50 Cent’s music career
50 Cent first made a name for himself in the underground mixtape circuit in the late 1990s. His gritty street anthems drew the attention of Eminem and Dr. Dre, who signed 50 Cent to their label Shady/Aftermath Records. 50 Cent’s major label debut Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was released in 2003 and was a massive success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. Singles like “In Da Club” and “21 Questions” established 50 Cent as one of rap’s biggest stars.
50 Cent’s next two albums, The Massacre (2005) and Curtis (2007), continued his reign at the top of the charts, selling over 21 million copies combined. Around this time, 50 Cent was averaging over 100 live shows per year, including high-profile festival appearances and international tours.
However, after 2007, 50 Cent began to scale back his music output. His next three albums saw diminishing commercial returns. Additionally, the music landscape was shifting away from 50 Cent’s signature style of street rap. While 50 Cent remained a big name in hip hop through guest appearances and a few minor hits, he was no longer the ubiquitous star he was in the early 2000s.
50 Cent’s recent career focus
In recent years, 50 Cent has spent more time focused on business and acting projects than his music career. He launched his own clothing line, footwear collection, and energy drinks under the umbrella of his G-Unit brand. 50 Cent also founded G-Unit Records and G-Unit Films & Television production company.
On the acting front, 50 Cent has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including the Starz drama “Power” in which he both acted and served as executive producer.
Meanwhile, 50 Cent’s musical output has slowed significantly. His last studio album was 2014’s Animal Ambition, which had modest sales and no major hit singles. He has continued to make guest appearances on other artist’s songs, but has not released an album of his own in nearly a decade.
Analysis of 50 Cent’s touring history
During the prime years of his music career in the early to mid 2000s, 50 Cent was very active on the touring circuit. Let’s take a closer look at his concert history during this period:
2003 – 2005: Rising star
– 2003 – Opening act on Jay-Z’s Rock the Mic tour
– 2003 – Interscope Promo tour with G-Unit
– 2004 – Co-headlining tour with Snoop Dogg (P.I.M.P. Tour)
– 2005 – The Massacre Tour (Multiple legs across the U.S., Europe and Australasia)
2006 – 2007: Arena and stadium headliner
– 2006 – G-Unit World Tour (Multiple legs across the U.S. and Europe)
– 2007 – Screamfest ’07 with Ciara and Yung Joc
– 2007 – Curtis Interscope Promo Tour
2008 – 2009: Declining live presence
– 2008 – G-Unit Promo tour
– 2009 – 50 Fest concert in Rotterdam
From 2003 to 2007, 50 Cent embarked on at least one major tour per year, playing arenas and stadiums either as a headliner or co-headliner. He toured heavily behind his new albums to promote each release.
However, starting in 2008 his touring schedule became very sporadic, which aligns with the decline of his music career. He went from consistently touring worldwide to only occasional one-off festival or promo dates.
After 2009: Virtually no touring
50 Cent has not done any significant touring since 2009. His last major tour was the Europe festival circuit in Summer 2009.
Since then, nearly all his live performances have been limited to guest appearances or very small promo shows in support of specific brand partnerships. He has not headlined a proper concert tour in over a decade.
Here is a summary of 50 Cent’s live performances from 2010 – 2022:
| Year | Performances |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Rock the Bells festival, Club Nokia (Guetta concert) |
| 2011 | Summerbeatz festival |
| 2012 | None |
| 2013 | Warrior’s Boxing Promotion |
| 2014 | SMS Audio co-branded events |
| 2015 | DTLR Brand workshop |
| 2016 | Several corporate brand events |
| 2017 | Jeep sponsored event, Sebastian Ingrosso show |
| 2018 | No public performances |
| 2019 | Several private events |
| 2020 | COVID, no events |
| 2021 | Rolling Loud Miami |
| 2022 | The WRLD on Wheels tour (only select dates) |
As this table shows, 50 Cent’s touring and live performance schedule has been extremely limited in the past decade, especially compared to his frequent touring from 2003 – 2007. He has only done a handful of one-off performances and guest appearances each year rather than embarking on full tours.
Will 50 Cent tour again?
Based on the analysis of his touring history and current career focus, here is an assessment of the likelihood of 50 Cent headlining major concerts or tours again:
Reasons he may tour again
– He still has a loyal fanbase who would love to see him live – 50 Cent still has over 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify so his popularity endures. Big crowds would likely turn out for a 50 Cent headlining tour.
– It could coincide with an album release – If 50 Cent puts out new music again, he may tour behind the album to promote it, similar to his 2003 – 2007 album cycles.
– Nostalgia factor – A 50 Cent concert now would capitalize on people’s nostalgia for his hits from the 2000s. Audiences love when legacy acts tour to play throwback material.
– He’s still relatively young – At 47 years old, 50 Cent has plenty of time and energy to tour if he wants to. Age is not a limiting factor.
Reasons he may not tour again
– No new music – With no albums on the horizon, 50 Cent lacks a clear motivation to launch a big tour. He has no new material to promote.
– Business ventures take priority – His business empire may keep him too busy to devote time to touring. He likely earns more money through brands than music now.
– Less relevant musically – As rap trends have moved on from 50 Cent’s style, he may feel less incentive to prove himself on tour as a top act.
– Health concerns – After being shot 9 times in 2000, 50 Cent may wish to avoid the demanding schedule of a concert tour. His health limits very active performances.
– Enjoying semi-retirement – At this stage of his career, 50 Cent may simply prefer to focus on acting and business rather than touring. He may be comfortable with his legacy as is.
Conclusion
In summary, while 50 Cent remains immensely popular, the chances of him embarking on another major multi-city concert tour seem relatively low at this stage. He seems content to focus on his other business and entertainment ventures rather than touring behind new music. However, given his over two decades in hip hop, loyal fanbase, and extensive catalogue of hits, the door is certainly open for 50 Cent to hit the road again if he chooses. His touring schedule would likely never match the aggressive pace of his early career, but fans would certainly welcome 50 Cent back on stage, even if only occasionally or in limited runs. He will always have an audience eager to see him perform classics like “In Da Club,” “21 Questions,” and “Candy Shop.” So while another full-fledged world tour seems unlikely, it’s too soon to rule out 50 Cent returning to the stage for the right opportunity, such as a special event or festival appearance. In the music industry, one should never say never – a comeback can happen at any time.
