Back in 2004, Eedris Abdulkareem along with other Nigerian musicians were booked to perform at a 4-city concert dubbed “Star Mega Jam” with 50 Cent as the headline act. Eedris knew his worth and his value so he asked the event organizers for equal treatment as 50 Cent.
On the night of the first show, Eedris and the other Nigerian musicians who were chilling backstage were asked to disappear immediately when 50 Cent and the G-Unit crew arrived. Those who were reluctant were lashed with canes. Eedris didn’t move an inch. He stood his ground whiles the others run away. In his own words, “I was ready for anything!”. The show went on and Eedris put up an amazing performance.
The next day, Eedris Abdulkareem arrived early at the airport to set off to the next destination. 50 Cent and his team arrive hours later, only for them to approach Eedris, telling him to get out of his seat. Eedris explained to them that he was also a musician who had been booked to perform with them. 50 Cent and his crew still insisted he moved since they couldn’t verify who he was from the organizers.
This led to an exchange of words where Eedris Abdulkareem said he was sick and tired of being treated like a second-class citizen in his own country.
During this confrontation, instead of defending Eedris, the other Nigerian artistes were all mute. The pilots who were in the process of moving decided to stop because they couldn’t tolerate the injustice they just witnessed. This fight for equal rights is cited as the revolution that got Nigerian musicians the respect and acknowledgment in the music industry that they enjoy to this day.
Eedris Abdulkareem was unhappy that the footage of the incident never saw the light of day even though it was all captured on camera by DJ Tee. He was vindicated when Young Buck narrated his version of the incident years later in an interview describing it as his craziest moment being with G-Unit.
50 Cent Vs Eedris Abdulkareem: The Fight That Changed the Nigerian Music Industry
