http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/nyc-cent0304,0,3224010.story?coll=nyc-manheadlines-music
50 Cent's new recording selling fast
BY LUIS PEREZ
STAFF WRITER
March 3, 2005, 2:11 PM EST
Call him headline-grabber or misfit, rapper 50 Cent's new album was flying off the shelves faster than a hip-hop beat Thursday, just days after a high-profile shooting involving one of his protege's in lower Manhattan.
"This is going to be a classic," said Kyle Megett, 34, an office supervisor who picked up a copy at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square.
"It's got four good tracks and the mystique surrounding everything that's been going on," explained Megett, of Parkchester, who said he also bought a bootleg copy of album Wednesday.
"My friend took it," said Megett, who paid $13.99 for the official version. "So I had to go get myself a copy."
Just as Megett walked off with his prize, a stock worker carrying a pile of the new CD replenished the rack.
On Monday, as 50 Cent was banishing his protege, The Game, on the air on WQHT/97.1, a member of The Game's entourage, Kevin Reed, 20, was shot in the groin in the lobby of the radio station's building. No arrests were made, but police believe the shooter was a member of 50 Cent's entourage.
Later that night, police said, about 10 shots were fired at the facade and lobby of 50 Cent's management company in Manhattan.
50 Cent said on air that he expelled The Game because he wouldn't support rivalries with other rappers. Fifty's fans say it's all part of the hip-hop culture.
"It's not the Beatles," said Jeremy Gottesman, 32, of Bensonhurst, who grabbed a copy on his way to work as an office clerk. "You don't see Elton John going against Paul McCartney. But I like the music."
Other fan's were less forgiving.
"I think he's doing hip-hop wrong," said Rob Segura, 27, a bank clerk from Corona. "The guy has a lot of anger."
Still, Segura maxed out a gift card on the new album at the F.Y.E. music store in Midtown.
"It's like being a fan of Michael Jackson," explained Segura. "You hate Michael for being perceived as a child molester, but at the same time, you love his music."
50 Cent's new recording selling fast
BY LUIS PEREZ
STAFF WRITER
March 3, 2005, 2:11 PM EST
Call him headline-grabber or misfit, rapper 50 Cent's new album was flying off the shelves faster than a hip-hop beat Thursday, just days after a high-profile shooting involving one of his protege's in lower Manhattan.
"This is going to be a classic," said Kyle Megett, 34, an office supervisor who picked up a copy at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square.
"It's got four good tracks and the mystique surrounding everything that's been going on," explained Megett, of Parkchester, who said he also bought a bootleg copy of album Wednesday.
"My friend took it," said Megett, who paid $13.99 for the official version. "So I had to go get myself a copy."
Just as Megett walked off with his prize, a stock worker carrying a pile of the new CD replenished the rack.
On Monday, as 50 Cent was banishing his protege, The Game, on the air on WQHT/97.1, a member of The Game's entourage, Kevin Reed, 20, was shot in the groin in the lobby of the radio station's building. No arrests were made, but police believe the shooter was a member of 50 Cent's entourage.
Later that night, police said, about 10 shots were fired at the facade and lobby of 50 Cent's management company in Manhattan.
50 Cent said on air that he expelled The Game because he wouldn't support rivalries with other rappers. Fifty's fans say it's all part of the hip-hop culture.
"It's not the Beatles," said Jeremy Gottesman, 32, of Bensonhurst, who grabbed a copy on his way to work as an office clerk. "You don't see Elton John going against Paul McCartney. But I like the music."
Other fan's were less forgiving.
"I think he's doing hip-hop wrong," said Rob Segura, 27, a bank clerk from Corona. "The guy has a lot of anger."
Still, Segura maxed out a gift card on the new album at the F.Y.E. music store in Midtown.
"It's like being a fan of Michael Jackson," explained Segura. "You hate Michael for being perceived as a child molester, but at the same time, you love his music."
