Article 50 Cent Talks About Performing For Vets At BRAVE Concert: ' There Are Some Tough Guys

bookert · 10-24-2008, 05:16 PM

NEW YORK — Backstage at the Nokia Theatre, about 30 minutes before he took the stage at "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE," 50 Cent was in the middle of lacing up his combat boots, when all of a sudden he stopped, adjusted his cap, leaned back in his chair and recalled what it was like to perform for U.S. troops in Iraq in 2004.

"It was intense, man. There was an intensity there," he said, eyes moving toward the ceiling. "A lot of [soldiers] write these death notes before they go on missions, they write these notes that they want their loved ones to read. ... They're in this environment where death is everywhere."

Clearly, the event made a lasting impression on him — so strong that he's carried the memories of the soldiers he met that day with him ever since.

"A lot of the people I met [in Mosul] had been there since my first record came out — they'd been there since '03 — and you could tell, man. There was an intensity there," he said. "It was eye-opening. It was like, 'You think you've had a tough time? ... These people have a tough time.' They're in this environment that's more intense than anything you could imagine."

Which is why, when he was approached earlier this month to appear at the BRAVE concert — which, in addition as serving as a "thank you" to the men and women serving in our armed forces, also aimed to raise awareness of the MTV's BRAVE petition for veterans' rights — 50 said yes without thinking twice. Not only because he's met the troops himself, but because he's become quite aware of the difficulties those troops have faced when returning home.

"I don't think there's any way you can understand it unless you've been there and seen it," he said. "When they come back and realize that everyone went on with their lives, you know? People went to work, did their thing, and the troops come home and it's tough for them to realize it, man. They have it tough, and that's part of the reason I did 'Home of the Brave' [the 2006 film in which 50 played an vet returning home from Iraq], to try and tell that story to people."

And with that, 50 is called to the stage. But as he meets fellow G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo in the hallway, MTV News manages to get in one more question: He's played before all sorts of crowds, all over the world — what's it like to perform for an audience of vets?

"They've got an energy. You gotta come hard, you know? These guys are tougher than the tough guys from my neighborhood, 'cause they went over there willingly," he laughed. "I know I wouldn't want to put myself in that position. There are some tough guys in the crowd out there tonight."

Don't miss "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE," presented by MTV's Choose or Lose campaign and CNN to support veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The show features performances by 50 Cent, Ludacris, Kanye West, Linkin Park, Hinder, Saving Abel and more, and airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.

bookert · 10-24-2008, 06:41 PM

is anyone going to record this?

keepitgangsta · 10-24-2008, 09:26 PM

if it go off at 8:30, 50 performed already

Blizzy · 10-25-2008, 10:34 AM

good read....

Majcip · 10-25-2008, 12:14 PM

propz... realy good read

G-uNIT!!4 LYFE · 10-25-2008, 01:50 PM

propz man i just saw it on thisis50

10-24-2008, 05:16 PM	#1
bookert Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 334 Repped: 34 Repped 343 Times in 65 Posts Neg Reps: 11 Neg Repped at 21 Times in 11 Posts	50 Cent Talks About Performing For Vets At BRAVE Concert: ' There Are Some Tough Guys 50 Cent Talks About Performing For Vets At BRAVE Concert: ' There Are Some Tough Guys NEW YORK — Backstage at the Nokia Theatre, about 30 minutes before he took the stage at "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE," 50 Cent was in the middle of lacing up his combat boots, when all of a sudden he stopped, adjusted his cap, leaned back in his chair and recalled what it was like to perform for U.S. troops in Iraq in 2004. "It was intense, man. There was an intensity there," he said, eyes moving toward the ceiling. "A lot of [soldiers] write these death notes before they go on missions, they write these notes that they want their loved ones to read. ... They're in this environment where death is everywhere." Clearly, the event made a lasting impression on him — so strong that he's carried the memories of the soldiers he met that day with him ever since. "A lot of the people I met [in Mosul] had been there since my first record came out — they'd been there since '03 — and you could tell, man. There was an intensity there," he said. "It was eye-opening. It was like, 'You think you've had a tough time? ... These people have a tough time.' They're in this environment that's more intense than anything you could imagine." Which is why, when he was approached earlier this month to appear at the BRAVE concert — which, in addition as serving as a "thank you" to the men and women serving in our armed forces, also aimed to raise awareness of the MTV's BRAVE petition for veterans' rights — 50 said yes without thinking twice. Not only because he's met the troops himself, but because he's become quite aware of the difficulties those troops have faced when returning home. "I don't think there's any way you can understand it unless you've been there and seen it," he said. "When they come back and realize that everyone went on with their lives, you know? People went to work, did their thing, and the troops come home and it's tough for them to realize it, man. They have it tough, and that's part of the reason I did 'Home of the Brave' [the 2006 film in which 50 played an vet returning home from Iraq], to try and tell that story to people." And with that, 50 is called to the stage. But as he meets fellow G-Unit members Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo in the hallway, MTV News manages to get in one more question: He's played before all sorts of crowds, all over the world — what's it like to perform for an audience of vets? "They've got an energy. You gotta come hard, you know? These guys are tougher than the tough guys from my neighborhood, 'cause they went over there willingly," he laughed. "I know I wouldn't want to put myself in that position. There are some tough guys in the crowd out there tonight." Don't miss "A Night for Vets: An MTV Concert for the BRAVE," presented by MTV's Choose or Lose campaign and CNN to support veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The show features performances by 50 Cent, Ludacris, Kanye West, Linkin Park, Hinder, Saving Abel and more, and airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET on MTV.

10-25-2008, 10:34 AM	#4
Blizzy Wordsmith Join Date: May 2008 Location: In Battlefield's Posts: 3,359 Repped: 687 Repped 345 Times in 158 Posts Neg Reps: 25 Neg Repped at 25 Times in 24 Posts	good read.... __________________ MY MUSIC CHECK IT OUT myspace.com/ttpbloodshot

10-25-2008, 12:14 PM	#5
Majcip Veteran Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SK Posts: 3,119 Repped: 1,359 Repped 745 Times in 336 Posts Neg Reps: 33 Neg Repped at 48 Times in 40 Posts	propz... realy good read __________________ Rest in peace to Michael Jackson aka Forever King of POP

10-25-2008, 01:50 PM	#6
G-uNIT!!4 LYFE OG Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: LOS ANGELES,CALI Posts: 3,838 Repped: 1,512 Repped 107 Times in 88 Posts Neg Reps: 30 Neg Repped at 13 Times in 10 Posts	propz man i just saw it on thisis50 __________________

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10-24-2008, 06:41 PM	#2
bookert Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 334 Repped: 34 Repped 343 Times in 65 Posts Neg Reps: 11 Neg Repped at 21 Times in 11 Posts	is anyone going to record this?

10-24-2008, 09:26 PM	#3
keepitgangsta Veteran Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: The Wire Posts: 4,447 Repped: 395 Repped 1,610 Times in 179 Posts Neg Reps: 20 Neg Repped at 30 Times in 19 Posts	if it go off at 8:30, 50 performed already