Nigerian Afrobeats sensation Davido recently shared a humorous anecdote about his first encounter with American rap icon 50 Cent during an appearance on The Breakfast Club. The “Unavailable” singer recounted a childhood experience in Las Vegas where his request for a photograph with the G-Unit boss was flatly rejected.
Davido explained that he was around 14 years old when his family traveled to Las Vegas to celebrate his elder brother’s 21st birthday. While his older relatives enjoyed the festivities, a young Davido found himself in the hotel lobby where he spotted members of G-Unit.
“The first time I ever saw 50 Cent, I was a kid in Vegas. I was like ‘can I have a picture’, he said, ‘No.’” Davido revealed during the interview.
He further elaborated on the encounter, stating, “My brother was turning 21, my dad took everybody to Vegas but I was 14 so I can’t do nothing. They were doing the whole thing. I was just sitting in the lobby. I used to love Lloyd Banks, he was my favourite. So, I saw him and I went to him and took a picture with him. Then I saw 50 Cent, I went to him and said in Nigerian accent, ‘Wow! 50 Cent, I love you. Can I have a picture?’ He said, ‘No’ and just walked off.”
Years later, after achieving international stardom himself, Davido had the opportunity to remind 50 Cent of the incident. “I told him about the incident years later when we met as colleagues and he said, ‘You are here now, right?’ [Laughs],” Davido chuckled.
Interestingly, the relationship between the two artists has evolved significantly. A few years ago, 50 Cent surprised his fans by bringing Davido on stage as a guest performer during his show at Madison Square Garden in New York. 1 Furthermore, the duo are now set to co-headline a highly anticipated concert in London later this year, alongside R&B legend Mary J. Blige, showcasing the remarkable journey from a denied photo request to collaborative performances on major international stages. 2
