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Did 50 Cent have an Ashlee Simpson moment?

Jun 27, 2007, 03:08 PM | by Simon Vozick-Levinson

Categories: Music

The last couple of months have been full of highs and lows for the for-profit entity known as 50 Cent. In May, his new album Curtis was unceremoniously bumped from its announced June release date to one in September after two singles failed to gain chart traction. Then, a few weeks back, the rapper scored an estimated $100 million windfall when Coca-Cola purchased beverage corporation Glaceau, in which he'd held a tasty share. The latest chapter in 50's ongoing saga came just last night at the 2007 BET Awards, where he performed his not-quite-hit single "Amusement Park" — and, some gossip sites are claiming, was caught lip-synching on stage. Online tattlers Media Take Out provide a particularly colorful account of the story, complete with G-Unit crony Tony Yayo filling the awkward post-slip-up silence by "screaming expletives into the microphone." (This is different from Tony Yayo performing one of his songs, how?) Even better, they offer hard evidence in the form of a YouTube clip which they say proves 50's sin beyond any doubt. Or does it? Watch the tape for yourself and check back with us after the jump.

Well, I've watched the clip a few times now, and I've gotta say the jury's still out on this one. It's certainly not looking good for 50 — that's one seriously uncomfortable pause when the lyrics of the hook cut out, and the sound throughout does sound suspiciously similar to the recorded song. Then again, who's to tell where the audio file backing this random viral video came from or how it was or wasn't edited before being uploaded? The key would-be smoking-gun moment comes at about 45 seconds into the clip, and it's just too rushed and blurry to tell for sure whether or not "50's lips KEPT MOVING!!!", as the on-screen supertitles helpfully suggest. Besides, I don't see this story having much legs. 50's credibility at this point isn't really dependent on his ability to rock a live show without a backing track, and I can't imagine that anyone who was planning on buying Curtis will be dissuaded by this.

So, PopWatchers, what do you see in that grainy video? (Was there a second lip-syncher on the grassy knoll?) Do you even care if 50 Cent lip-synchs his lyrics?

hassan Mon, Aug 6, 2007 at 09:31 PM EST

haydud

kk Sat, Jul 7, 2007 at 05:16 AM EST

stop hating 50 getting money like no other rapper and it was a technical fault because he perfomed again at 106 and park and nailed it hah hah

t-fal Sun, Jul 1, 2007 at 12:40 AM EST

I agree with Hutchy; i can't stand any performer (rapper, singer, whatever) to lip synch. But it does seem commonplace. Puffy was def lipping that night. Seemed like Beyonce did too.

Phil Fri, Jun 29, 2007 at 02:03 PM EST

Apparently 50 IS pulling an Ashlee Simpson and blaming an aerialist for his momentary lapse in concentration!!! HAHAHA Guess he couldn't blame this one omn Ja Rule or Cam'ron...

http://www.channel933.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104650&article=2332114

? Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 03:54 PM EST

It is incredible that anyone would pay to see this jerk on stage.

Hutchy Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 11:57 AM EST

I pretty much weep for the youth of America reading these comments about "Hey, everyone sings or raps over a backing track, thats how it works, no big deal!!" Wow, really? Did I miss that memo? Oh how our standards have fallen. To anyone who thinks that, go watch Foo Fighters, the Hives, Pearl Jam, Secret Machines, or a million other bands perform and then come see me.

Sweet Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 11:30 AM EST

I agree with Greg. 50 was SUPPOSED to be rapping when he was walking around trying to get people hyped up for him. I was LMAO during that time. He's over and I glad he got that weak reception because he talked about Ja Rule and turned around and did exactly waht Ja Rule was doing.. Plus, he's always trying to feud with someone. LAME!

Greg Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 11:20 AM EST

The assumption I and a lot of others I've discussed this with was that the awkward pause was due to 50 running into the crowd to get them hyped up because of their less than enthusiastic response to his performance. Either way I could care less because I've never liked 50 and he has only become more obnoxious with time. His 5 minutes were over way before he even started.

rey Thu, Jun 28, 2007 at 09:59 AM EST

50 and countless others are killing hip hop.
hopefully he'll become irrelevant real soon.

Chris Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 10:38 PM EST

Well, he was clearly lyp synching for the chorus, becuase he literally had his hands down while the music was still playing. What I want to know is why he was pretending to sing that part if it was clearly a backing track. Thats some good evidence that he was lyp synching the entire track.

In the video, you can't really see if his lips were moving, but his hand was definitely still there. What I want to know is if he was lip synching, how did he know exactly when to start rapping again?

Here's a full video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7-O6AHUCYz4

That one makes it more obvious that he's rapping...he messes up the words and doesn't sound great...

I agree, though, the jury's still out on the beginning.

sam Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 07:23 PM EST

I remember his alleged campaign to help obese kids a couple of years ago, when all he did was advertise his water. Too bad the guy got rich on it. Has he donated any money to the kids yet?

a Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 06:48 PM EST

but his lips were away from the mic. i don't see proof for his lip synching. but w/e 'cause i certainly wouldn't buy his 'music' either way. blech.

Jen Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 06:16 PM EST

Fiddy's fall from grace is just another example of karma. Five years ago, he pretty much ended Ja Rule's career, now it's his turn. It reminds me of that line in Showgirls (yes Showgirls). There's always someone younger and hungrier coming down the stairs after you :)

whol Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 05:39 PM EST

It wouldn't be a loss to the music world so...let's just say he was so we can be rid of him

Houstonian Jen in Baltimore Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 05:34 PM EST

Lip synching or not, he was the low point in an otherwise great awards show. Boo, Fiddy, boo!

Stephen Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 04:58 PM EST

I thought all rappers lip synched parts of their songs, I mean, thats a lot to get out in 3 mins...whereas Ashlee's crapola songs require no effort. All she had to do was sing "Autobiography." How hard is that?

t3hdow Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 04:41 PM EST

I agree that lip synching with rappers isn't that big a deal. They don't really sing to begin with, so it's a little pointless to debate over it.

At this point, I think 50 Cent should just stop rapping for good. He had one hit album (Get Rich) and a few other decent rap songs, but nothing more than that. I won't go so far and say he's the reason the rap genre is falling onto its face - there are far worse rappers than 50 cent on the radio right now - but he's definitely not helping the cause. 'Laughing to the Bank' is a pretty weak single and 'Amusement Park' doesn't sound much better either. It's not like he's hurting for money, so why continue?

JJ Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 04:10 PM EST

I'm so sick of people saying that Ashlee Simpson was going to lipsync on SNL. She had a backing track to support her live vocals, which tons of pop artists have. Usually, the backing vocal (from the studio mix) is in perfect sync with the live vocal and it just supports it. They played the wrong one for Ashlee on SNL. But her mic was live. They just played the wrong backing track. It's just incorrect to say otherwise.

bb Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 03:45 PM EST

Big deal, all those rappers rap to recorded tracks anyways, but DAMN! that's one hot body! I've never seen a thinner waist on a man (after I stop looking at his pecs, and arms...)

Sadie Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 03:43 PM EST

What I thought was more "busted" worthy was at the beginning of the performance when he was taking his coat off -- the mike was no where near his mouth, yet the rap went on.

Justin Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 03:41 PM EST

I stopped paying attention to 50 a long time ago. Seeing that he'll never produce a hit like "In Da Club" again, and his songs past that phase/CD in his career have been so-so, I've lost interest. I watched the awards though, but then again I also ignored most of the performances. I remember thinking Diddy was lip-syncing though...

V.M.L. Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 03:31 PM EST

Its hard for me to tell if he was lipsyncing since the video is too grainy. However, it seemed awkward when he stopped rapping and went up to the audience.

mark in nyc Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 03:19 PM EST

who cares? heis an entertainer not a singer. All style no substance.
Ashlee Simpsonis worse, she claims she can sing, but can't.
Has a nose job and when someone asks her says "who knows?". You know Ashlee.
Also her album was called "I am me" now with the nose job and radical look, is she no longer me?

pdt Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:58 PM EST

i mean what the heck is si hard about rapping, it aint like you have to hit a note-just laziness on 50's part. PATHETIC

actingup Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:54 PM EST

Why in the world would a rapper need to lip synch? Uh...all they are doing is talking.

Fatima Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:34 PM EST

I am enjoying 50's slow fall from grace. It's people like him that cause the uninformed masses to declare that they "hate all hip-hop"

I finally got around to watching "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'" this weekend for two reasons
A) Jim Sheridan directed? What's up with that?!
B) Could there be more to the man I despise so much? Something to gain sympathy?
The answer is no when the only motivation they could give to his life is that his mom died and he couldn't get the nicest shoes anymore. That's when you know you gotta turn to the drug trade. You wanted Nike but all you could get was Reebok.

Ceballos Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:28 PM EST

* (ugh! there shouldn't be an apostrophe on "lip synchs"...

come on EW! less "sponsored links" boxes crowing the comment section, more allwing people to edit our own posts)

End of rant.

Eri Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:26 PM EST

I watched last night and was truly under the impression that he could have cared less about rapping. I remember saying to my friend, why is he just strutting around the stage.

Ceballos Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:25 PM EST

Oh ok...


When you asked if "50 Cent had an Ashlee Simpson moment" I thought you were asking if he had blatantly changed his nose and began looking like a completely different person than before.


By the way, Simon kinda tapped danced around this in his item, but I'll come right out and say it:


Who cares if Fitty lip synch's his songs?


Honestly...he's already not the most electrifying performer/rhymer on the planet (and I'm being kind). To me his rapping sounds like he, both, just woke up AND is about to fall asleep. I know people (who are not me) would pay hard-earned money to see him live, but what exactly are we missing by him not actually rapping the words live?


Honestly...who cares?

Floridaboy8703 Wed, Jun 27, 2007 at 02:14 PM EST

More like... He is fueding with his record label and didnt care about the lyrics. Just promoted his drinking water lol..

Besides he aint a singer. And it only matters when a ALLEGED singer such as Ashlee Simpson does it.

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