50 Cent shoots for NZ show

One of America's biggest hip-hop stars is headlining a major concert in Auckland in early December.

New York rapper 50 Cent - famous for the number of gunshot wounds he suffered in an edgy life before a spectacular musical career propelled by the patronage of Eminem and producer Dr Dre - is playing at the Mt Smart Supertop on Tuesday, December 9, as part of his international No Fear, No Mercy Tour.

Born Curtis Jackson, 50 Cent is on tour here after his major label debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin', and its single, In Da Club both sold double platinum in New Zealand since their release in March.

In the United States the album went straight to No 1 and sold 1.5 million copies in its first weeks of release, the highest ever for a debut.

He comes with his own crew, G-Unit, and with support from another Eminem offsider, Obie Trice, who appeared on the 8 Mile soundtrack and whose debut album Cheers has just been released locally.

Local supports for the show are the two of the biggest stars of New Zealand hip-hop.

One is Scribe, whose Stand Up has been the biggest local single of the year and whose much-anticipated debut album, The Crusader, is released tomorrow.

The other is South Auckland rapper Mareko, who rose to prominence on the back of his partly US-recorded debut album White Sunday. He will be backed by DJ CXL.

Tickets go on sale - via Ticketek and selected music stores - on Friday, October 24.