Rapper 50 Cent has revealed that his long-time friend Eminem turned down a staggering fee for a performance at last month’s World Cup.
The In Da Club artist, whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III, shared that Eminem, 50, was approached to perform in Qatar during the football tournament for a whopping. $8 million (£6.6 million), however he turned the offer down.
50 Cent, 47, told Real 92.3’s Big Boy’s Neighbourhood that, following his successful Super Bowl performance with Eminem, he had also been asked to perform with the rapper and would have received $1 million (£822,000) for the gig.
The Power star said: “Because of the Super Bowl, I got an inquiry about World Cup and they had a budget of $9 million.
“I would’ve taken one and then the other eight would have been for him.”
50 Cent performed at the Super Bowl in February with Mary J Blige, Kendrick Lamar, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, along with Eminem.
He shared that, following the offer, Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg informed him that he wasn’t keen.
He continued: “They’re like, he’s not gonna do it.
“If you would do a one-off show, maybe you would do the biggest live sporting event in the world.”
50 Cent did not disclose details on why Eminem decided not to perform at the World Cup, though several stars were reported to have turned down offers due to the country’s unfavourable human rights’ record.
The artists are currently collaborating again as they bring Eminem’s 2002 hit film 8 Mile, based on his rise to rap success, to the small screen.
50 Cent confirmed the TV series project on Instagram days ago, and spoke further about the show on Big Boy’s radio show.
He said: “I’m gonna bring his 8 Mile to television. We’re in motion.
“It’s gonna be big. I ain’t got no duds. I’m battin’ a hundred, I’m battin’ a hundred.”
When asked if Slim Shady himself needed to be persuaded to join the project, 50 Cent replied: “No, I think it should be there for his legacy, because if you don’t see…it’s important to me that they understand it, you know what I mean?”
It is not confirmed yet whether Eminem will reprise his role in 8 Mile in the adaptation.
