50 Cent returning to Hawaii for March show at Blaisdell
WHEN rapper
50 Cent first visited the islands in 2003, he had just released his debut album and was only beginning his rise to mainstream fame.
Nearly five years and three platinum-selling albums later, he'll return to Honolulu next month in support of his latest mixtape, "Return of the Body Snatchers." Sources tell me he's booked to perform at the Blaisdell Arena on March 28, although repeated calls to promoters Tihati Productions were not returned.
In recent years, 50 Cent has worked as an actor and pitchman, co-starring in 2006's "Home of the Brave" and appearing in commercials for Vitamin Water. He's also shown a great deal of business savvy by distributing content via his Web site, ThisIs50.com ...
TEXAS-BASED rockers Bowling for Soup arrived in Honolulu last week for a military benefit concert with country stars Montgomery Gentry.
A day before the show, two of the band's members made a private appearance at the new Road Runner Music Hall. Clear Channel Hawaii general manager Chuck Cotton spearheaded the effort to remodel an underutilized storage area inside their Iwilei studios and turn it into a performance space.
"We started this in January and have been averaging two shows a week," said RRMH special events manager Kevin Jones. "You'll never be able to buy a ticket ... it's winners only."
Concerts are videotaped and streamed online via Oceanic Cable's Web site; local musician John Cruz was the first to play the room, followed by recent island visitors Citizen Cope, Jim Brickman and the Three 6 Mafia. Visit my blog for more pictures from Friday's concert ...
CONGRATS TO local fashionistas Amy Alston, Sarah Honda and Molly Watanabe, who celebrate the third anniversary of SMART Magazine on Friday at the new RumFire Waikiki.
Despite an influx of competition, the trio continues to press forward and expand their involvement within the local fashion community. Besides the magazine, SMART also publishes a weekly feature in MidWeek and regularly sponsors parties at various clubs around town.
"The time has really flown by," said Honda, the magazine's editor. "Three years ago when we started, there definitely weren't as many local boutiques around or the proliferation of our younger local designers ... we're really happy to be a part of the scene."
Head to RumFire early on Friday to enjoy free tapas between 9 and 10 p.m. Dance until 2 a.m. with DJs Eskae, Jimmy James, Byron the Fur and Mr. Brown. Call (866) 952-3473 for more info ...
FRIDAY'S PICKS: The monthly "ARTafterDARK" party at the Honolulu Academy of Arts features a new partnership with E&O Trading Co. The restaurant's resident mixologist, Joey Gottesman, developed a different drink for the remaining 2008 events; this month's cocktail is a concoction of green tea and whiskey ... Zanzabar introduces a new weekly, "Flashback Fridays," with DJ James Coles spinning old school hits from the 80s and '90s. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 21-and-over crowd ... X-1 World Events returns to the O Lounge for another installment of "Fight Club Meets Nightclub." More than a dozen fights are scheduled, including two featuring Kolo Koka ...
SATURDAY'S PICKS: The monthly "Downtowne" party at E&O Trading Co. celebrates its one-year anniversary, with DJs Bewon and Eskae joined by 102.7 Da Bomb's Rella during the "Black Tie Affair" ... Hart and Huntington Waikiki also marks its first anniversary this weekend with autograph signings by owner Carey Hart from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the shop, plus a party that night at Lotus Soundbar ... After an appearance on the Big Island last weekend, Bassnectar arrives on Oahu to play the Hawaiian Hut. He'll be joined by Quadraphonix and DJs Rhythmstar and Jules ...
E KALA MAI: Head to NextDoor, not Lotus, on Friday if you want to see Marques Wyatt.
House fans who want to listen to Lotus' award-nominated sound system should wait until DJ Johnny Fiasco arrives on March 14, or go on Wednesdays during the new "Got Soul" weekly with DJs Mike J and Marlon ...
I'M ON vacation next week; this column will return on March 14 ...