Ever since it started in 2006, the Bamboozle Left festival has generally been reserved for bands of the “tight pants and swooping bangs” variety. But this year, it looks like they’re doing things a little differently.
That’s because none other than 50 Cent – the reigning king of bling, biceps and beef – has been confirmed to headline the second night of the fest, which will take place Apr. 4-5 at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine, California. Other artists on the bill include Fall Out Boy, Thrice, Cobra Starship and The Used.
While 50 Cent doesn’t usually run with that crowd, to Bamboozle organizer John D’Esposito, this kind of thing isn’t exactly new. In previous years, he’s booked everyone from Method Man and Hammer to “Weird” Al Yankovic for the fest, and this year – with No Doubt and Fall Out Boy headlining the East Coast Bamboozle – he decided to swing for the fences.
“We plan to cross over and do the unexpected every year; it’s now become our philosophy,” D’Esposito told MTV News in an e-mail. “Rock, pop, jazz, hip-hop, it’s all the same. It’s music. So we reached out to 50 Cent’s agent with this crazy idea, [and] she was so supportive that we knew it was worth the motion. They asked us who was on the bill, and really didn’t recognize some of the names like All Time Low, Suicide Silence and All the Day Holiday, but [they] did like the opportunity to get in front 20,000 kids singing along to every one of his hits.”
Neither 50 Cent’s management nor his label representative had commented on the show at press time.
D’Esposito added that there are still a few relatively huge names yet to be added to the Bamboozle Left lineup – so does that include 50 Cent’s frequent sparring partner, rapper-turned-rocker Lil Wayne? Seems like Bamboozle would be a great place for Weezy to promote his forthcoming rock LP.
D’Esposito said he hasn’t reached out to Wayne just yet, but now that we’ve mentioned it, he’d like to take this opportunity to do just that.
“If Lil Wayne wants to play a rock festival, there’s an invitation for him to do so,” he said.
