Hurricane Chris, the Shreveport native known for his catchy hit “A Bay Bay,” publicly called out rap superstar 50 Cent for neglecting local artists during his recent Humor & Harmony Festival. The festival ran from August 8 to August 11, 2024, downtown at the Red River District in Shreveport, with such big names as Flo Rida and Keith Sweat, but not one representing the state of Louisiana’s music at all.
In an Instagram video, Hurricane Chris, whose real name is Christopher Jerrod Dooley Jr., made his frustration clear. He didn’t hold back, stating: “How the fk are you supposed to be a part of hip-hop and you throw a motherfking concert in Louisiana without booking any Louisiana legends?” A lot of fans and fellow artists aligned with this emotion, feeling 50 Cent had let them down by not giving just a bit of the state’s rich musical heritage.
Hurricane Chris is mad at 50 Cent for throwing an event & allegedly not booking any Louisiana artists pic.twitter.com/CMGc43oOTY
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) August 18, 2024
The festival, which was dedicated to providing support for underprivileged kids and families through the G-Unity Foundation, allegedly had police security of $500,000. Yet, Hurricane Chris pointed out, local artists were missing from the lineup – including him, Boosie Badazz, and Webbie. This doesn’t really seem to have gone too well with Chris, who insists that events staged in artists’ backyards should have had local talent shoes.
And local artists reiterated these thoughts. Fredo Bang was another speaking presence in the state of Louisiana who reiterated the general chorus of dissatisfaction for the unbalanced approach to local representation. This meant much more than just a usual musical event for most; it was an opportunity to showcase sounds only found in Louisiana and their accompanying stories aplenty.
On the other side, the quick-witted and comically charged 50 Cent responded to criticism from Hurricane Chris with a series of memes and some light jabs. It all created an online stir, pitting worldwide fame against hometown pride in active argument. While 50 Cent’s festival drew crowds and showed large revenue to most of the local businesses there—at least one pizza shop had sold out of its whole menu—many believed that the lack of local artists made the introduction to many tourists a missed opportunity to celebrate the culture from Louisiana that thrives.
The festival was such a huge success that, at one point, the Red River District reached capacity and had to be closed. It was a real windfall for local businesses, and 50 Cent made an announcement about establishing G-Unit Studios in Shreveport, wherein he would help develop talent and creativity. But the ultimate question is monetary gain versus what is all about honoring the local culture.
It’s not just about not being included in a concert lineup. It’s about the much larger issue of how people view Shreveport and Louisiana. Chris took to social media to express his frustrations about the perception that the city is an inexpensive investment, not a community of people with deep roots and rich culture.
“When I got my deal, I saw Shreveport was a place that was looked at like a cheap investment,” Chris wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “But we still protected our home front to make sure we would keep what’s ours. The city is using 50 Cent to make the city money, not the people. Half a mill on police—you just fed the beast.”
When I got my deal I saw Shreveport was a place that was looked at like a cheap investment but we still protected our home front to make sure we would keep what’s ours the city is using 50 cent to make the city money not the people half a mill on police Yu just fed the beast
— King Cane⚡️™ (@hurricanechris6) August 18, 2024
For Chris, the issue transcends simple music or sound. It’s one more attitudinal example of the consideration to which he believes above all that his city and state are entitled. Louisiana, the fourth-worst educational system. A profit-machine prison system. Wouldn’t rights to living conditions be more apropos for the people of the community than concerts; so pondered Chris. So customed this franchise to be so prejudiced their leadership can no longer see from their vision yes.
“I feel like our culture and history is all on the line,” Chris wrote. “How do you pop up in a city and don’t ask the streets what’s really poppin’? We don’t respect money, we respect respect.”
This has created the opportunity for a greater dialogue about the need to ensure that local artists have a platform to perform and engage with their audience. With Louisiana remaining at the epicenter of musical creativity, one can only hope that in times going forward, such events will celebrate and help lift the very voices that make up the state’s music scene.
