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Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 December 2007, 12:49 GMT
50 Cent plays concert in Kosovo
50 Cent
50 Cent is currently promoting his latest album Curtis
US rapper 50 Cent has performed a concert in Kosovo to a sell-out crowd of 25,000 people, becoming the most high-profile artist to play there.

Some fans thought he would not show up as the threat of violence has escalated with Kosovo set to declare independence from Serbia.

Speaking to Reuters before performing, the 32-year-old said: "I haven't missed a show date in my career."

Riot police were on guard during the gig at a stadium in Pristina.

'Language barriers'

I hope that we will have more opportunities to have more people like him coming and performing in Kosovo
Elza Januzi, 50 Cent fan
50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - said: "I've been to Iraq. I performed for the soldiers. I've been to Israel. I've been to Beirut. They actually bombed the week after I left."

He is currently in the middle of a European tour promoting his latest album, Curtis.

"I won't get a chance to see the world, like the entire world, unless I go everywhere. I see my music break through language barriers," he said.

The football stadium is situated between the ruins of a Serb police station and a railway yard where thousands of Kosovo's majority ethnic Albanians were deported by Serb troops.

Cent, who grew up in New York and has been shot nine times, added: "I know exactly what happens when the guns come out. Maybe that's why they (identify) with me."

One fan at the concert, Elza Januzi, said: "I hope that we will have more opportunities to have more people like him coming and performing in Kosovo. It's a great, great feeling tonight."



SEE ALSO
EU offers Serbia deal on Kosovo
14 Dec 07 |  Europe
50 Cent reschedules UK concerts
21 Sep 07 |  Entertainment
West crushes 50 Cent in US chart
19 Sep 07 |  Entertainment
50 Cent postpones European tour
17 Sep 07 |  Entertainment

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