Rapper 50 Cent pulls out of Penn Relays concert

Rapper 50 Cent canceled his college tour stop at Penn yesterday originally scheduled for April 25, denying students the chance to hear the hit song "In Da Club" echo across campus. According to Director of Student Life Fran Walker, "His management pulled out before we were able to finalize the venue and other details." On Monday, an assistant at the William Morris Agency in New York confirmed the artist's appearance at Wynn Commons as part of his college tour. SPEC-TRUM -- the organization responsible for booking the Penn Relays concert -- was planning for 50 Cent to perform, according to Walker. "Everyone was working on this assumption," she said. SPEC-TRUM co-directors declined to comment on the artist's cancelation. According to Walker, the group will wait until after spring break to book another act for the Penn Relays concert. In past years, SPEC-TRUM has brought performers during the Penn Relays weekend such as Common, Talib Kweli, Redman and Method Man. Many students were disappointed to learn that the rapper would not be coming to Penn. "It's too bad," College senior Karthik Anbalagan said, admitting that he would rather see 50 Cent perform than the Spring Fling headliner Busta Rhymes. "A lot of people were looking forward to going to the show." College senior Alex Quistberg was also hoping to see 50 Cent. "It would have been cool," he said. Some students were even angered by the rapper's change of plans. "What a jerk," College senior David Kim said. However, those students who are not fond of the hip hop genre expressed ambivalence, and even relief, over 50 Cent's retraction. "I'm not a fan of rap," College junior Julie Anne Adelizzi said. "I'm actually pleased that he's not coming." Penn was one of many stops scheduled for 50 Cent on his upcoming tour. The list includes other schools such as the University of Oklahoma, University of Nebraska, University of Connecticut and Miami University of Ohio.