The Big Interview 50 Cent 50 Cents own sens metro Arts & Entertainment Declan ORourke In Town Tonight Returning from an extensive US tour and guest spots in Scandinavia with Peter Jback, the Ballyfermot bard brings his acoustic vignettes home a prelude to his third studio album to be released in the spring Tonight, Whelans, 25 Wexford Street D2, 8pm, 20. Tel: (01) 478 0766. www.declanorourke.com James Vincent McMorrow Like Bon Iver, Iron And Wine and Al Green? He has guested with each, and toured with Tracy Chapman. Check out his live prowess before the January release of his debut LP which features Barnados campaign track Follow You Down To Red Oak Tree Tonight, The Sugar Club, 8 Leeson Street Lower D2, 7pm, 13.50. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.myspace.com/ jamesvmcmorrow Cinderella Brian Dowling was spotted checking out the competition at The Helix last week compare and contrast his performance as an Ugly Sister in this years Cheerios panto also starring Eurovisions Sinad Mulvey Until Jan 17, The Tivoli, 135 Francis Street D8, times & prices vary. Tel: (01) 454 4472. www.tivoli.ie life s the last year of the noughties speeds to a close, Curtis 50 Cent Jackson finds himself in interesting times a word the decades biggest rap star uses a lot. After building a career on being bulletproof, Fiddy came unstuck when his 2007 album release face-off with Kanye West when he claimed hed give up the rap game if West outsold him didnt work out so well. Def Jam did a better job positioning Kanye West at that point, he concedes. The entire time Ive been at Interscope Records, theyve been relying on my creative energy [read: feuds with other rappers] to move discs. Just as well latest album Before I Self Destruct, plus a greatest-hits compilation, see his obligations to Interscope completed. Almost in the nick of time, he muses. I didnt even go to a staff meeting and play this album for them because theyre more confused than any group of people Ive interacted with, ever. Before I Self Destruct hasnt found much favour with critics. Fiddy describes it as a prequel to major label debut Get Rich Or Die Tryin. I focused on the harder portion of my life, he says. Ive been what they consider successful for six years so I can make reference to 28 years of not having. Theres little point discussing the morality behind his output, or even its quality Fiddys music has made him millions and thats his prime concern. But to go from being grateful for $20 to carrying $25,000 as pocket change (Its in my jacket upstairs, he says bashfully) is quite a leap, and one it seems hes still having trouble negotiating. When youre rich, you start to enter different circles and you run into [privileged class] wealth, which makes A you feel that you need to do more because your money means nothing, says Fiddy. And moneys the last thing they want to talk about because its not cool, its just there. He seems momentarily baffled but mention Christmas and his face lights up. Is it a special time for him? Absolutely I get a chance to be Santa Claus, he says, flashing his famous toothy grin. I try to spend the day around my grandmother. She took care of me when I couldnt take care of myself. His son, Marquise, now 12, is another topic guaranteed to make Fiddy beam. Hes getting into girls, so now hes paying a lot of attention to how he dresses and his hair and stuff like that, Fiddy explains. The gulf between their two childhoods is vast does Christmas make him reflect on that? Oh yeah, says Fiddy. He doesnt even know what its like not to have, so hes in a whole different space. When you grow up with nothing, you get a little mischievous, you know what Im saying? Theres a lot more that youd be open to, because how bad can the repercussions be, lifes already terrible. But hes a peacemaker. Even with me and his mom, he tries to get in the middle and be the reason why we have to be cool with each other. S o, what do you buy a man who has everything? Im not difficult, Fiddy insists, because I dont have high expectations from the people who actually buy me presents. (Possibly he doesnt mean that to sound as harsh as it does.) Basic stuff is cool. So hed be happy with socks? Thats necessities nobody has enough socks. My little cousins buy me things like that. Whats top of his Christmas list, though? Theres a very long pause. Id take... an Audemars Piguet, he smiles shyly, and seems surprised I dont know what on earth that is (a watch, it turns out). Or you can never have Ive been what they consider successful for six years so I can make reference to 28 years of not having The lucrative rapper talks to Siobhn Murphy about issues with his record label, dealing with wealth and looking forward to Christmas PANTO REVIEW Cinderella 14 metrolife Wednesday, December 16, 2009 Adults outnumbered children at Theatreworxs perky reworking of the classic rags-to-riches tale on my visit. And little wonder from topical satire via bawdy physical comedy and double entendres, it has all the subtlety of a Carry On film. Eoin Cannon is Prince Charming, whose chance encounter with a glass slipper leads him to his impoverished lady love a staid archetype that doesnt exactly challenge this musical actor who has had meatier starring roles in Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde and Michael Collins. Carol Anne Ryans pretty Cinders is textbook Disney but as always its the villains who have the most sparkle: Paul Purcell and Aidan Mannion as fierce Ugly Sisters Consumpta and Concepta steal the show again, outshining their own double act in last years Sleeping Beauty. Elsewhere, Ross Murray gives a star turn as the Princes The hoTTesT TickeTs in Town We have five pairs of tickets to see IMELDA MAY Dec 22 at The O2, 7pm For a chance to win, e-mail your answer to the question below to life@metroireland.ie by noon today with Hot Tickets in the subject line. With your answer please include your name, address and a number where you can be contacted between 1pm and 3pm. Strictly one entry per person; entrants must be age 18+. Q. Imelda Mays Big Bad Handsome Man is tall, mad, mean and...? A Good-lookin B Good-lovin The winners of yesterdays tickets to see The Swell Season are: Aiden McGale, Marese Nolan & Connie Trappeniers Book Now Imelda May Shes come a long way, baby. Not only is the Liberties songbird the first Irish female solo artist to top the charts with an album of original material in 14 years (2008s Love Tattoo), she also won Best Irish Female at this years Meteor Awards and performed two sell-out shows at Vicar Street in July and now shes gigging The O2 arena. Mays stellar stage presence and seemingly endless line of animal print apparel has also drawn praise in the UK, where she resides with her band member husband, guitarist Darrel Higham, and counts Jools Holland (and, oddly, Dermot OLeary) as fans Dec 22, The O2, East Link Bridge, North Wall Quay D1, 7pm, 37.50 to 42.50. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.imeldamay.com index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html