As rap concerts go, New York’s Hot 97’s [WQHT-FM] 2003 Summer Jam proved to be one of the most historic of the radio station’s history. It was a memorable performance that saw boisterous showman Busta Rhymes nearly steal the show when he brought out pop megastar Mariah Carey, Bad Boy mogul P. Diddy, and legendary hip hop icon KRS-One during his energetic set.
Lil’ Kim was joined onstage by Mobb Deep for a two-fisted version of the “Quiet Storm (remix)”; at times the Queen Bee struggled to keep her bikini top on, giggling “My titty’s poppin’ out.” Nas hit the stage to perform songs from his classic catalog, topping off his appearance with the landmark Jay-Z dis “Ether” (the two rap giants had not yet made peace) as the 50,000 fans at Giants Stadium in New Jersey roared.
There was rap’s reigning superstar bad boy of the moment 50 Cent—fresh off of his landmark multiplatinum 2003 Shady/Aftermath/Interscope debut, Get Rich or Die Tryin’—who used the infamous Summer Jam screen to go in on then-rival Ja Rule. When a faux PSA appeared on three massive screens, 50 told fans that it had been brought to his attention that people could not identify “a bitch ass nigga.” He then showed a video clip of Ja and Murder Inc. boss Irv Gotti as the words “bitch ass nigga” were displayed on the screens. After several hits, 50 went into the fiery “Patiently Waiting,” surprising the packed crowd as friend and frequent collaborator Eminem stepped out for the massive collaboration.
Later on during Em’s headlining volatile set, the controversial blond spitter displayed his own brand of theatrics when he disdainfully destroyed his 2002 Source Award for Lyricist of the Year, telling the magazine’s former co-owner Ray Benzino—with whom he’d been in a war of words for much that year—to “Take your motherfucking award back!” Fun times all around.
home
