Mary J. Blige Raises Eyebrows with 50 Cent Connection

Back in March R&B singer Mary J. Blige raised eyebrows after sharing a cryptic comment on social media just as Bad Boy Entertainment CEO Sean "Diddy" Combs' home was being raided by Homeland Security [click here if you missed that].

Mary seemingly continues to distance herself from Diddy after booking his arch nemesis 50 Cent for her annual Strength of a Woman music festival...

From Variety 

The festival spent its first two years in Atlanta, but this year, Blige brought it to her hometown of New York City. The Saturday concert has always been the centerpiece of the weekend, and last night’s was no different, with MJB the VIP calling upon 50 Cent, Jill Scott, Fat Joe, Jadakiss and Lola Brooke to rock the stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.

50 Cent took the stage with no introduction: The lights went low and the music started. Fif is obviously loving the ultra-competitive climate rap is in right now, as he started his set with his Ja Rule and Murder Inc.’s “Back Down.” He stood on a riser high above the stage — reminiscent of the Rock’s new “Final Boss” ring entrance — illuminated with a spotlight and a video behind him of a dark blue sky with flashes of lightning before he went into his bag of bangers.

G-Unit’s Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda came out to hype things up as the lightning from 50’s stage set transitioned into a thunderous response from the crowd. “What Up Gangsta” and “I Get Money” were aired back to back as Fif threw his blue-and-white Givenchy varsity jacket — with a retail value of just above $3200 —into the crowd, with fans in the first few rows scrambling to catch it.

He later donned an orange leather vest and orange shirt as his video backdrop shifted from Guy R. Brewer Boulevard in Queens — where and Yayo grew up — to abstract art and high-priced chandeliers. He and his cohort were joined by dancers as they rolled through “Magic Stick,” “Candy Shop” and “21 Questions.”

Later in his set, 50 brought out several of the stars from hit Starz shows, Michael Rainey Jr. and Larenz Tate from “Power Book II: Ghost,” Da’Vinchi from “BMF” and Mekai Curtis from “Power Book III: Raising Kanan.” While most of the actors waved to the fans and vibed to the music, Curtis — who plays a younger version of the character Kanan, a role 50 first starred in on the original “Power” series — showed off his musicianship, playing drums on “In Da Club” and taking a solo.

When “Hate It or Love It” began, Blige came out to give Fif a hug and thank him — and maybe to signal that he was going over his allotted stage time at the already-late show. As 50 left, Mary — shining from head to toe in sparkling white zip-up top, matching shorts and boots — lauched right into her set.