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Love Ballad King Strips Down Gangster Anthem, Leaving Viewers Stunned
For years, Ed Sheeran has been the face of tender, acoustic, chart-topping love songs and folk-pop ballads. That is precisely why his decision to cover 50 Cent’s gritty, “gangster” hip-hop anthem, In Da Club, with nothing but his acoustic guitar, stunned viewers and sparked a viral phenomenon. The contrast between the romantic singer-songwriter and the hardcore rap track was deemed an impossible leap, yet Sheeran consistently delivered a surprisingly catchy and faithful rendition.
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The Original: A Definitive Hip-Hop Party Starter
In Da Club, released by American rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson) in 2003, is one of the most commercially successful and influential hip-hop tracks of the 2000s. Produced by Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo, the song shot to No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, holding the top spot for nine consecutive weeks. It has since been certified Diamond by the RIAA, highlighting its monumental sales and streaming figures. The original is defined by its hard-hitting, unconventional rhythm, blaring horns, and 50 Cent’s smooth, confident flow, epitomizing a party track celebrating a lifestyle far removed from Sheeran’s folk roots.
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The Shocking Acoustic Reinterpretation
Sheeran, who has often cited rap artists like Eminem as a major influence, first performed his acoustic cover of In Da Club live on The Howard Stern Show in March 2017, and has revisited the track several times in concerts. The shock came from his ability to completely strip away the elaborate, electronic production and still retain the song’s energy and rhythm.
Instead of trying to force a rock sound, Sheeran utilized his signature technique:
Acoustic Looping: Using his loop pedal, he created an intricate, rhythmic beat solely with percussion played on his guitar body.
Rapping Flow: He flawlessly delivered 50 Cent’s complex, rapid-fire verses, proving his oft-mentioned rapping abilities.
The result was a surprisingly warm, upbeat, and catchy folk-rap rendition that transformed the dark, celebratory club track into something that felt fit for a festival stage, showcasing the underlying melodic and lyrical quality of the original song.
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50 Cent Gives His Ultimate Approval
The most notable event came when 50 Cent himself responded to one of Sheeran’s performances in 2023. The rapper publicly shared the video, giving his ultimate approval: “Ed Sheeran right now in LA at the John Mayer concert Killing sh*t ! BOOM,” he wrote, validating Sheeran’s bold artistic choice. Sheeran’s ability to take a hip-hop classic and recast it as an acoustic singalong ultimately solidified his reputation as a musician whose talent transcends genre, turning one of hip-hop’s toughest anthems into an unexpectedly sweet, guitar-driven earworm.
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