Fabolous Pays Tribute to Nate Dogg at Paris Show

Fabolous took center court in Paris, France Sunday night (June 26) for a special performance to cap the Quai 54 International Streetball Tournament—a two-day elimination tournament featuring 16 teams from around the world.

The makeshift blacktop, emblazoned with the famous Jordan logo, was fashioned at the Trocadero courtyard, which overlooks the Eiffel Tower. All of the players wore uniforms and special custom Retro 5 Jordan’s, including Loso, who emerged from the side baseline to rapturous cheers from the capacity crowd draped head to toe in Jordan gear exclamation-pointed by a black iced-out Audemars Piguet, ring and Street Family piece and Gucci link chain. The Brooklyn-bred rapper launched his set with “Body Ya” from his popular mixtape, There Is No Competition 2: The Funeral Service.

After dropping “Can’t Deny It” from his debut LP, Ghetto Fabolous, Fab took time out to pay homage to fallen hook king Nate Dogg with a medley of his greatest hits, including “21 Questions” and “The Next Episode.”

Fabolous brought the energy back up with “Holla Back” and got the Parisian women involved with his 16 from Lil Mo’s “Superwoman” as well as his own “So Into You” and “Can’t Let You Go.”

Everyone was out of their seats, emphatically waving their hands from side to side when the beat dropped for “Breathe.” Language barriers seemed non-existent as fans yelled out all the words to “I’m Ill,” “Start It Up” and “Oh My” with no translation needed.

Boston Celtic Ray Allen, on hand as a special guest for Jordan Brand, started rocking with the multitude when Loso dropped his verse for Trey Songz’s big hit, “Say Aah.” Before ending his set with “Throw It In The Bag” and “You Be Killin’ ‘Em,” Fabolous thanked Paris for supporting his music and Jordan Brand for bringing him out. —Maurice Bobb