A huge and energetic crowd greeted Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson outside government plaza in downtown Shreveport on Thursday afternoon. The ceremonial news conference included Mayor Tom Arceneaux and the famous rapper symbolically signing a 30-year lease agreement before the gathered crowd, which filled an entire block of Travis Street. Jackson’s production company, G-Unit Film and Television Studios in Shreveport, will be renting the city-owned Millennium Studios, located just a few blocks away from Government Plaza, at 300 Douglas Street. The city purchased the property and studio for $3.8 million in 2022.
This celebratory welcoming ceremony served as the launch for G-Unit operations in Shreveport, as Jackson promised the cheering crowd big things to come: “In Shreveport, my aim is to embody the spirit of conscious capitalism, the focus on creating jobs, stimulating commerce, and contributing to economic growth for this vibrant community. Our vision, to make Shreveport a beacon in the entertainment industry, a place where creativity meets opportunity, where talent meets mentorship, and where amazing stories come to light that resonate globally.”
Rent for the entire year of millennium studios will total $2,400. But the lease agreement stipulates that G-Unit Studios will be responsible for upkeep and maintenance. Mayor Arceneaux has previously said that arrangement will save the city nearly $180,000 a year.
The rapper/entrepreneur has also made it no secret that his plans may include the purchase of other nearby properties in the months and years ahead. But no specifics have been spelled out, thus far.
