10 It may have been billed as a solo Eminem show, but hip-hop heads took further pleasure in seeing the superstar rapper joined on stage by Royce Da 5'9". Eminem credits his fellow rhymer as an influence and they presently work together as a duo under the Bad Meets Evil moniker. 5'9" continued to party after Sunday's performance with an extra set at Étoiles at Emirates Palace alongside Eminem's tour DJ Alchemist and the hip-hop producer Fredwreck.
9 Wyclef Jean can’t get enough out of the Abu Dhabi racing season. After headlining last year’s Beats on the Beach at the Corniche, the rapper and failed Haitian presidential candidate returned to the capital to perform as part of Movida Abu Dhabi at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Yas Island.
8 Now you see him, now you don’t. The young rapper Tyga made a lightning quick visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday night to perform at Movida Abu Dhabi. According to sources, the rapper behind the hit club-rap track Rack City stayed fewer than 24 hours in Abu Dhabi and returned to the US hours after his performance.
7 And the award for the most colourful outfit goes to ... Cee Lo Green. The soul star and The Voice mentor dressed in what appeared to be a red dashiki with leopard-print robes.
6 Melanie Chisholm was perhaps the fittest performer on the Beats on the Beach bill. She describes a typical performance day as “waking up, having a good healthy breakfast and going to the gym”. The regime worked – her energy didn’t let up throughout her set.
5 It may have been 10 years between her album releases, but Eve showed the Skybar crowd she was a rapper first before becoming an actress, performing a strong set including her hit track Let Me Blow Ya Mind.
4 Étoiles had once again became a favourite place to chill for many celebrities and artists during the F1 weekend. The Emirates Palace club welcomed Nickelback and Leona Lewis who all enjoyed separate post-event nights out.
3 Mansour Zayed has done the local music scene proud with an engaging performance during Thursday night’s Beats on the Beach. The Abu Dhabi crooner was the only Emirati on the bill and kept the crowd clapping along throughout his hour-long set. “To hear them sing along is really humbling,” he said backstage. “This is a great way to finish the year.”
2 Kylie Minogue reminded us that pop music is first and foremost about having fun. The Aussie pop princess’s colourful hit-filled show cast out the images of Britney Spears’s mime-heavy set last year and Madonna’s bleak performance in June.
1 Amber Lounge reaffirmed itself as the best place to party. The weekend saw Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Natasha Bedingfield and Eva Simons make appearances, plus the grand prix winner Kimi Räikkönen and his fellow F1 drivers Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher. Music was care of Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas who got the well-heeled crowd dancing, but his Friday night invitation to the ladies to join him on stage was apparently expected to be extended on Sunday night by one lass. She jumped on stage to bust some moves, only to be coaxed down by security. Nonplussed, she made a beeline for the stage a few more times before Taboo’s platform was taken over by guests.