50 Cent Talks “Power” Cologne And Drake Comparisons
Earlier this week, 50 Cent hosted a press event in NYC to announce the launch of his new fragrance, Power by Fifty Cent, that releases exclusively at Macy’s this November. After going in on the appetizers (thanks Curtis!), we got a few minutes to sit down with the entrepreneur and talk about about his new business venture, amongst other things. Read on to see how 50 feels about cologne competition with Jay-Z and Diddy and his thoughts on the comparisons between his and Drake’s mixtape buzz…
Interview by Ernest Baker
Complex: What brings you to the fragrance game and why the name Power?
50 Cent: Power translates in every language. It means the same thing. It’s just said differently. I still haven’t been a part of creating, from a business perspective a venture that translates in every market that I’m relevant, away from music. People decide to love American music with a different passion when they’re in foreign territories because there’s a language barrier that they’re breaking to accept it to begin with. Away from that, power is confidence. The confidence to deliver your answer when you’re in a board meeting is what will allow you to move up faster. The confidence to be yourself in front of people creates a separation. The people that you saw speak ahead of me at this event had to read their paper that people prepared for them. I didn’t, my confidence will allow me to do things my way and help people make a decision. People will like the idea of me just being me.
Complex: Do you think your fragrance will sell better than those by Jay-Z, Diddy, and Usher?
50 Cent: I don’t think it matters. I think it will be there as a representative of what I feel like is quality right now. People can decide. The consumers will decide that. If I said something to the likes of me feeling like I would be more successful than those other projects, it might turn some of them off. So I wouldn’t answer that question. I’d leave that to them to judge.
Complex: I just know that you’re competitive with your music so…
50 Cent: Yeah, but not with everything. You can’t be that way. The competitive nature of hip-hop culture has always had battling involved with it. So you battle with the other artist but not necessarily in business and everywhere else.
Complex: What fragrance did you wear before this came out?
50 Cent: Creed and Emporio.
Complex: So that’s totally done now? On the shelf?
50 Cent: Yeah. Did you smell the fragrance? It’s great.
Complex: Yeah, but hook me up with some. I have a date later.
50 Cent: [pulls out Power bottle and sprays] Don’t never say I didn’t do nothing for you. Now if they say you smell good you gotta write that in the article.
Complex: OK, token rap question before we have to go. People are comparing Drake’s mixtape buzz to yours in ’02. How do you feel about that?
50 Cent: I think there’s no comparison between Drake and 50 Cent as artists. He has momentum right now. Great momentum. He has a record on the radio and hasn’t signed a deal. That’s the comparison. But there’s obviously a difference in the type of music and the significance in being able to create aggressive content and have it go that far as opposed to making the record that Drake has on the radio. I sit in front of you as someone who’s received 16 Grammy nominations and I have no trophies, because I chose to write the harsh realities. I stayed true to myself and I’ve taken a little beating behind it. I still have the largest debuting album to date. So if Drake can continue to do what he’s doing now he could potentially have one of the largest debuting albums. I wish him the best.
J-Bro June 26, 2009 at 1:10 pm
50 has a point. it’s harder to infiltrate radio w/ “aggressive content” but Drake also did it in the download era. both impressive…
muah muah June 26, 2009 at 1:42 pm
50 just mad Drake hotter right now SMH
jocyn86 June 26, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Damn…5o has matured. Dope.
some guy June 26, 2009 at 2:05 pm
50 Cent: “Power translates in every language. It means the same thing. It’s just said differently.”
so….deep
Elvis Freshley June 26, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I agree with both ‘jocyn86′ and ’some guy’…this interview definitely portrays a much more mature 50, mad respect
muah muah June 26, 2009 at 2:40 pm
i wish i could say the same, but watch him diss Drake in like 2 months. publicity stunt for Before I Self Destruct
m June 26, 2009 at 3:25 pm
what’s so deep about that “some guy”? any crackhead can come up with that shit! i ain’t hating but that shit is far from being deep……..more obvious than anything else.
Eps June 26, 2009 at 3:33 pm
50 doesn’t need to hate on Drake, dude has moggled up!
What’s a rapper in a wheel chair gonna do.
muah muah June 26, 2009 at 4:10 pm
hey Eps, you mean “mogul” not “moggle” … FAIL
and 50 is tight because no matter how much money he has he likes to be the number one dude out and he’s not now because of people like Drizzy. he hasn’t been since Kanye dethroned him in ‘07
Bradley June 26, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Amazing photo of 50
LOL...DEEP! June 26, 2009 at 5:08 pm
What the hell did 50 Cent say that was so damn deep…people need to travel and read more…how about get a formal education! Deep…you people are impressed to easily…my 7yr old cousin could say this!
shay June 26, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Why the hell does it matter to you guys. 50 said drakes buzz isnt in comparison to his when he was released and its true its not. 50 had in the club on the radio once he signed a deal with dre and em, not before. Its not organic drakes buzz was created by his ppl as he so explicity says in his interviews. The formula they had and followed was the one that has him where he is. You cant hate on 50, its not that its deep it is what it is. Hate it or love it like he says.
themboyz September 2, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Hey shay aint nobody hating on 50 hes good but Drake is Better to be real i wouldnt be suprised if you were some little girl that had a crush on the guy that has vitamin water 50 cent a.k.a him and his whack click g-unot
blueskyy June 28, 2009 at 6:21 am
smh @ muah muah…how is 50 hating? he was asked a direct question and he answered it…all of a sudden he’s mad? that makes no sense at all. now i understand why jay-z never says anything. he’d have to hear dumbass comments like yours for months afterward.
Mardi Graz July 1, 2009 at 7:40 am
Wow, I kinda expected to read this and see a typical 50 saying the brash egotistical things he’s known for. This is a grand show of maturity! I’m kinda shocked! To all the 50 Cent haters posting here, get your heads out of your asses and recognize your own ignorance at not being able to separate your own personal bias from what’s actually being said. I ain’t even a 50 fan like that, but I give credit where it’s due.
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themboyz September 2, 2009 at 3:54 pm
look 50 cent is good is rookie debut was nice but let me repeat i will repeat this again he is NOT drake Drake is way better than 50 cent are you serious drake is on every collabo every song he is the MAN lets face it 50 cent is Washed up he is done that homie drizzle is the man like 50’s rival said love it or hate it this homie Drake is forever man hahahahaha
jweezy October 22, 2009 at 10:05 pm
wow your a dumbass dude. Drake’s buzz is gonna wear off in a year. lil wayne ghost writes for drake half the time thats why he repeats half of wayne’s shit in his songs. 50 would murk drake any day. drake rogers isn’t even his name its aubrey ghram and that fool was on degrassi as a kid. its all buzz. wait till j.cole gets big. Jay-z’s first signing to his record company. that fool has better lyrics then any rapper out right now. datpiff that nigga