Interview: 50 Cent Talks Dr. Dre, Jay-Z & Before I Self Destruct
So by now you’re aware that the 50 Cent of today isn’t the 50 Cent of 2003. Or is he? The “aggressive content” is still there, the issues with other rappers are still there, and the hunger to get rich or die tryin’ is definitely still there. But while there’s a the-more-things-change-the-more-they-stay-the-same feel to it all, there are notable differences between Curtis Jacksons past and present.
He just did a New York reunion show at Governor’s Island where he embraced Jadakiss (whom he’s had problems with in the past), he hasn’t flown off the handle about his placement on the MTV list like he two years ago—and yesterday, as we sat down with 50 Cent in his unfinished new office, his answers to our questions seemed more methodical than ever. While he preps to release his oft-delayed album Before I Self Destruct on November 23, we spoke to 50 about possible tension with Dre, Fat Joe’s first-week sales, pulling a gun on Diddy, and how he really feels about Jay-Z’s “no one is scared of 50 Cent” comment. Yup, some things will never change…
Interview By Joe La Puma
Complex: Okay, as far as the the new album, we’ve heard a radio-friendly single with Ne-Yo, but you also have gritty tracks like “Flight 187″….
50 Cent: “Flight 187″ is a bonus track, it’s not on the album. I started the project, and I wrote exactly what I wanted on it, and then I thought out the actual singles at the very end. The album changed, because there was a time period around December of last year, that I was ready to put my record out and I was a little anxious. I usually release on schedule; it’s usually a two-year cycle for me before I release a record. In December, I put out the “Get Up” record, and then Interscope had a transition, like the entire music business did. So the majority of the delays of this project have been readjustments to what’s actually going on, not [because] the material wasn’t up to par or completed. There’s been a transition that we experience in technology—for instance, right now we’re talking to Complex.com instead of Complex magazine. That right there shows you that things are totally changing around. Instead of fighting things, I embrace them.
Complex: Are there any other guest appearances on the album?
50 Cent: R.Kelly, that’s also a bonus cut. I kept this album shorter. I kept it down to 16 songs, so people could continuously play these songs and fall in love with them. I’d rather jump in the car from Banks’ house to Manhattan listening to my entire album. Listen to the entire record and then on our way back, listen again. I was getting that a lot when I was talking about the War Angel LP, creating content that directly impacts the actual environment—I wrote that for them. Most artists’ first album is like that because they don’t think “world music.” They think “let me make the coolest thing here, right now.” And the influences and their surroundings make them write something that reflects their experience.
Complex: Right…
50 Cent: If you looked at Ready to Die, Reasonable Doubt, Illmatic, those artists would probably tell you that that record was written for their neighborhood. Those are the records that they are working to live up to and can’t quite match because they got big. Reasonable Doubt wasn’t even a gold record. It went gold after the other albums were successful. Illmatic too. Imagine 50 Cent now with a gold record. It just doesn’t work. Those artists no longer can create the aggressive content, because they shifted their lives to where they can’t create from a genuine space.
Complex: So that’s the big difference between you and those artists?
50: The way I responded to the financial stability, it comes with being successful as an artist. My interests reflect on the struggle and how far I’ve came, versus indulging in how great it is where I’m at now. A lot of these artists write “I’m rich,” the coolest shit about being rich, “I’m at the clearport, I’m doing this, I’m doing that.” They aspire to write about luxury and to excite an audience and the demographic that comes from where they come from, saying “I want to be like him.” I write material that makes [the listener] feel like he’s like me. The guys on the corner can relate to 50 Cent in a different way because they knows that I’ve had the same experience and I’ll be inspiring to them.
Complex: People said that Blueprint 3 came off very braggadocious, just like you alluded to—Jay bragging about the stuff he has.
50: But that’s a career trait. That’s a style. The choice that he’s made as an artist. He’s done that his entire career. He felt he could shift trends with the things he’s actually saying. I mean, it’s cool, it’s an option to write that when you’re that successful. I just feel like writing imperfection instead of creating a superhero is interesting. I’ll write the things they’re not willing to say because they think it affects their “cool factor” to the point where they feel like it puts them in the box. They’re limited to what they can say and do. I don’t give a fuck. I can say and do what I want. So I write those defective characters.
Complex: So you had the big “50 Fest” show in New York recently, where you reunited with a lot of artists. Seems like that was a big step for you. Is that part of the maturation process?
50 Cent: Well, for me the New York show was an opportunity. It was actually branched revenue for Thisis50.com. And at the same time, an opportunity for me to work with artists and have them seen in the same light. There’s no middle ground in hip-hop. It’s either you’re rocking arenas or you’re getting top dollar, getting money out a nightclub. You can’t really get more than that $75,000 threshold, that’s really it in the nightclub circuit.
Complex: You originally had problems with Jadakiss because he did a song with Ja Rule. How would you feel if, after this concert, he went out and did a song with someone like Rick Ross?
50 Cent: You know what? Check this out. I have an issue with anyone who’s trying to keep someone who I deem my enemy in a good position. Where I’m from, if you have an issue with one guy and someone keeps standing next to them, just hit him too. Just kill him too. It’s just the way I use my gut. I use my moral compass to tell me when to go in on somebody. I dealt with that, it doesn’t make sense for me to continue to beat that dead horse. When the artist that I intended to destroy has completely been destroyed, why would I be bothering him? I could tell you as soon as I wrote “Piggy Bank” what was going to happen.
Complex: How so?
50 Cent: I knew Fat Joe’s pride would bring him out first, even if he wasn’t in the position to win. And he would go and go and go because he has the tough-guy aura. He’s tougher in his head than he is in reality, as far as his Don Cartagena shit is concerned. It feels great because everybody’s paying attention to them and talking on the radio about them. Mind you, while they’re going out and doing all of this talking, I’m just chilling. I’ll send them out like they’re a rap fan so they can market me. So everywhere they go, nobody cares about your record or what you’re doing. The number one question is “So what’s up with you and 50?” They’re not smart enough to come up with a new disrespectful way to talk to me because I’ve heard everything you could fucking think of. Then I move away because I’m competing with another artist, and the spotlight moves with me because I’m actually creating the material and generating the interest. So when I move to do that, you’re in darkness…to the point where you drop your album sales to 8,000 copies.
Complex: Were you surprised that Fat Joe only sold that many his first week?
50 Cent: Well, I have 8,000 friends. So that’s extremely low.
Complex: It’s very low…
50 Cent: Watch this. Want a prediction from me? I’ll tell you what a psychic told me. Triple Cs is next. And then Rick Ross is going to follow that failure. Def Jam dumped a whole lot of marketing dollars into trying combat me with Rick Ross. More money than they should have. What his numbers were versus what Jadakiss did, didn’t make financial sense. So the next go-around, they’re going to give him his fair share instead that extra piece of pie. Then you’re going to see where he really is.
Complex: You told people not to hold their breath about a collaboration with The Game. Are there still real issues with him?
50 Cent: I really don’t know Game. I worked with the kid for six days. I have bigger issues with the actual system, the company, people who work in it. Initially, people would be like, “Yo, we know you wrote the fucking records! You think we give a fuck about that?” Game built this thing on the West Coast, they desperately needed him to come out—they didn’t have anybody since Snoop. That’s what made it a good business opportunity to begin with. But I had to make sacrifices in order to have Dre put the record out, the same way they waited eight years for Dre to put his album out.
Complex: Is there tension between you and Dre?
50 Cent: There’s no tension. There will never be a beef between 50 Cent and Dre. And it’s not based on 50 and Dre’s relationship, it’s based on Eminem and Dre’s relationship. My relationship with Em is what Em’s relationship is to Dre. If I was to say something disrespectful to Dre, it would effect Em and I value that relationship too much. So I won’t say anything, I’ll never say anything negative about Dre.
Complex: Does it bother you that it can take Dre so long to mix your records?
50 Cent: Oh no, that’s just him as a producer. He takes his time. He loses interest in shit. I don’t care how great you are. He’s great, but he loses interest in himself at points. So the making of the record at this point is motivation. He’ll tell you himself that that’s what he feels.
Complex: How do you feel about him working with Game?
50: I don’t care. It’s better that you shut up sometimes than for you to actually express your judgments when you’re close to home.
Complex: Shifting gears, in your VH1 Behind The Music episode, there was a part that talked about Diddy taking a meeting with you, and him getting shook because you brought a gun to the office…
50 Cent: This is what happened. Jennifer Lopez told Puffy that I was a great writer because Corey Rooney signed me to Columbia Records. Jennifer had been exposed to my material, so she told Puff she thinks I’m somebody he should work with. I came down to write and I was in there writing a couple of joints and Puff left the actual room. There was rustling and rambling at the door and shit like that. I jumped up—when you get hurt as bad as I got hurt, either your fear consumes you or you become insensitive. So I jumped up and figured “as you come through the door, I’ll shoot your ass down right there in the door.” The paranoia heightens your senses. You start to see every little detail, every little thing. You don’t want to miss anything and have it turn out there’s someone shooting you again. When I heard the rambling outside, I jumped up, I had a Mac-10 on me. Pulled the joint out and Puff came in and looked, said, “Oh shit, I can’t do this.”As a matter fact, it was Shyne and Wolf, wrestling outside. Puff was going through that actual case when he called me in to write and I’m in his office with a Mac-10. He was like, “I can’t do that.” After the fact, I looked at it and was like, That’s a legitimate call.
Complex: How do you feel about MTV’s Hottest MCs list?
50 Cent: Well, I try to figure out what they’re looking at and what their criteria is. They pick trying to be aware of the art form. For you to leave off the highest selling rap album of the year in your Top 10, I don’t know what the fuck your criteria is. That’s Em’s project. If you don’t have a rap record sell more copies, how could you miss that rap record? It’s just people’s personal preference. Fuck if MTV does a Top 10, everybody has their own Top 10. As long as you’re on the list, you’re straight.
Complex: A lot of people felt that Eminem should’ve been on the list, just off of the strength of his verse on “Forever.” You said a few weeks ago that Em didn’t even know who was going to be on that record…
50 Cent: He didn’t know everyone who was on the record. And it was remixed, they remixed his vocals. When I make records with Em, Dre mixes my vocals in the beat, then sends the beat, and Em sends his vocals until it sounds the way he wants it. Then we wrap it up. So he did his verse on the actual song, they moved it around, put other people on and he didn’t even mix his vocals back yet.
Complex: He didn’t like that?
50 Cent: Well he doesn’t like not being able to hear himself the way he wants to hear himself. So those are somebody else’s ears saying “this sounds like good Eminem” instead of Em’s.
Complex: Someone who made the list who has actually been through some real street shit like you have is Gucci Mane—how do you feel about his placement at #6?
50 Cent: I understand Gucci Mane has something that the other artists don’t have, and that’s authenticity. Because he’s had the experience, they’ll glorify it. Think about how many times I’ve been asked, “How does it feel to be shot?” That’s their personal interest, their amazement in the situation. I don’t ask people, “Ask me how did it feel to be shot. Could you ask me what I was thinking when I was shot?” If it was up to me, it would’ve never happened. I see where they see significance in the content, based on them knowing that the backdrop of a story has some truth to it. These are the things other artists completely lack. Like Rick Ross is exactly the opposite of a Gucci Mane. I’ll listen to Gucci Mane despite what his cadence choices are. As opposed to listening to a Rick Ross, who is talented rapper but is lying. I just don’t want to hear rappers rapping lies. I don’t want to hear that shit.
Complex: Getting back to Jay-Z, who ended up #1 on the list. Much has been made of his recent comment saying “no one is afraid of 50 Cent.” Regardless, it seems like the general public agrees that Kanye wouldn’t have pulled that stunt if you were on stage instead of Taylor Swift…
50 Cent: He wouldn’t. You can’t convince the public, you can’t convince Kanye to say he would’ve did that. If I was there and he did that to me we would have had an altercation. Right there. It’s clear. He [Kanye] would have avoided that, just being intelligent. The interviewer who asked [Jay-Z] about the Kanye situation made him feel like a punk. His presentation is really simple and you can’t have both. You can’t be gangster Jay from Marcy and be the good guy Jay-Z on Oprah. You just can’t. They don’t let you in. That’s Mr. Knowles, he just got that pass. There ain’t any tickets to an inauguration ball with niggas. If you’re from the hood, you have that element or that aura around you, there’s no tickets for you. It’s “safe” people there. This is why those things are happening. This is why he has to convince the person that he’s talking to he’s not afraid of anyone.
RELATED: 50 Cent Talks “Power” Cologne And Drake Comparisons (June 2009)
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HMMM.. October 21, 2009 at 1:59 pm
See: Gangster Fitty Cent from SS Jamaica Queens, then Good Guy Curtis Jackson discussing stocks and the economic market on CNBC.
There’s two sides of the coin, 50 Cent.
verde October 21, 2009 at 5:57 pm
It’s a little different though…the CNBC look was purely a business transaction. It’s all about money. What 50 is talking about is not just money, its prestige. Getting on CNBC and getting on Oprah or into the inauguration are completely different things. The last two are much, much, harder to do if you are a hardcore rapper.
King October 26, 2009 at 4:32 pm
There is no difference. Stop defending 50. Yeah because Nas performing at inauguration after that significant violent song about murder, and puff having gun charges after a shoot out in NYC etc…Easy E having lunch with the president etc…
Face it no one likes 50 because he’s a loose cannon. It really has nothing to do with his music. The guy is a loose cannon. Period.
The only thing white folks want is his money.
verde October 27, 2009 at 12:13 pm
You’re actually making my point for me. 50 is a loose cannon. Or at least that is the perception. Bottom line, he is not a “safe” nigga, just as he says. When it comes to something that is beneficial to him, business-wise, he’ll “behave,” but best believe that he won’t take shit from anybody, no matter how rich or powerful. So when it comes to “prestige” events, where people go to be seen with each other to demonstrate how much “clout” they have, which is what the inauguration was, at least partly, chances are he won’t be there. As for Nas, everybody knows that dude is soft. The song I believe you’re referring to is “Shoot Em Up,” and it’s ten years old. No one confuses Puff for a hard dude, his name is “Puff” for God’s sake. Those charges are also ten years old. Also, he was acquitted. As for Eazy-E, he actually made a campaign contribution to the Republicans, which is why he was invited to lunch with George H.W. Bush. Besides, Eazy-E wasn’t considered a hard dude, either. Whether he actually was or he wasn’t, he didn’t have that aura around him that people like Suge and 50 have. They give you the impression that they’ll actually fuck you up. People were more scared of N.W.A. because of the shit they were actually saying. There’s a difference.
kelly123 October 21, 2009 at 2:28 pm
multitudes often contradict themselves,
quit hatin the man doin big big
2Kool$kool October 21, 2009 at 2:35 pm
^ nooo maybe hes one person cant u be a tough street dude whos knows bout Stcoks and bizness?
2Kool$kool October 21, 2009 at 2:35 pm
*stocks*
mr epic October 21, 2009 at 2:44 pm
lol @ mr knowles.
mike October 21, 2009 at 2:46 pm
50 always talking about somebody fake when is the fakes one.
1.always rapping like a killer when he was the victim.
2. gets mad when other rappers get together.
3. always has something to say, but when somebody says something about him it’s ww3.
this ain’t no hate i from queens
Jes October 21, 2009 at 3:35 pm
1.Only a fool would speak on killings.
of course he would speak on being the victim.
2.People speak like they know every detail of his
life and beefs.
3.Its how you hold your own.
Z187 October 21, 2009 at 3:36 pm
MIKE>>Really though, who gives a flying fuukk if U is frm Queens….HATER
just Bcoz U say u frm Queens…U think ppl will believe or feedinto wt u typed..pathetic
EZ
wtupDUN October 21, 2009 at 3:40 pm
hey mike how long have you and fifty been friends for. You seem to know a lot about him. Maybe it is because you are from QB and because you are from Queens i guess you are friends with him and everyone from queens.
ace October 21, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I agree with you he always get involved with other rapper`s issue and he`s fake as fuck
mr epic October 21, 2009 at 2:48 pm
One thing I allways liked about fif was no matter how touchy the subject he voices his opinion and is the only mainstream artist who will still drop mixtapes to the fans.
goody2supras October 21, 2009 at 3:05 pm
do i own get rich or die trying? yes. have i enjoyed one 50 song since? hell no…he’s funny, but i would crash my car to get his bullshit off my car radio if i had to
G-Up October 21, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Pretty descent interview…50’s smart and like always,he’s saying the right words that need to be heard ;) Keep on 50 !
ponzi scheme October 21, 2009 at 3:30 pm
come on fif…what about your “friendship” with barbara streisand…who incidentally was on oprah the same day as hov…or the fact you live in CT…or a multitude of other things…i’m not hating on his hustle but let’s just question is worse to be the due being a contradiction (in his mind) or the dude (meaning him) that goes around calling people out for the same hustle….
ponzi scheme October 21, 2009 at 3:32 pm
*bette midler…..my bad
mad October 21, 2009 at 3:42 pm
lmao at mr.knowles!!!!! and “i have 8,000 friends” lol!
fli-die October 21, 2009 at 3:44 pm
do i own get rich or die trying? yes. have i enjoyed one 50 song since? hell no…he’s funny, but i would crash my car to get his bullshit off my car radio if i had to
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That’s sum real SHIT right there. Fif is obsessed with the fact that he is rich but dosen’t get the same respect as Jay & Nas. It kills him. That’s why he spends 75% of his interviews talking about what Jay is doing. YOU NEVER hear Jay mentioning Fif. That’s why I was shocked when he said no one is scared of 50 Cent.
Stiglitz01 October 22, 2009 at 5:52 am
Tru wot fli-hi is sayin’.Fif’s problem is that he is not appreciated same way as Jay and Nas are.Thats why he always talking other people being fake n him being real.It don’t work lyk that.He should just chill and do his thing and it will come naturally,this respect that he wants.You don’t beg for respect,man.
London Calling October 22, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Just read your comment. Good point.
bloggers are fags October 21, 2009 at 4:06 pm
faggots.
Detroit313 October 21, 2009 at 4:12 pm
@Mike.
1. How do you know he’s never shot back or killed?
2.Did you even see 50fest, when he brought out rappers he had issues with in the past.
3.There’s been plenty of rappers that said something bout him and he’s never responded.
Get your shit together homie. He makes music about the environment he lived in so others from the slums can relate. Jam Master Jay saw that Fif was real, and his lyrics matched his actions at that particular time period. At one point, the man was a problem in the streets and that brings drama. And that’s fact. Jeezy don’t hustle no more but stills raps it cause his the environment relates. Unless you grew up during those times, early 80’s, when the crack was outta control and killings were at an all time high and had to watch your back everytime u step foward, then talk. Others wise your opinion and worth a penny. Respect Fif and others that found a way outta no way and did it being themselves, grimey or not.
G October 21, 2009 at 5:00 pm
the same way 50 knows rick ross never sold drugs…
SMH
CPT2QNZ October 22, 2009 at 12:30 am
IT DNT MATTER HE wAs a COP HE 1 OF DA BOYZ
Me October 21, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Wow! That’s real talk!!
whiz October 21, 2009 at 4:28 pm
That’s sum real SHIT right there. Fif is obsessed with the fact that he is rich but dosen’t get the same respect as Jay & Nas. It kills him. That’s why he spends 75% of his interviews talking about what Jay is doing. YOU NEVER hear Jay mentioning Fif. That’s why I was shocked when he said no one is scared of 50 Cent.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ YEA BUT THEY ASK 50 THESE QUESTIONS AB0UT JAY;;D0 Y0U PE0PLE KN0W H0W 2 READ 0R LISTEN???….5O JUST AINT AFRAID 2 SAY WHATS 0N HIS MIND THATS S0ME REAL SHYT..THATS WHY Y0U WERE SURPRISED WHEN JAY SAID “”N0B0DY IS SCARED 0F 50 CENT”" BCUZ JAY SPENDS M0ST 0F HIS TIME RUNNIN 4RM QUESTI0NS……..JAY D0NT GET THAT MUCH RESPECT IN THE STRRETS D0NT PLAY YALL SELVES MAYBE HE GETS RESPECT 4RM S0ME HIP H0P HEADS AND THE WH0LE MAINSTREAM BUT THAT NIGGA GETS THA SAME RESPECT IN THA STREETS 50 GETS……NAS IS THE 0NLY 0NE WH0 GETS RESPECT IN THA STREETS..I LIKED ALL OF 50 CENTS MATERIAL UNTIL CURTIS EVERYTHING ELSE WAS G00D,,ESPECIALLY THA M0VIE S0UNDTRACK WHICH AL0T 0F PE0PLE SEEM 2 LEAVE 0UT;;THAT WAS VINTAGE 50 LIKE IT 0R N0T….
fli-die October 21, 2009 at 5:27 pm
So why do you think they ALWAYS seem to ask 50 about Jay and NOT the other way around? And what is “respect in the streets” what does that mean exactly? Seriously, I’m talking respect as in going down as a legend. 50 sold more records and made more money than Nas. But DOES not get the same accolades or respect. We tend to think of him as a nigga that dropped ONE decent album. And the rest is his antics, soundbites & business moves.
Me October 21, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I don’t know where you live, but I live in NY and Fifty Cent gets plenty of respect here. The only reason why you think he doesn’t is because he crossed over immediately!! It took Jay a few albums to crossover, same as Nas…..and for the record everybody’s material suffered becasue of the crossover. When you are writing for the public you water your shit down. JayZ has done it and has admitted to it. When you sell as many resords as Get Rich sold your first go round, you have got to stay commercial, that’s why he continues to put out mix tapes! He’s serving two markets…how many rappers are doning that? ZERO!
London Calling October 22, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Agree.
London Calling October 22, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I meant to say I agree with fli-die.
weezy October 21, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Fif music may not have been his best as of late but you have to respect his hustle, what he has done and keeps it real.
Jay October 21, 2009 at 6:05 pm
that’s the truth. no matter that you haters say hes still in the top.. he may not be able to spit like jay and nas but he still on top with ‘em so.. plus he dropped two mixtapes already this year.. how many did nas drop? none.. i mean i love nas but hes been inactive while 50 getting that money
ughhhh October 21, 2009 at 5:14 pm
please someone get rid of 50 cents, don’t kill him just crush his vocal cords so we don’t have to hear this nonsense…
Jo Gerd Musana October 21, 2009 at 5:47 pm
mayb im wrong but i think fif is goin 4 d BIG PRIZE..he seems 2 b baitin Jay and 4 some reason Hova might fal 4 it
TH October 22, 2009 at 6:53 am
No kidding he’s going for the big prize, he has an album coming out soon
Me October 21, 2009 at 5:52 pm
People never like the person who is being real, folks love being lied to!
lo-zo October 21, 2009 at 6:05 pm
jay-z is soft he should just go knitt sweaters for his future kids with bey, poor old guy probably doesnt know how to respond to someone of 50’s caliber
Buffer October 21, 2009 at 6:17 pm
1. How do you know he’s never shot back or killed?
2.Did you even see 50fest, when he brought out rappers he had issues with in the past.
3.There’s been plenty of rappers that said something bout him and he’s never responded.
Get your shit together homie. He makes music about the environment he lived in so others from the slums can relate. Jam Master Jay saw that Fif was real, and his lyrics matched his actions at that particular time period. At one point, the man was a problem in the streets and that brings drama. And that’s fact. Jeezy don’t hustle no more but stills raps it cause his the environment relates. Unless you grew up during those times, early 80’s, when the crack was outta control and killings were at an all time high and had to watch your back everytime u step foward, then talk. Others wise your opinion and worth a penny. Respect Fif and others that found a way outta no way and did it being themselves, grimey or not.
Buffer October 21, 2009 at 6:18 pm
By the way The Massacre had real good songs on it, I supposed to die tonight , Baltimore love thing, Ski mask way etc. , Stop hating 50 cent, if you dont like him then gtfo
jackson October 21, 2009 at 6:44 pm
from them southside blocks to watts, westside don’t front, you know about them grapestreet gangstas, g’d up, rollin that weed up, nigga get outta line, get shot stabbed jacked, hit with a bat or beat up
devon October 21, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Fif is a bitter ass dude so jealous of Jay & Nas’s respect & success,he got shot didn’t shoot back all these rappers he has beef with never stepped to not 1 of them on some real shit,Lox disrespected the shit out of him why were they at the concert aren’t they his enemies?he so phony he lies just as much as Ross & all these rappers for that matter.
Willy October 21, 2009 at 9:16 pm
you get a HUGE Smh if you don’t like him why are you reading this?
jeremiah marquin October 21, 2009 at 8:44 pm
my nigga 50 is the hardest nigga in the game and goin be doing it real big with bisd!!!!
Willy October 21, 2009 at 9:15 pm
You Know What I Don’t Get? Why Is The people talking the the most shit about 50 cent on these websites and commenting about him so much? its like why are reading this? why are you on his website why are you listening to his music? Some people need to shut the fuck up and stop sucking him if you hate him so much stop reading his shit and looking at his videos and listening to his music go kill your slef
ea da boss October 21, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I like fif, dude is a real gangster, but one of you made a great comment about fif doin work with beth midler, that lady is on the same plateau as oprah of being safe. Fif is trying to bait jay, truthfully fif needs to get off jays nuts, if you notice in every fif interview they bring up jay its the media really trying to stir up controversy. Fif is full of bs, his funny ass knows that if he got an invitation to the inaugural ball or to do an interview with oprah he would, like who wouldn’t, what he really gonna be like I’m g’d up and don’t want oprah fans supporting me c’mon son fuck outta here wit dat shit. What is he gonna say, I don’t want politcal connects with the president of the us yeah the fcuk right, that nigga is just tryna sell controversy, I have to say he’s a real nigga when it comes to real shit but be real all the way homie.
Observer October 21, 2009 at 10:54 pm
I don’t respect the one who Got Shot”.
I respect the shooter.
____________________________________________________
50 is doing the Game Groupie move, trying to go from Taylor – > Kanye – > Jay-Z
He placed himself in this story, as part of his marketing plan.
Because 50 by himself is just boring.
He is trying to gain access to your attention by shadow boxing with Jay-Z because he has calculated that as long as he doesn’t get to carried away, that Jay will let is slide and he’ll get the publicity he so obviously desperately needs to make albums sales.
That’s a loser, move from one who get’s shot, it’s much harder to be the shooter.
If he ever grows up – unlikely though it may be, he’ll look back on this time as trying to sit in Jay-Z lap for some potential shine.
50, you won’t get invited to any presidential affairs, not because you’re a Nigga, but because your Gangsta look just won’t work this time… your lyrics or lack there of will have to do it.
You’re being interviewed by Complex.com and you this this is what dangerous… no they would love to be Oprah’s level or taking meetings with the president. They’re as safe as safe get’s Busta…
You just never got that call from Obama or Oprah… so bitch all you want jealous hater…
Oh and by the way I am sure that Jay-Z would rather be himself or Mr. Knowles as you so affectionately put it that you Mrs. Mathers…
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
CPT2QNZ October 22, 2009 at 12:28 am
is observer deadass if you dont like 50 then y did u bother to read the interview an then leave a long fucking comment. by leaving ur retarted rant u come off sounding like an idiot as redundant as that comment was as must reiterate ur retardation to u b/c well ur a retard . first off dnt lie YOU HAVE NEVER SHOT ANYONE, YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN SHOT so y r u commenting on that in the first place. second he doesnt need the record sales anymore his business makes enough money hes one of the richest ppl in the rap game.3rd ur not going to be invited to any presidential anything nor will u be making any appearances on any show. and if jay-z had been rapping like he used to neither would he. also he didnt say anything about being dangerous hes tlking about the way he and jay carry themselves now u fucking retard. Lastly u did not follow and record the events of 50’s life from birth till now evry1 kno he sold drugs u can go down to southside nd niggas will tell u. oh yea jay made the commenton the taylor swift incident first and they asked him to respond wat the fuk u want him to say then how would he go about answering that question without saying what he sed. so observer dnt post anymore b/c u dnt think so b4 u do so u sound like a RETAAARRRD
Stiglitz01 October 22, 2009 at 6:31 am
CP22QZ just exhibited that he is one of those lame ass niggaz.Retarded!!Its just music n opinion and Fity is this tough guy attitude dude whose considered opinion is that being friends wit the president is not cool.You jus lyk Fity I see.And don’t be talking crap ’bout Jay Z losing the touch,n thing is it don’t matter how u express it,Fity is real jelous nigga for not commanding the same influence n respect that Nas n Jay Z command.
TH October 22, 2009 at 6:55 am
perfect term, “shadow boxing”!!! You better copywrite that before i do.
Taylor Fan October 21, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Yeah, how did 50 try to insert himself in Taylor’s spot… Haha.. You’re so right he is Mrs. Curtis Mathers
50 the Groupie!
Scott Brent October 21, 2009 at 11:27 pm
50 Stays Stuck on Stupid!
The headline is about Jay-Z, that tells you the whole story. Chump
Why Can’t You, Get Hot Already!
dylan October 22, 2009 at 2:48 am
Curtis looking old in that photo.
Brian October 22, 2009 at 9:48 am
Love him or hate him, Fif’s articulately spoken and fucking funny at the same time. You could tell he’s culture behind the image…and that’s his advantage.
I wont be surprise if he could tell the difference btwn a Merlot and a Chianti in a decade or so – while you bored-as-hell fucks waste your time instigating like bitches;-)
Brian October 22, 2009 at 9:51 am
What a minute! I really mean to say: “Instigating, about people you don’t know personally, like little bitches”
Yeah, that was it;-)
Cashmere Thoughts October 22, 2009 at 10:56 am
50 is a smart ass nigga. everything this nigga duz in terms of this rap shit is calculated and strategized. I mean he straight up explains how he baits niggas in to the point where all ppl care about is the beef and not their music, and once 50 moves on, the public moves away from that artist. The same way he dismantled diplomats, he prolly got word that Jim and Cam werent on the best of terms and he emphasized on Jimmy bein the leader of dipset and offered him to come on stage. Cam the other day admitted 50 played a part in the split up. Anyhow, it makes no sense to hate on 50 cus he could careless. A nigga like 50 builds off of hate. that shit motivates him. as long as ppl are talkin about him, he knows he is still generating interest. Even if ppl say he aint the same or he and g-unit fell off, he will capitalize off it. So the nigga might not get as much respect like Nas or Jay-Z, but he is definately one of the smartest rappers…smarten up Nas!!! Nas need to live up to his legacy, cus right now he losin me. Where the fuck is the music Nas????
Smee October 22, 2009 at 11:36 am
>>>>>> Curtis stans
Brian October 22, 2009 at 11:47 am
Like I said:
Love him or hate him, Fif’s articulately spoken and fucking funny at the same time. You could tell he’s culture behind the image…and that’s his advantage.
I wont be surprise if he could tell the difference btwn a Merlot and a Chianti in a decade or so – while you bored-as-hell fucks waste your time instigating, about people you don’t know personally, like bitches;-)
Jeez!
Reply
mimi b. October 22, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I loved this interview. Complex usually does good interviews, though.
50 is very articulate, as one person pointed out. There’s skill in not only meaning what you say, but saying exactly what you mean. Commenting on Gucci’s cadence choices. Cadence– not a big word, but the perfect word to express why he’s viewed as “terrible”. Yet receives so much love. I do agree that it is his lyrical content having some truth behing it is amjor in his success as well. I also think that’s what helps Jeezy.
Moving on. 50 also said something like, if money doesn’t change you, you don’t have enough. (That’s not verbatum). To a degree, you should change as your monetary and social status elevates. You have you be a damn fool not to. However, “niggas don’t get inauguration tickets” was a true statement. Was it pot meeting kettle… maybe in a few years, yes. Currently, you can’t deny that Jay is more “safe” than 50— that’s not always a bad thing. I mean shit, can’t stay a “nigga” forever, right?
Anyway Complex, great read. But props to 50 because an interview is only as good as the interviewee allows it to be!
massdevotion October 29, 2009 at 11:26 am
i never got how niggas wanted to stay niggas, this dude 50 rants and raves about hov becoming safe while hes supposedly unfiltered and uncompromised, yet each one of his business moves are calculated everyone of his records is calibrated, the dudes not speaking his mind so much as he tells certain audiences what they want to hear. thus u still have dudes who ride his coat tails thinking its gonna be there time, when its in his best interests that he doesnt get outshined. so the dude shadowboxes with a titan, and gets mad hov has more talent& money and nas has more respect as an artist with less money. nigga cant stand being in the middle with a lot of bread when he doesnt have the originality to place higher. so he appeals to those who cant make moves by sayin hes still one of them but the niggas who get their shine for being about more than being a nigga get rocks thrown at em.
classic crabs in a barrel mentality. a nigga got his position strictly off of poise precision and audacity, that only gets u so far…
mimi b. October 22, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Damn my comment was cut… that sucks.
O well
Brian October 22, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Hi Mimi.
After both of our comments, no one else (i.e: taylor fan, ughhh and goody2supras) is gonna post anything ignorant after ours. what they’ll do is find a more “niggerish” site like SOHH and post their girlish comments, about celebrities they don’t know personally, there – Just watch; they’re that stupid!
By the way, you sound cute;-)
DramaKid October 22, 2009 at 5:49 pm
If anything is proven from the comments on this interview, it’s that fif still has you guys talking. Whether you hate em or love em, dude sparks conversation.
Durel October 28, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Sadly, whether we talk about him or not, it won’t help him sell records in this day.
mindrelated October 22, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Hold on. 50 was on Racheal Ray/Rae and on tv with Al Rooker. 50 is searchin for a way to seel records. He is not even in the same category as Jay. Lyrically Jay will crush him. Not to mention D0 music is the most unreal thing I hear. Your on th Forbes list your not killing no one. All the beef he has been in and no one is dead yet but yet he took 9 shots. Somebody lying.
Purplethumbs October 22, 2009 at 8:22 pm
See: Gangster Fitty Cent from SS Jamaica Queens, then Good Guy Curtis Jackson discussing stocks and the economic market on CNBC.
There’s two sides of the coin, 50 Cent
The above is great. I feel 50…sometimes, he talks about what Jigga does as far as playing both sides of the fence, say’s it cant be done & does the same thing??? I also feel that he had nothihg to do with Fat Joe only selling 8000 records the first week. Fat Joe had no marketing what so ever, on the West Coast we aint even know he had a album coming out. On some real shit people were checking for artist like Jigga, Rick Ross, Kanye West, but where I’m from I dont hear nobody talking about 50 or Em. He’s a alright cat in some aspects but in others he’s lame as fuck.
Brian October 23, 2009 at 9:57 am
Shut up, Purplethumbs!…or should it be Brownthumbs?
;-)
Being October 24, 2009 at 5:28 am
50 should be ashamed of himself, being jealous of Jay-Z position and respect. Seems like Taylor Swift is more of a man than he is.
Mrs. Mathers, hate this!
hiphopfan October 24, 2009 at 12:26 pm
YSafe….hmmm…its funny tht 50 considers himself a less safe artist or a risk taker. Frm an art perspective Jay has taken a helluva lot more risks than 50. JT has a hit record…50 collabs, Thicke. …hit single? 50 collabs. Since when did 50 use autotune? When everybody Else did! I’m not saying these are bad moves, they’re just not risky. Baltimore love thing is ill…was it a single? Jay dropped I know… same concept however he released and shot a video. DOA, run this twn,empire state of mind are not conventional singles especially w today’s synth pop sound everyone is on. This Guy has a single with beyond thy sounds like the flo-rida single/the game single/ the plies single…..why are we on bust it baby part 6 now? Anabaptist
hiphopfan October 24, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Safe….hmmm…its funny tht 50 considers himself a less safe artist or a risk taker. Frm an art perspective Jay has taken a helluva lot more risks than 50. JT has a hit record…50 collabs, Thicke. …hit single? 50 collabs. Since when did 50 use autotune? When everybody Else did! I’m not saying these are bad moves, they’re just not risky. Baltimore love thing is ill…was it a single? Jay dropped I know… same concept however he released and shot a video. DOA, run this twn,empire state of mind are not conventional singles especially w today’s synth pop sound everyone is on. This Guy has a siNgle with neyo thy sounds like the flo-rida single/the game single/ the plies single…..why are we on bust it baby part 6 now?
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Avtomat Kalash October 30, 2009 at 4:33 pm
2 sides, same coin. 6 million ways, choose 1, whatever. Its all in strategy. Watch this, Jay Z, BK, Marcy, supposed drug kingpin, career blows, becomes “safe”, goes to inauguration, captures the hearts of the majority. Jay sits back and plots, he throws nuclear subliminal jabs, and attacks by remaining “safe” to the powers that be. Jay has the connections to get your ass whiteballed. Then there’s 50 cents, SS jamaica queens, supposed tough guy, gets shot to pieces, starts beef with every other rapper, career blows up, makes excellent business decisions, chooses to dumb down “stay true to the street”, captures the hearts of the minority, those being those who glorify what we call “street cred”. 50 is not considered safe, and its not because he does not want it, its because he can’t. You can put lipstick on a pig, but its still a big, he doesn’t have the presence/look to be able to pull off “safe”. But, 50 is so smart and well read that he uses the strategy of attacking success(in jay z’s case), and to you more ingnorant assholes, you’ll run around attacking jay as being soft because of his success and connections. Both of these gentlemen are very crafty and will stay around for a long time, no doubt, but I can see right through their strategies.
winenroses November 6, 2009 at 2:44 am
Just for the record, Jay-Z was at the Inaugaration because of BEYONCE’. Not because he’s so damn talented, crafty, good business man and all that. But because his Wife was performing! Jay-Z was her Guest, which makes sense since they’re married. It wasn’t just b/c they wanted Rapper Jay-Z there. Rapper Jay-Z was in attendance with his WIFE, Singer Beyonce’. K?