50 Cent has managed to outlast most of his New York peers. The rapper, mogul, and Instagram troll has been around long enough that he's seen the retirement of people who came up several waves after him. Fif was asked about Nicki Minaj's decision to bow out of the rap game at Los Angeles' Real 92.3 and he turned off his pettiness to show respect for her.
He seemed genuinely sympathetic when he boiled down Nicki's unenviable position. 50 said that Nicki was going through a cycle that comes for all artists who reach a certain level of success. He noted fans will be excited that you made it but that excitement will eventually turn to impatience once the next generation is ready to break out. Fif explained that some people handle another generation by getting defensive while others embrace them and give a little ground so that the next crop of artists can breathe.
"All artists that establish themselves and have consistency, they start to feel a resistance at some point," he said. "And that backlash is coming from the artist community. We want to see you make it...but if you don't move how am I gonna have my chance to make it?"
He implied that Nicki took the defensive position, especially given the history of rap and the way it pits top-tier MCs against each other.
It's not the first time 50 has spoke on Nicki's retirement. "Both these n***as crazy, but you know you gotta love it SOUTH SIDE," 50 said in a tweet that featured a pic of Nicki and Kenneth Petty. "I don’t want Nicki Minaj to retire just take a break."
Both these niggas crazy, but you know you gotta love it SOUTH SIDE. I don’t want @NICKIMINAJ to retire just take a break. #lecheminduroi #bransoncognac pic.twitter.com/gQpmhzoP5o
In the October issue of Elle, Nicki talked about her upcoming album. Of course, as previously mentioned, Nicki also announced her retirement. Considering that the interview was probably conducted prior to the announcement it's unclear if the project will ever see the light of day. "It's probably the most excited I’ve been about an album release in a really long time," Nicki said. "This one incorporates all the things people love about Nicki, but it also just has a way bigger sound..."
Take a look at the whole interview up top to hear 50 speak on Power cameos, breaking his anti-drug stance while hanging out with Snoop Dogg and plenty else.
