Young_tchesco

There's no question that 50 Cent is more than an artist. He is something like a phenomenon. The Queens-bred rapper has sold more records worldwide than your average MC. Not to mention, he's done quite well with film, Vitamin Water, sneakers, and pretty much everything else that he attaches the G-Unit brand to. His latest venture is in the publishing world. 50 recently launched three titles on his newly formed G-Unit book imprint; The Ski Mask Way which he co-wrote with K. Elliott, Baby Brother with Noire, and Death Before Dishonor with Nikki Turner.


With two more books on the way and a new album coming out before the summer, 50 Cent is trying to get it all done before his clock runs out. To put it simply, he thinks his time is up. Read on...

BET.com: Let’s start with the books, and G-Unit Book imprint. Why did you decide to get into the publishing game?

50 Cent: I was approached by Jimmy [Iovine] about creating a film of my life story. I said I would explore the opportunity of creating a book. I actually had both of them come at the same time. So while Terry Winters was on tour with me compiling information to create the screenplay, Kris Ex was with me compiling information to create the book....I become a bigger reader as my travel schedule began to become so active, the magazines don’t make it all the way through the trip. You flip through, read the parts that are interesting, [but] then you just don’t go through the whole thing. So I started reading different novels and came across [Nikki Turner's] Hustler’s Wife and The Glamorous Life. They’re just books people gave and said, 'Hey, read this when you get on a flight.' I reached out after I completed [my book] From Pieces to Weight [which] made it to the top 10 publishing companies...So now I have an interest in publishing.


The cover says that you co-wrote these books with the authors. Who came up with the actual stories?

We actually sat together and went back and forth until we created the whole concept, and then I let them go creatively. I didn’t want to be so involved with the creative process that I’m changing lines, or I’m sitting there going, 'No, No, No, this should happen.' And I’m leading them into a direction where they don’t know where they are, and it makes it difficult to complete the process. [So] we sat down with each one of them. I read books that are written in my language....I don’t read the Bible enough because it says 'thou' and 'art' and 'thee.' I need the Bible that has the direct terms for me to actually absorb the information.

Are any of these stories based on any of your life, or on people that you know?

No, we took [from] different sources to actually create the story line.

And you're actually working on another book based on your life. Is that true?

Well, it’s like a table, so it has like all photographs from when I was a kid all the way [up] until now. It has different things in it like concerts and specific events that marked my idle thoughts at that point. Things were written around the actual photographs. And [readers] should look forward to 50 Laws of Power. I’m sure they’re familiar with Robert Greene, the author of 48 Laws of Power. He’s a great writer, so I collaborated with him and created this project.


The 48 Laws of Power has gotten a lot of criticism along with its praise. Some people say it's evil.

You know what it is, people internalize things differently. See, the people who were saying that that book is evil, will just read the law, because it says things directly. 'When you destroy, destroy completely.' If you don’t actually read the book...but when you actually read the comparisons and the stories--and he did the research to actually put to the actual law--it’s not that negative...Someone may take it and literally. These were some of the issues we ran into when we started 50 Laws of Power.

You recently shot a movie with Samuel L. Jackson which was pretty ironic because there was some bad blood between the two of you, no?

That happened during the release of Get Rich or Die Trying. I understand it now, because I got a little more insight on what happens in Hollywood. You have people who have studied acting for as long as they can remember, and they see people receive opportunities because [of] music, [such as] the opportunity to work with Jim Sheridan, when Samuel Jackson really wants to work with Jim Sheridan. I think it was more of a business statement. He’s saying 'I wouldn’t do a movie with a rapper' based on other rappers that he’s heard things about. He might have heard what DMX’s behavior on the set is, or someone else’s behavior. I can only say this now, because I would have said, 'what part was he going to play in the film, my Grandfather?' or 'was he going to be a crackhead in the film?' I would say things like that early on because I’m not understanding. If you don’t want to do it, then don’t do it. But they have their own little issues with people receiving those opportunities, because they feel like they aren’t credible. You've seen people come from the music format and establish themselves as great actors. We got Will Smith with the Pursuit of Happyness out right now. Queen Latifah established herself, LL, Ice Cube.

When is your new album coming out?

My new album should be out in the second quarter. I’m finishing it up now. Before I Self-Destruct.

What's the meaning behind that title?

It’s the history of entertainment. They build entertainers in order to destroy them for the sake of entertainment. I believe the process of me being destroyed is coming.


How long have you been in the business now?

4 years.

That's a pretty short life span for a Hip-Hop artist.

Yeah, but it’s a shorter life span because of how much success [I've had]. People don’t dislike you until you start doing good.

So when you first came out, you think everyone was just riding for the underdog?

Yeah, and I have been enduring a lot more than they actually understand. Like in 'Piggy Bank,' when I write, that’s just about artists. That’s about rappers that express discomfort with the success that I am having, because they can’t see themselves having a record that sells over 12 million in their career. LL right now is working on album thirteen. I am executive producing his new album. I’ve done what LL’s music career [did] on my first record.

Do you think that bothers LL?

Not at all. LL is the kind of person that is smart enough to see it and go, 'maybe you have something or information to offer me that allows me to take what I am doing to the next level.’ There is no one who’s shown more discipline in the music business than LL. Considering that the theme of his career was ‘Ladies Love Cool James,’ he has managed to keep himself at a point or position, where it’s still interesting for a woman to look at LL Cool J.

LL has spoken out against Jay-Z, before made the announcement that he was working with G-Unit. There were rumors that maybe there was a diss song in the works. What does 50 have to say about that?

LL, he is not in that space.

But are you in that space? Would you?

I would write a record if I felt, if I had feelings, I would just let everyone know how I feel, 'cause I'm direct. LL said ‘Jay-Z did a good job at marketing himself.’ For example, Jay-Z’s marketing plan was probably $20 million dollars. Nas’s was probably $2 million. You see what I am saying, so he did do a better job at promoting himself than anyone else on the record label, and it's obvious. It's plain as day. You saw the marketing campaign. It’s the best marketing campaign I have ever seen. You have to tip your hat to him in business. It says that he's on another level business-wise. He has changed my business mode. Believe me, there will be 20 million dollars spent on my next album.

.::Renegade::.

Props, cant wait for 50's new album, shit will be fire

AUTHENTICakaATT

propzzzzzzzzzz

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~laydee-tease~

propzzz soundz gud

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gunitwest725

thats what i thought he was thinking when he named it that

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NEWSKULL

Thanks..... Damn 50!!! That's too soon ... I guess Whoo Kid and Buck were right It's really his last album... Well have fun with it then make us proud before you leave... But he is frontin 20 Million$ in Marketing I don't think he can pull that off..That's like 20% of his net worth lol... Jay-Z is on another level... Anyway we will see what will happen... The fuck they mean 2nd quarter I thought 50 said late march

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DAVID BROWN CLOTHING

Slim Shady

nice, hadnt read it

unitymama

Well I love 50 and I don't give a shit what other people think.Money or no money hes still the shit!!!...Hes still SPECIAL!!!...

MS DIOR

i hope this is not his last album,last month on the carson daily show he said he wasn't retiring.

Hakaroodi

see 50 jus sayin' this for publicity mayne.. are y'all forgettin' how 50 works.. nigga about the money... buildin' hype.. GET UM FIF...!!

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NEWSKULL

I don't think he is lying this time... I think He is tired of the rap game, He just wanna be a full time business man and let that rap shit to his artists (Young Buck being the leader) ... but I think he is going to leave the same way he came and that's ON TOP I am sure he'll do waaay better than "encore" ... Man I am tired to wait... I want that Buck and 50 album NOOOOW!!!

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DAVID BROWN CLOTHING

gunitwest725

shit i hope this aint his last album

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ldr162001

propzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


hurry up and get yours

Mr.Smith

What better way to go out. He is on top so he should go out on top. I think that some of his mixtape material could've made go tracks for an actual album.

LostAngel

A couple of weeks ago he said it wont be his last album and that the album title doesnt stand for it.

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skunkie

He has changed my business mode. Believe me, there will be 20 million dollars spent on my next album.

haha.. thats whastup

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"We aint the ones to flex on
We always got the sket on
Step on, or get 3 to yo head like Stephon"
Lloyd Banks

NEWSKULL

...hmm I don't know about that...

What's the meaning behind that title?

It’s the history of entertainment. They build entertainers in order to destroy them for the sake of entertainment. I believe the process of me being destroyed is coming.

I think it is the last album he'll do with Shady/Aftermath ... After that he might do an album like every 5 years like Dr Dre

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DAVID BROWN CLOTHING

LostAngel

I think he said he wants to have the people guessing about the title. But he said he isnt retiring. Well, the first time he mentioned about artists being destroyed was a while ago on some TV Interview. Back then I thought his next album might be the last. But after he said he isnt retiring I changed my mind.Maybe he wants his album to sell more with that album and talking about that stuff.

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Ieshia86

Props Cant Wait For His Album

abualwaleed20

big props

david brown

50 sed in a newer interview that it won´t be his last album.. this is old...
can´t wait till 50 drops his album

unitymama

When 50 goes I hope he goes out with a bang.But for me I hope he never goes out!!!...