My Favorite Interview Of All Time: 50 Cent
I’ve interviewed many rappers but the best, hands down, was 50 Cent. We spoke for the Village Voice in September, 2007, just days before the release of his third album, Curtis. He’d promised to quit music if Kanye’s new work Graduation — released on the same day — outsold his. It did, but although 50 didn’t actually stop recording, it effectively ended his music career anyway.
At this moment, however, he was still on top, and during our interview at G-Unit Clothing headquarters on 23rd Street in Manhattan, he threw bombs at rivals including Kanye, Fat Joe and Lil Wayne, and discussed his favorite Sopranos episode. 50 is basically an interviewer’s dream — candid, funny, controversial, constantly initiating beef. As you can see below, I felt free to ask him whatever random questions popped into my head, like if he supported Barack or Hillary.
What’s the question you’re most sick of hearing right now?
It’s impossible for them not to ask me a competition question, with Kanye West. But I don’t see him as my competition. We’re so different as artists. He doesn’t have my sales history. I feel like his company’s done a great job of promoting him by putting him out on the same date. Because we’re from the same [genre] to some people we’re just the same, period.
And you're expected to do better, so…
If he even comes close to me, it’s going to look great [for him]. And they’ll probably do everything within their powers to make that happen for him.
Do you think he’s trying to appeal to white kids?
Absolutely. With the record that he’s releasing, it’s [clear] that he doesn’t care about the same audience. We’ll see who it actually matters to create for…The difference is my not having to compromise myself in any way. Not everything that comes out of my mouth is something you would hear from a role model. I’m inspiring to different classes of people out there, who have similar experiences. My CD reflects the harsh realities.
But it's not your reality anymore, though.
Absolutely not. I'm in a whole other space, based on writing it the first time. On Get Rich Or Die Trying there was no real money references because I didn't have any money at that point. And now, I write “I Get Money” and “Straight To the Bank” because I'm in a new financial space. I was trying to match the impression that I created with Get Rich Or Die Trying….“I Get Money,” hands down, is the hottest record in the nightclubs.
What's your favorite song from the new album?
“Man Down.” It’s censored, though. Even on the dirty version.
Why is that?
I think that the [record] companies are sensitive to the nonsense that goes on in the media.
Russell Simmons’ call for censorship?
Yeah, totally that. While that’s there, they want to avoid any possibilities of CDs being pulled off the shelves, with record sales the way they are. They wouldn't want to risk that with my project.
Do you disagree with Russell Simmons?
He aspires to pursue politics. I just think he was being politically correct. He said, “The rappers should censor themselves.” It’s the middle [ground].
Do you think he'll run for governor?
One of these days you’ll see him running. I’ma vote for him, too.
What's your favorite city, besides New York?
Detroit. The whole energy level–they embraced me immediately. I popped out in a few cities on the Screamfest tour. Virginia, Houston, St. Louis, Massachusetts, New York and Atlanta. Each of those states was great, but for me, prior to that, during Get Rich Or Die Trying, Detroit was a big city for me. I don’t know if it’s my direct association and attachment to Eminem, but it showed me a lot of love.
Take me through a typical day in your life. At your house in Connecticut, what time do you get up in the morning? What do you have for breakfast?
You know what’s crazy? I had a personal nutritionist and trainer come stay with me. I’d be up about 7 o’clock, and I’d be working out. It allows you to have your thoughts fluent in your head. But I haven’t been using him [recently]. I was preparing myself for a film project, with myself and Nicholas Cage [The Dance, a film based on the life of prison boxing coach Billy Roth], but it’s actually further away than I anticipated. I got another project I’m working on now, for which it didn’t make sense for me to be [chiseled]. It’s called Righteous Kill, and it’s myself, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Donnie Wahlberg, John Leguizamo. I’ll be shooting in October. I don’t need to be as big for that film, so I kind of chilled out.
Do you have a cook at your house?
Yeah. They prepare the food specifically the way the nutritionist tells ’em….The money you pay them is a good motivation. You say, “I’m paying these people, I’m going to do everything they tell me, to get the best out of it.”
What do you eat for breakfast?
Egg whites. A lot of asparagus–it takes the water out of you. Later, I have three different supplements throughout the day. Protein shakes. So, I really eat six times.
How many bottles of Vitamin Water do you drink every day?
It depends. I’ve been on water. That’s why you see so much SmartWater in here. And then I use Vitamin Water as a supplement to soda.
Do you think you're the most famous person in the world right now?
Not the most famous person in the world. Who would be the most famous person?
Maybe George Bush. But maybe you more than George Bush.
Yeah, amongst certain people.
Like, if you ask a little kid, maybe in sub-Saharan Africa who George Bush was, they might not know, but they might know who you are.
They might know.
Some people in the office start talking. 50 yells out “Excuse me!” and they go immediately silent. I laugh.
Em is more famous than me.
Really?
He sells more records. But there might be more places [where] they'll recognize me. Because I've done more traveling. I've toured way more places than him. I just got back from Cyprus and Estonia. The only American artist they'd seen before was Michael Jackson.
For Em, the touring just ain’t for him. He'll get back to it. I'm at the stage he was during the Marshall Mathers LP. He's just at a different place in his career.
What is “Ayo Technology” about, exactly?
It's about not wanting the technology to bring it to you and wanting her physically right in front of you. And that applies to so many things, doesn't it? You know, you’d rather see entertainers in the flesh. That's what they want when we touring internationally. Well, we made it a little sexier than that. [Laughs.]
Lots of guys out there are addicted to pornography, and they never meet a real girl.
That, and the guy that's just in the hotel on a business trip. Instead of being with someone outside of his wife, he's being with his hand. You got on-demand television in the hotel, and he's doing what he got to do.
If you got married, would you sign a prenup?
Absolutely. It wouldn't make sense [not to], even if she had more money than me, because I see myself going so much further in the future. 53% of the people who get married get divorced. Those are the facts.
What do you think about celebrities dating other celebrities?
I think they be in a hurry. A lot of times, they should spend more time without people knowing that they date, because when they know that you're dating, they make you a couple. It’s hard on a couple immediately.
You've been complaining a lot about your label Interscope recently. Have you ever thought of doing what Fat Joe is doing and just go independent?
No, because they're willing to pay me. See, Fat Joe is in a place where no one wants him. [I laugh.] Being honest. The majors just don't care for Fat Joe. Like, he's not generating any interest through the music he's releasing. That's why he's forced to go on his own to try and sell his record. I called Koch Records “the graveyard,” because that's for when the majors no longer feel like you’re a safe investment.
But you probably didn't tell KRS that.
KRS-One? He’s a different case, man. Look how long he's been around, you know? Hip-hop music is driven towards the youth, and that's why we take such a hit based on technology, because they're not conditioned to go purchase a CD. They’re like, how can I get it? They're anxious. They get it the best way they know how
If I complained about my boss in public, I would get fired.
It’s hard to replace me. [Laughs.]
Is it part of your strategy to complain about them publicly to try to get a bargaining chip?
I'm not gonna say that.
You're not gonna say that on the record?
[Laughs] They get nervous when I say this, though. They know it's not easy to replace me.
How many more albums are you signed on for?
One more, after Curtis. And then the Greatest Hits album. Then I’m complete.
If you could meet one person, alive or dead, who would you want to meet and why?
Alive or dead? Wow, that's a great question. Alive or dead. [Long pause.] That’s such a good question. [Ed. note: Not that good.] There were just so many people that had significant lives, that you would probably get something great out of a conversation with them. But alive, I guess, I still haven't met Michael Jackson.
It seems like everyone who gets super, super famous, like on a Michael Jackson or Prince level, always goes a little bit crazy.
[Laughs]
Are you worried that something like that could happen to you?
I don't think so. I don't think I'll go crazy. But then again, crazy people don't think they're crazy. Prince and Michael Jackson, they think that's the norm. Just spending that many years in that position, it's difficult searching for normalcy in an abnormal situation.
I noticed you were watching The Sopranos in your office. What's your favorite Sopranos plotline or character?
The last episode. I hated it, but I liked it because it was entertaining. And then they just shut it off to get you to buy the next thing. So you’d have to go see the movie. It was great because I enjoyed it up until the point that it just shut off and I was like, “Wait, what's going on? There’s something the matter with my TV!” That's great marketing.
Were there any particular characters you liked?
Vinny. [Vito Spatafore.] I was just, “Wow.”
You call people gay sometimes, like Lil Wayne and Baby…
It’s the competitive nature of hip hop. Hip hop doesn’t have anything against gay people. It’s just that some people associate being gay with being soft. See what I’m saying? [Pauses.] But, yeah, I think it’s odd for a man to kiss another man on his mouth, even though it isn’t his biological father. [Even] for the father/son relationship, I think that’s a bit much. If it was my son, I would kiss him on the cheek. He’s a grown man! [Laughs.] Does your father still kiss you on the mouth?
I don’t think he ever did. So, do you have any close friends who are gay?
No. Not that I know of. [Laughs.]
What if, like, a top-of-the-charts caliber rapper came out as gay. What do you think would happen to him?
It depends on what kind of music he was making. Kanye West could come out and people would be like “You didn’t notice how he dressed?” Not to disrespect Kanye – because Kanye says he’s not like that.
Do you have your own jet?
Nah. On this promo tour, I’ve been flying commercial. When I don’t want people in my face, I go private. [Getting your own] plane is a bit much. You’ve got to pay maintenance, pilot fees. If I bought a plane, I wouldn’t do nothing but fly on it. That would make better sense than buying a boat, though. A boat is like just putting your money in a hole in the water.
That's what they said on the Sopranos. Anybody you’re romantically involved with right now?
No, I’m just chillin’. I’m single, man. I like my lifestyle. Nobody’s disappointed, nobody has no false hopes.
You once said something about how George Bush was gangsta. Do you still think that?
I don’t support him, but I think George Bush is concerned with maintaining order. That’s the way gangsters move. So, there are similarities. That’s why I said that initially. [Pauses.] Kanye says, “Bush don’t like black people.” [Laughs uproariously.] Whether that’s factual or not, I don’t think it matters much to make that statement. It doesn’t change what’s actually going on. I don’t bother to say things I know don’t affect anything.
Who do you like in ’08?
I support Hillary.
Not Barack?
Why, ’cause he’s black? [Laughs.] Nah, I like Hillary. I like the fact that she didn’t leave Bill, under those circumstances. I like a lot about her. She’s been around, too. I think she was the [real] president when Bill was.