Finebeats

50 Cent has made it clear recently that he’s not happy with the speed and support of Interscope. Although nothing is certain as yet, 50 has hinted on many occasions that his time with the label may be drawing to a close. 

With only one album left before his obligation to Interscope expires will he say enough is enough and go his own way? 

During a recent interview with MTV News, he was asked whether he would stay with Interscope once the deal was up:

"I don't know, it will all be clear in the negotiations following me turning this actual album in. And, of course, the performance and how they actually treat the work will determine whether you still want to stay in that position or not…It's not like you're gonna be able to make a project bigger than the actual project is, but if the songs are right and you have full support and you feel that support, why would you want to go anywhere else? If not, if you don't have that support, why would you want to sign to another system? In the financial state that I'm in, you just do it yourself."

At the weekend, 50 got on Twitter and vented his annoyance at the repeated hold up on his new album release:

"My headphones and my album coming in NOV RT @EasierToSee: @50cent first the sleeks! now the album being pushed back!! What's next?,"

"Me and EM are going to record for my album soon."

Then, a few days back, he expressed his frustration over the way the album was being handled:

"Ok I tried to be cool with my record company . I went to the meeting talk to everyone and sh*t feels like there moving in slow motion,"

"I'm sorry to announce I will not be releasing a new album this year if we don't get on the same page."

So is this the end of the 50/Interscope partnership? Only time will tell. Either way, it is becoming obvious that the new album could make or break their future together.

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50 Cent looks set to appear on the next single from Dr. Dre’s Long Awaited ‘Detox’ Album

50 Cent has been in the lab with Dr. Dre recently, working on a new single for the ‘Detox’ album.

The collaboration was sparked after 50 posted a comment on twitter regarding his disagreements with Interscope Records and its president Jimmy Iovine. It read:

“I’m sorry to announce I will not be releasing a new album this year if we don’t get on the same page.”

Later that day he tweeted again saying:

“Ok f*ck it I’m putting the first song off my new album out tonight.”

A few hours later the single ‘Outlaw’ was released.

Check it out here

Shortly after the comments from 50 and the release of the new track, the artists and management met up to discuss where to go from here. This conversation ended up with 50 cent having to go and speak to Dre and it appears the two decided to write and record the next single for Dre’s album, ‘Detox’.

There is no release date for the single titled ‘Psycho’ as of yet and, knowing the relentless dragging out of the album release date it could be quite a while before we actually hear anything… If ever!

50 has also said that his album and headphones should be available from November 2011.

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Soulja Boy has revealed that poor communication with Interscope was solely to blame for his bad record sale figures and also claimed that had it not been for 50 Cent he would have ended his rap career.

Speaking with Complex Soulja Boy discussed the poor response to his third studio album ’The Deandre way’ and how having a poor relationship with Interscope directly resulted in poor sales figures for the album. Soulja Boy states  that he criticised the release date of the album as he wanted to release it in the July of 2010, it actually dropped in November, leaving too much time between the release of  his most successful single ”Pretty Boy Swag” and the actual album
“Honestly, I shut down for a week after my album dropped,” He explained to Complex. “I wasn’t talking to nobody, I wasn’t talking to management, and I wasn’t talking to the label. I wasn’t picking up nobody’s calls. I went like that for a week. I was in a state of confusion. I needed answers…the label only shipped like 18,000 copies [of the album]. So I wasn’t able to do gold first week or even 100k, none of that. They only put like 8,000 units in Best Buy. It was crazy.”

He stated that at the time he felt helpless because communication between himself and Interscope was of a poor standard, and that he felt the label just wasn’t listening to him. Soulja Boy claims that issues with producer  Mr Collipark, left him stranded in the business environment attached to the music industry, and that without Mr Collipark to help him negotiate with record executives he had no power to move in the directions he wanted to.

“When I first started it was Soulja Boy and Collipark. But after my label Stacks On Deck Money Gang Records was established and I started making all these different moves, I started to become a businessman. My label was taking off and I guess I was putting more time and energy into that, then to Collipark. He wasn’t feeling that and it just went left. He wanted me to be all for Collipark. So during the third album, I didn’t have him there to be able to tell the label to ship 500,000 the first week, or put the single on the radio, or we need this song. So I was basically out there by myself, just hoping the label will do the best they can.”

Soulja Boy went on to explain how he has 50 Cent to thank for keeping him in the business after he was ready to quit rapping.

“50 was like, ‘You’ve got to keep doing what you’re doing. You’re Soulja Boy, you’re here for a reason. Everybody’s not going platinum. Everybody didn’t do what you did. Everybody didn’t come in on the Internet. You’re the one that started the Internet. You’re the one that got me on the Internet. You’re the one that got us on blogs, on YouTube, and on Twitter.’ I was like, ‘Man, you know what? You’re right.’ He wasn’t doing nothing but speaking true knowledge to my head and it got me right back in the studio. So I ain’t going to never quit. I’m going to stay in this music industry. I’m going to stay making hits, and I’m going to do what I’ve got to do, and I thank 50. I really needed that at that time.”

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After leaving the security of the Interscope affiliation and choosing to pen a new deal with EMI, G-Unit have branched out into international territory after agreeing an international distribution deal with independent label  PIAS Group.

A statement from Nikki Martin, Vice President, G-Unit Records & Entertainment stated “Last year we took the decision to restructure the label and begin to carve out it’s own world-wide distribution, marketing and promotions strategy, After signing with EMI for North America we looked at who could help develop the brand in other key territories and we decided to partner with PIAS who shared our vision and passion for the music.”

It is reported that 50 Cent is set to open a new office in the UK for marketing and distribution, while DJ Dan Greenpeace is to hold the fort for G-Unit Records overseas.

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After the tragic events of the recent earthquakes in  Japan, the massive tremors set off a series of smaller Tsunami’s in other linked locations, such as Hawaii and California. Even though these Tsunami’s were considerably smaller then the devastating events in Japan, many people have reacted angrily to 50 Cents light hearted attitude to such events through his tweeting.

50 Cent was quoted as posting the following comments on Twitter :

“Its all good Till b*tches see there christian louboutins floating down da street s**tgone get crazy.,”

“Wave will hit 8am them crazy white boys gonna try to go surfing.”

“Some of my tweets are ignorant I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. I’m cool either way 50cent”

So far there has been no further reaction reported from 50 Cent ………. which is probably a good thing !

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Hip Hop titans Jay -z and Diddy are in a 2 horse race for the title of Hip Hop’s wealthiest with their nearest competitor one Dr Dre sitting over $300 Million behind the pair, as Forbes released their results .

Although to some $25 Million would be a massive fortune, to Jay-z  it is the minor sum of which causes him the irritation of sitting in second place to Diddy, with the pair storming the Forbes Hip Hop Wealthiest Artists list with Diddy reportedly sitting on a fortune of around $475 Million and Jay-z sitting hot on his heels with $450 Million, with veteran Dr Dre tailing behind with an estimated fortune of around $125 Million.

Diddys’ fortune has been mainly accredited to his successful clothing line and Bad Boy Worldwide record label although his biggest profit is said to come from his Ciroc Vodka deal.

Jays’ wealth has been mainly attributed to his Roc Nation label, fashion ventures and advertising.

It is reported that just 2 years ago Forbes determined Jay-Z’s overall wealth at around $160 Million. A reported statement of how Forbes determine their results reads - ”In order to form the list, we followed the same procedures we use to calculate the list of the world’s billionaires (released today) — valuing current holdings, looking at past earnings, leafing through financial documents and talking to a bevy of analysts, attorneys, managers and other industry players to find the nitty-gritty details. We considered only performers, which is why Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons isn’t on this list”.

Dre might have only managed to sly his way into third spot with a mere $125 million but we think it’s hard to put a price tag on a legend of this magnitude as he has done more for the expansion of modern Hip Hop than most anyone else on the planet. The discovery of Eminem and his resolve in the decision to expose him alone speak volumes.

The top five is finished of with a joint positioning of rapper and entrepreneur 50 cent and Cash Money Co-Founder Birdman with a $100 million fortune.

If you’d like to check out the full list and see exactly how it was put together then check out the link below:

http://blogs.forbes.com/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/03/09/the-forbes-five-hip-hop-wealthiest-artists/

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American rap superstar 50 cent has announced he will make a charitable donation to UNICEF after appearing at an event linked to the clan of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.

A representative of 50 Cent stated ”In light of the on-going events in Libya, 50 Cent will be making a donation to Unicef, which is providing vital relief supplies to meet the needs of women and children at risk during this crisis,”

50 Cent performed at a private event during the 2005 Venice Film Festival of which later discovered to be linked to the Gaddafi clan. Gaddafi is currently facing  an investigation for possible war crimes.

50 Cent is the latest in a string of music stars as last week, Beyonce, Usher, Mariah Carey and Nelly Furtado announced donations to charity in the wake of their participation in private concerts connected to the Gaddafis.

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Prodigy Released From Prison

The rumours have been confirmed! Mobb Deep’s Prodigy was released from prison yesterday (7th March 2011) after serving a three year sentence for weapons charges. The news was quickly picked up after he posted a photo on Twitter shortly after his release. (http://twitter.com/PRODIGYMOBBDEEP)

 
Prodigy has wasted no time and is reported to have made his way straight to the studio to link up with the other half of Mobb Deep; Havoc and the one and only Alchemist. A collaboration project is underway and excitement is growing for the reunion of Mobb Deep.

 
Although no longer signed to G-Unit records, 50 Cent was one of the first to give a shout out to Prodigy and he had the release photo watermarked with the ThisIs50 logo, signalling all is good between the two.

 
We will be following this story closely and updates are sure to follow. Bring on the old school classics!

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