In a recent interview with Gotham Magazine, Jay-Z gave some personal insight on how he felt about himself, the role his hometown plays in his music, and how fame can change a person. He revealed that his tendency to be blunt and somewhat inappropriate with his words are not done in malice, but as a way to be helpful.
“I don’t dislike anything about myself,” he said. “I know this sounds a little arrogant but I really accept what God has given me. I’ve got a short temper but I work on controlling it. I can say inappropriate things because I believe them to be true and sometimes that can be hurtful to others. But I think in the long run it is more helpful.”
He also said that the Blueprint 3‘s focus on New York City was not done on purpose, rather, it was a subconcious manifestation of his love for the city.
“I listen to ‘A Star is Born’ and ‘Thank You’ and hear New York City in every hook. I guess I was just really centered with my birthplace while I was making the record because it wasn’t a conscious thing at all. New York is alive, real people, it never shuts down, the honesty of it, the variety of it. It makes you look forward to every single season. When it gets too hot, you look forward to fall. When it’s fall, you look forward to seeing the snow. It’s just the most beautiful place in the world to me.”
He expressed that it’s important for family and friends to take a precedence over fame, because of the latter’s potentially damaging qualities.
“You have to be close with your foundation and the people who know you best because they’ve known you for so long that they can see the changes in you,’ he continues. “Fame is such a deadly drug that you can’t see the changes because you are so consumed by it. You need a close-knit group of friends and family to make sure you stay grounded.”
In other news, 50 Cent told the New York Daily News that he may choose to show his softer side in a future romantic comedy film.
“It would be interesting for people to see that side of me,” he said. “It would be a challenge, but I’ve seen artists like Ice Cube transition and challenge themselves.” Fif‘s starring in a rom-com will be quite the contrast to the tough image he more commonly displays. “It’s easier if a woman accepts you as a manly man,” he said, “but a softer moment works, too, because then she’ll suddenly see you as a romantic.”
50 doesn’t seem to be afraid to show his softer side nowadays. He recently released a video in which he plays a family man to Kelly Rowland and three children, and also teamed up with Bette Midler to finally launch the “Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson Community Garden” in Queens.
“I called and nagged him,” said Midler, who has grown close to 50 through the creation of this project. “His G-Unity Foundation gives a million dollars away every year in grants to non profits all over the city…They’re just brilliant.” The garden will be used as a natural classroom to teach neighborhood children how food grows.
“I wish I had this to come to when I was growing up around here,” 50 said. “The opportunity to create this garden for the youth and the community is a great one.” Midler and 50 said that they will definitely work together again in the future.
