There was a moment in time where 50 Cent served as rap’s greatest anti-hero. By now, we’ve all probably heard his story almost a million times. Getting introduced to the late Jam Master Jay, the legendary mixtape game, releasing “How To Rob,” getting shot nine times, destroying Ja Rule’s career and eventually letting Get Rich Or Die Tryin‘ loose into the world; everything couldn’t feel more mythological. Fiddy’s Interscope/Aftermath/Shady debut dropped during the second half of my sophomore year in high school. Let’s be completely honest here, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ completely dominated 2003. That even meant also eclipsing arguably better albums released later into the year including The Black Album and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below if the Grammy award winning Outkast project didn’t count as two separate discs. Two singles from Curtis Jackson were unstoppable that year, “In Da Club” and “21 Questions.” As the dust settled from Jay vs Nas, Jamaica Queen’s own emerged as the last great king of New York. And yes, he ruled with an iron fist. Add that multimillion dollar Vitamin Water deal, cultivation of G-Unit, films and video games, the brand of 50 Cent seemed untouchable. Then several small yet significant holes started to sink the once invincible ship.
For the past several months, it’s been pretty entertaining watching how far The Game has come since dropping his debut, The Documentary, ten years ago. That year, 50 also dropped his sophomore effort The Massacre which moved 1.14 million during the first week. Today, Game has continued to remain musically relevant thanks to dropping The Documentary 2 last week. Though the two have been in a cold war since the G-Unot campaign nearly a decade ago, there was never a clear winner let history tell it. However, The Game simply surviving may have been more a symbolic loss. Meanwhile, Fiddy is dealing with bankruptcy, subpar musical output and seemingly successful crime drama on Starz through Power. Adding further insult to injury, Rick Ross made this comment during a recent interview with Angie Martinez:
“He did it for fun? You think Jay Z would have filed bankruptcy? You think Puff Daddy would have filed bankruptcy to not pay somebody? Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and now you bankrupt. You could come back here tomorrow and explain it and say ‘I’m doing this, I’m doing that.’ Stop! There’s holes in your roof, fam. Keep it real.”
Like Features Editor Andre Grant wrote so eloquently in an editorial some time ago, “50 Cent has lost his battle with Rick Ross. It’s over. Now we can all go home.” Regardless of how funny Pimpin Curly’s audio commentary for the Lastonia Leviston sex tape was, that legal exercise in revenge porn wasn’t too wise in the long run. That’s not the only loss he’s taken this year alone. Having an unnecessary feud with Lee Daniels’ Fox hit Empire didn’t help raise the profile of Power regardless of how good the show is on its own merit. Sure, the ratings for Empire have fallen since the second season premiere last month. But, they’re still significantly higher than Power which caters to a smaller market.
Continuing the failure of SMS Audio, which even 50 himself admits probably cost him his relationship with Eminem and Dr. Dre’s mega powerful Beats brand, the Effin vs. Ciroc is flat out ridiculous at the moment. The world will truly never understand the roots of Fiddy and Diddy’s year long beef as both have yet to seriously discuss the matter. Most of the barbs between the two have stayed rather comedic. Despite 50’s fairly aggressive marketing campaign for Effen Vodka, it’s yet put a dent in Ciroc’s market share. When The Wall Street Journal reported his assets and debts being in the range of $10 to $50 million, it begged only one question: What happened to that highly touted luxury underwear deal in the $78 million range?
The answer for that is currently unknown. Right now, the once impenetrable fortress is falling apart piece by piece. When 50 purchased the former home of Mike Tyson in 2003, it was a transition from one former champ who battled overwhelming odds to another. Now, he’s had a hard time selling the property at a profit. Complex Chief Content Officer called 50’s historic 2007 sells loss to Kanye West the moment gangster rap died in early September. There wasn’t better proof than his last major label album Before I Self Destruct and the bust that eventually became of the G-Unit reunion. The last album from 50 as an independent artist, Animal Ambition, sold only 47,000 its first week and has yet to go gold since dropping last year. Replacing The Game with Kidd Kidd didn’t help The Beauty Of Independence EP from breaking the 100K mark as of yet. All of this as first week projections for The Documentary 2 are between 75,000 to 95,000 as a free agent through EOne. Unless Fiddy is pulling the greatest bait-and-switch in Hip Hop history, this period must be the lowest in his legendary career. As he rhymes on “Wanksta,” without much care, “Damn homie, in high school you was the man homie, fuck happened to you.”
Damn, how easy is it to get a job as a writer for hiphop dx. “The once invisible ship?” This is supposed to be a professional web publication right? Hey hiphopdx I have my degree in mass media you certainly wouldn’t see me make a basic mistake like that when writing an editorial for you, want a resume? lol
This site is very salty and hate on 50 cent soo much when he hasn’t fallen at all
Clearly in denial for years. Your one of those Shady-boys right? G-G-G-G-Unit boys right?
He BEEN fallen off. Let me predict your next move – bring up his money as if that has anything to do with relevance or relevance in music when all that is good financial investments – but right now he filed for bankruptcy. Let me guess – “it’s a plan of Godfather 50 to not have the court take more money out of him”, right?
50 been fallen off. Musically he really been off since after Get Rich/Beg For Mercy. But thats just my opinion.
Damn 50. All that shit starting with other artists finally came back to haunt you. Soon, no artist is gonna want to record with you. Lloyd Banks better run away from you quickly before his lyrical ability runs away from him.
What type of journalist uses the same word (now) twice in the one sentence?
It’s funny how dx thinks THEY decide when shits over and it doesn’t matter what ross said lmfao he will say anything u cocksuckers want true or not gunit needs to put that album out tho should been here last year
50 has allways sucked shit. Being Hot and being Good are two totally different things. Yeah, man was “hot” there for a while, but never did he impress any true hip hop heads, lyrics are garbage, flow mediocre at very best, I just never understood the hype behind this man. If it wasnt for Em’s co sign and Dre’s great production.. He’d just be another rapper, which i guess technically he is. But this article IS right, dude Did fall off, and fell off hard. Pretty easy thing to do when you have nothing to stand on in the first place.
Power of the Dollar and Guess Who’s Back are dope as shit and they are before Eminem/Dr.Dre Everything on Interscope was very commercial and over-done, it was definitely a cash-in by 50 Cent. But Guess Who’s Back was best shit when that came out, I loved that CD, same with Power of The Dollar.
Damn HIPHOPDX What’s yall beef with 50???? Yall sound really bitter with this exaggerated article!!! Learn journalism
Hahaha its been what 8 or Nine years before Chuck and “fiddys” beef. Before Ross, Game killed Gunit commercially… Now 50 shot himself in the foot once he let go of the one person in several years who brought the west coast back. 50, the “in da club” rapper is what he is a 2 album wonder.. theres some irony. How game been around for 10 years when 50 couldn’t make it to 5 years ex. 2003-2007. Hiphopdx I’m better than some of your staff from a Objective point of view…. Ryan Ramirez 26501 S. Western Ave Lomita, CA 90717 424 200 1002 leave a message
The Game is relevant musically? Wow..
And no, 50 can’t bounce back. Maybe business wise, but not musically.
fuck curly the king of L’s
Lmao game puts out one decent album and everyone’s back on his dick? Yeah the albums dope but cmon. Pretty sure gunit was come back artists of the year last year…
He definitely has been on a downward spiral the last 5 years
Too many typos fam… Couldn’t take this article seriously.
Its a very sad state that Hip Hop is in overall…There should be a lane for everyone. Just because you are not hot at the moment or anymore, still doesn’t negate the influence you had on the culture…how many one hit wonders were back in the Golden Era but when we hear the tracks we still nod our heads and it takes us to that moment it first dropped again? 50 wasn’t my favorite but he did have some bangers while he was hot…you can say that about many rappers…2000 – 2010 was the era of the ringtone and single rappers…they all fizzled out…not many are really relevant now…The generation of the short attention spans…I’m glad I was old enough to appreciate the Golden Era of Hip Hop…so much talent was knocking on the door trying to get in…it was Crazy back then…now…you have about 5 people you expect to drop something…the labels watered down our culture and we let them…All Hip Hop was underground at one point…but now people Sh*t on the underground rappers because they not mainstream or don’t get album sales…SMH! The Culture is all F*** now….Hopefully one day we will get back to it…
You an old head shut ya mouf before you get capsized fool, hip hop is the best it ever been, don’t believe me look at the number these dudes make. They all drive the hottest whips hottest car, fuck lyrics fuck a DJ, give me a hot beat and some auto tune and I’m going h.a.m. bars for days . old heads are suckas, keep ya kid and play haircuts and your around the way girl bullshit. Young thug the new 2 PAC.
@Wavybaby That shit you just said is preposterous
that’s what life is about. at one point you’re up and at the next point you’re down. he still good tho.
oh look its shoe shine curly lol
This sounds like some real hate on Ural Garrett part, and Officer Ricky. Is it just me but did the whole world forget The Boss is an officer. Which means all what he says is shit. The man worked hard for his money he is not going to give it away, and I don’t blame him. Dear public question anyone with so much hate and hides that they are an officer not a boss.
Man… They right a bit. Im a 50 fan but hes been f*kin stupid this year. Only thing he does is stupid gram posts. I thought you was comeback in 2014 50…
50 hates on everyone so don’t see why people sticking up for him! He a goofy retard how he gone bankrupt wit all that money his made lol
Damn hip-hop dx really acts like 50 fucked their baby moms or somethin lmao. Get off his DICK
Get off 50’s dick! Bitch boy lol
50 has made New York rap shit!! Before him it was on fire! His dissed everyone from wu to puff so no simpathy for this fool. Pay what u owe Bitch
Your right!!!
With or without 50, New York just don’t care about New York anymore. Why you think they’re jocking everyone else’s sound?
I’m never one to count nobody out, but in 50’s case in particular, my honest opinion is no he can’t. Simply because he wasn’t humble enough when he did have the game locked up like that. He burned every bridge and alienated every Alie he possibly could’ve had. Even G Unit fell apart in the end because of him. Now, nobody wants to touch him. He’s not the machine anymore, so they don’t see him as a value or an asset at this point. He’s a liability. Lastly, the irony is completely funny. The very same things he dissed/beefed with all these rappers about, he is now in the media for the very same things. Even The Game still has a music career (like it or not his projects have been consistently successful on some level despite the beefs and everything else). Yes I know he has “Power” popping on the small screen, but he even had a bit of rough water with that (if I’m not mistaken, he recently had a tiff with AT&T U verse which was Power’s original cable provider). Lesson here is, humble yourself or life and God will do it.
Wow, best post on here.
Fuck outta here with this bullshit article.
If we talk about sales, why game didn’t flop? He sold 5M and never came close to those numbers. Isn’t that a flop?
Future sells a lot nowadays, you gonna tell me that Future is a great rapper? Fuck outta here man.
50 still does great music as well as game. And both did great music in the past too. People who love hip hop recognize songs and artists that will be remembered for ever, like 50, em, kendrick, j. cole, etc. No one cares about those fuckin’ silento’s, future’s and wack ass rappers like those just to name a few. The faster they appear the faster they disappear. Soulja Boy, remember that? The shit back in the days… Only kids think that’s relevant but when they grow up, they won’t listen to that shit anymore. It’s RIP to that bullshit.
Like Features Editor Andre Grant wrote so eloquently in an editorial some time ago, “50 Cent has lost his battle with Rick Ross. It’s over. Now we can all go home.” Now you guys are referencing each others articles often now? Bad journalism! Also 50 didn’t lose to rick ross he just didn’t ruin his career. Nas won the battle with Jigga but didn’t ruin his career. Not everyone ends up like Ja Rule.
Ural at it again with his trolling articles. 50 is STILL the Man. 50 got so much investment he’ll never go broke. Dream on. Im starting to hate this site bc of Ural.
People like Ural are lways going to be mad when You do what YOU WANT, like 50 does. Just DO YOU, people, and you will get hated on 100%. Everybody is trying to be somebody else except themselves.
50 aint the same but whenever he drops a track. We all give it atleast one listen. I def don’t do that for game. Usually I need to see who is featured on a game track then I might listen. Game and 50 are both fire don’t get me wrong when I say this. But game just got a featured article on HHDX so I can see why you’re nut huggin so hard
Time will tell but I think he still got lot money. He still relevant just by looking how many comments been left, don’t get me wrong 50 is a cock sucking drama queen! It’s only calmer tho. Amount of people his dissed unreal and yayo n banks so far up his Arse this why Buck and game never been close they like to do there on thing. As I say fuck a bitch lol
Why do you idiots keep saying he has money? He is worth under 15 Million in assets and owes like 35 Million. He is bankrupt and broke.
The best article ever on this website ever…so many true words have ever been spoken, Garrett made a very astute observation and point backed up with actual evidence.
the best things for him in these times is Thisis50, Power and when he started the whole Street King energy there was some nice stuff better than ever he released you can tell he put effort into and motivated I think it had something to do with world hunger. Issues on SK
Doesn’t matter where 50 is now, he wrote a lot of game’s initial hits.. some people dont care as much about music later down the road. I dont blame him rap sucks now, except 5-6 albums a year.
who wrote this article? kill your self
The Black Album is better than GRODT — what?? And Before I Self Destruct is a great album; listeners were over gangster rap by that point. Everyone complained about Curtis, then he comes with the hardest album in years & people were on to backpack rap.
i feel like the reason game was able to stay relevant was because he had lots of industry connections. 50 was pretty much talking shit to anyone with buzz outside the shady/aftermath/g-unit umbrella. let’s run down the list: ja rule, fat joe, jadakiss, nas, shyne, cam’ron, rick ross. i know i’ve forgotten some. around 2007 he was talking shit about lil wayne, kanye, and puffy, but those never became on-wax beefs. he only collaborrated with the unit, eminem, and r&b artists for singles. Game on the other hand did shit with, well, pretty much everyone on that list and then some. bottom line, 50 cent pissed too many people off.
Another writer who doesn’t know what bankruptcy means.
how much were you paid to write this article? you’re obviously a shitty writer Ural Garrett!
Dx keeps hating on Fif, last time i check 50 still has more and plaques than officer ricky. keep sucking rozays nuts Ural
What sort of fucken name is Ural anyway? Is it some sort of play on Urinal or what?
the once ” invisible ” ship. So nobody could see the ship? Nice.
everyone n their mom called this like 5-10 years ago.. been said 50 is going to burn all his bridges by being a jackass while on top and he in effect blackballed himself. i cant think of 1 rapper who had a classic then just faceplanted the rest of his musical career..he didnt even try after that album
His last decent album was “Before I Self Destruct”… And then he self destructed. How apt. To give 50 his due he overcame the odds to get signed and become successful but I think he overestimated how easy it would be to do that again. And whilst I admire that he speaks his mind and pulls no punches, you can’t actively go out of your way to piss people off and not to get rained on when you finally leave your safety umbrella (that being Shady/Aftermath). Plus there is the issue with subject matter; There is only so far you can go with gangsta rap shtick and I don’t think 50 is able to really diversify in that way. Dude can still knock out decent tracks but his time has been up for a while now.
50 will never put out another classic album but shame on anyone celebrating the down fall of an African American who made it out of poverty. Seems like nobody wants to see the street dudes win anymore.
Maybe people are celebrating the downfall of a shitty human being.
What does color have to do with it?
50 made the discussion about album sales instead of skills, outside of his first album, nothing felt personal or real. Every album since felt manufactured and hollow, a product and nothing else. The artists that last try to treat it as art, giving us something we can feel, showing some vulnerability and at least leading us to believe that on some level they care about the music itself. 50 hasn’t done that, he didn’t take us on any journey and experience he was going through inside the industry, he still making the songs he made 10 years ago.
This is exactly right! For 50 this is just a business, albums are just a product. There’s no heart in his music.
Have to agree 100% with this. 50 even talked about how “Candy Shop” was going to be a sure-fire hit because it had all the elements of hits at that time. No risk = no reward.
You can only be a ‘gangsta’ for so long. When you get to the point of (at one point in time) being worth hundreds of millions of dollars, your same generic gangster rhetoric has outlived it’s shelf live.
He still doing it. It just a generation of wierdos and hating bloggers. He’s a multi-millionaire so what downfall are you talking about. Power season 3 coming in June..lol
Its all rubbish in this music industry
Whoever wrote this article is just damn stupid… F*cc you
50 broke??, its unbelievable
50 really broke?, unbelievable
The documentary 2 came out last week??? Sup with this recycling articles shit niggas that lazy up there