The rap community watched in collective awe as Gucci Mane and Jeezy buried a roughly 20-year feud during their highly anticipated Verzuz battle last November. But 50 Cent apparently thinks the Snowman had an ulterior motive for agreeing to the showdown — selling records.
During a recent interview with The Morning Hustle, the television mogul explained why he thought Jeezy was simply scrambling to push The Recession 2, which arrived the following day.
“I thought Verzuz was something we did when we was stuck in the house,” he said. “Look, as soon as we got out of the house and we come back outside, I was like, Verzuz didn’t make sense to me. Soon as we come back outside I’m like, I don’t know why we’re still doing [Verzuz]. I think when they did the Jeezy, Gucci Mane [Verzuz], I think that that was desperation on Jeezy’s part trying to sell a record.”
Despite Jeezy’s best efforts, 50 thinks his alleged plan failed and added, “The record didn’t sell. But I think that’s what that was leading up to it because they looked at how much a catalog would sell and how much exposure you’ll have ’cause he was releasing a record at that point. Other than that, I don’t know why you would do that.”
The Recession 2 arrived on November 20, 2020 via Def Jam Recordings and YJ Music, Inc. and featured guest appearances from Tamika Mallory, Yo Gotti, E-40, Demi Lovato, Lil Duval, Ne-Yo and Rick Ross. The 15-track project peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard 200 and No. 7 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
The lukewarm reception paled in comparison to Jeezy’s showdown with Gucci. According to an Instagram post from VerzuzTV, the epic event shattered numerous records, making the Jeezy and Gucci Mane event the most-streamed in the Verzuz platform’s history with over 9.1 million viewers.
“On a minimum level, 9.1 MILLION people watched this epic, legendary showdown between @jeezy and @laflare1017,” the caption read in part. “This viewership number from last night actually makes Verzuz bigger in ratings than the MTV VMA’s, NBC’s The Voice, the Billboard Awards, the CMA’s, the Latin Grammy’s, Dancing With The Stars or The Masked Singer respectively on any given night for those primetime shows this year.”
Gucci Mane Performs Disrespectful 'Truth' Record During Verzuz — & Gets A Tongue-Lashing From Jeezy
But Jeezy had his work cut out for him. LaFlare started the battle with his 2012 Jeezy diss track “Round 1” and it only grew more disrespectful from there until the platinum-selling Thug Motivator delivered an impassioned speech about putting their beef to rest. As Jeezy explained to Big Boy of 92.3 The Real, he wasn’t going to allow himself to lose his composure — no matter how much Gucci taunted him.
“I just felt like I wasn’t gonna lose my cool — I wasn’t gonna let anyone, including myself, drag me back 20 years,” he said around the 22-minute mark. “I worked so hard to get in a place where things are good for me. I got multiple things going on, I employ a lot of people, and everybody depend on me. Matter of fact, I got a daughter that I love very much. I gotta make it back home to her.”
Revisit the interview below.
It makes perfect sense. 50 just realize how goofy he’ll look 20 years later when he gotta SING every hook. Like what was I thinking? I sang on every hook? Standing his big ass up there talking about “If I was your best friend, I’ll want you round all the time…I’ll take you to the candy shop, I’ll let you lick the lollipop.” That’s why he don’t wanna do it.
I call B.S. on your statement. 50’s no longer in music coz he boxed himself into a corner with all the beef he created for himself over the years, particularly with the release of his second album. He messed with somethin that grew bigger than his reach and it effectively put him on ice. The downfall of the dominance of East Coast rap happened or was at least fast tracked becoz of him. He popularized beef as a come-up for rappers instead of fostering rap battling and keeping street beef in the street. His first project sold then he got high off his own supply. He thought he’d made it as one of the few New York titans watchin other New York rappers on the decline but what he later realised was the fact that the hip-hop audience was disenchanted with him too. The same with his crew. I mean, you seen how Curtis and the rest of work flopped compared to his first two projects.
Damn, 50 cent is such a groupie gossiper. It’s a shame because he was once the biggest force in the entire game
Sounds like this jeezy fella wanted to lick his lollipop
50 reaching out too much. That awkward moment when you’re singing about groupie love and now, 15 years later, you’re a hip-hop groupie.
I mean 50 only tweeting cause he trying to stay relevant himself. If he ain’t do acting he’d be washed out completely. Let’s not forget 50 cent doesn’t take care of his kids either. What a bum
If he did not do movies, he would probably release better music more frequently.
Can somebody shoot this man a tenth time?? Goddamn can’t even listen to GRODT anymore this dude been a flunkie
This is kind of sad, mask falling off 50
hmmm 50 with wats happening in ATL might have watch his back…
damn 50 gotta watch ur back in the ATL now….
50 cent need to stop acting like his shoe size and grow up, those two men are scraping to get theirs, I noticed that Curtis Jackson stays in other folks lane,and don’t wanna mind his own business…KARMA is something else, he haven’t heard about spittin in the wind…lol
jeezy is the definition of a sell out.
Street credit went all the way away when you got with the “love of your life” catch you next life time maybe you could find someone different that could be of your own reflection and continue to make you look like a man…. Now all that you was speaking prior to your relationship was all believable now it look like damn you just a wimp all this time….