50 Cent believes the process of making songs is “easy” in today’s Hip Hop landscape.
During a recent interview with Houston’s 97.9 The Box, the G-Unit general shared his thoughts on the current era of rap music, claiming creating a track these days is as simple as copying what’s already being played in the clubs and in the radio.
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“Look, I’ma be all the way a hunnid with you: part of Hip Hop is youth culture; I don’t think you’re supposed to have the hottest verse at 50 years old in Hip Hop,” he began. “I think the 16-year-old kid, the 15-year-old — that guy should be thinking and doing what is keeping the culture thriving, so it grows to a new energy with new vibes, with new music.
“I mean, some of it you look at and it’s easier! The cadences are the same, they’re rapping the same way on the records. If I gotta go make a record right now, I could do that record easy! You could actually take your favorite records and write your version of your favorite records with your words on that track, and then go get the next track because they’re using the same melody every time.”
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He added: “If you know the words to the song — I don’t care whose record it is — just make your version of it. Change the lines and make your version of it. And then it’s gonna be easy to find a track that goes with it because the trap music is using the same tempo, the same cadences, so you gon’ find another track that it goes to perfect. And then you’re like, ‘Yo, this is my new joint!'”
50 Cent’s comments echo those of fellow 2000s chart-topper T-Pain, who ranted about the homogenous nature of contemporary rap music while fielding song submissions on Twitch last year.
“We have all the shit you’re doing,” he barked. “Lil Uzi Vert is already doing it. Lil Baby is already doing it. DaBaby is already doing it.
“It’s literally two n-ggas with Baby in their name that’s already doing all the music you want. Do something else! Do something else! That’s it! That’s all we want. Do something else! Holy shit. We have it! We have it already!”
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Despite the purportedly simple formula behind modern-day hit-making, the chances of 50 Cent returning to the studio to recapture his early ’00s dominance are slim.
Over half a decade has passed since 50 last released a full-length project — 2015’s The Kanan Tape — during which time he’s established himself as a film and TV powerhouse with a successful liquor brand.
However, that doesn’t mean 50 Cent has hung up his mic for good. The Queens, New York native joined forces with Lil Durk and Jeremih on the Force theme song “Power, Powder, Respect” last year and has an unreleased collaboration with Eminem set to appear on the Detroit rap icon’s upcoming Curtain Call 2 album.
“I still love music, I still want to make music,” he told 97.9 The Box. “Sometimes I’ll give my ideas to the young [dudes]. I’ll say, ‘Do it like this’ and tell them what to do with the joint.”
He added: “I would only put things that I felt like was missing. You’ve seen I played around with the theme songs for the extra shows. I’ll start making music for the soundtracks to the TV shows, so you start to hear me rock with some of the young guys.”