G-Unit Music: 2008-07-13

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Friday, July 18, 2008

50 Cent On The Hip-Hop Industry, “I Feel Like I Got Something To Prove Again"

50 Cent has become vocal about his difficulty in marketing hip-hop within today’s music industry and it’s effects on making his final Interscope solo release, Before I Self Destruct.

In a video from ThisIs50.com, the G-Unit leader weighed in his opinions on the tough times most rap albums are experiencing and his need to regain the top spot he once held. “I feel like I got something to prove again, musically,” he said. “It feels like it’s not based on the actual music. It’s just a weird climate right now.”

Admitting that in the past record sales were based on how many plays a particular song received on the radio, 50 explained the industry is even more complex today.

“It doesn’t even go based on radio spins,” he explained. “Like it’s so confusing because I wanna say it’s radio spins and then it simplifies the situation. And it makes it about that and then it’s not about that. I mean it’s confusing because these people are appreciating the music I’m making now and I don’t see the same response, like according to the G-Unit album.”

Claiming the streets needed the album despite poor sales, he added that the recent trend in record sales has made him reconsider his marketing strategy for his next album.

“It makes me re-evaluate what I’m going to present for Before I Self Destruct,” he said. “I don’t want to go through the process of pushing the album back four and five times. Look how many times they pushed [Lil’] Wayne’s album back to build anticipation. Is that what it takes? Like I gotta make you think my album’s coming out for 10 months, straight?”

Continuing to show the industry’s shifting record sales, 50 concluded by comparing recent hit singles of the year by top artists whose album sales have had disappointing sales.

“Snoop [Dogg’s] album had the best radio airplay [with] “Sensual Seduction,” that’s a big record,” he explained. “Sales didn’t reflect that. That’s a case where radio spins didn’t mean anything. You know what I mean? Usher went with the “Love in the Club.” Same deal. Number one joint all across the board. Remix with Beyonce.”