50 Cent has shed light on why he’s been largely absent from the rap scene over the last decade, attributing his retreat to what he sees as a decline in the intelligence of modern Hip Hop.
During a recent interview at Invest Fest with Earn Your Leisure, a clip of which began circulating on October 1, the G-Unit boss didn’t hold back in his critique of the current music landscape. He shared that to stay relevant in today’s rap scene, he would need to “tap into the stupid” side of himself to fit in.
Hip Hop’s Evolution and 50’s Move Toward Film
“If you listen to the music that’s out right now, I have to tap into my stupid,” 50 Cent remarked. “I have to tap into the stupid side of me to write the right thing when it comes time to write the music.”
This disconnect with modern rap trends is one of the primary reasons 50 has shifted his focus towards film production and project development. In his view, this move allows him to make a more significant impact than he would by continuing to release music in an industry that no longer aligns with his artistic values.
He continued: “This is why I haven’t created as much content as I was creating in the past and I started going towards film production and development of these projects. Because I can impact things in a bigger way through that.”
50 Cent’s Criticism of Modern Rap Cadences
This isn’t the first time 50 Cent has criticized the current state of Hip Hop. In a 2022 interview with Houston’s 97.9 The Box, he expressed his belief that youth culture should dominate the genre. He argued that older rappers shouldn’t be the ones setting trends or delivering the “hottest verse.”
“Part of Hip Hop is youth culture,” 50 Cent said. “I don’t think you’re supposed to have the hottest verse at 50 years old in Hip Hop… The cadences are the same, they’re rapping the same way on the records.”
He explained that much of today’s music sounds repetitive, with artists using similar melodies, cadences, and tempos, making it easy to replicate popular songs.
Teasing a Possible Comeback
Despite his sharp critiques, 50 Cent has hinted at a possible return to music over the past year. His creative process, he explained, often involves finding music that excites him and then bringing it to Dr. Dre to see if his mentor can offer something even better.
“This is my process: I’ll go make something, the best music that I can put my hands on. And when I feel real good about it, I bring it to put pressure on Dre to offer me something,” he shared.
While 50 may have distanced himself from today’s rap scene, fans might still have a chance to hear new music from the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ legend.
