50 Cent is looking to put his stamp on the rap game in 2023 with the promise of new music, along with a slew of projects from his ever-expanding film and TV empire.
The G-Unit mogul took to Instagram on Sunday (January 1) to salute his good friend Eminem’s continued success after the Detroit rap icon reportedly raked in over five billion views on YouTube in 2022, making him the most popular rapper on the platform last year.
In his caption, 50 hinted at dropping new music, as well as TV shows and movies, in the year ahead in an effort to remind the world that he, too, has still got it.
“That’s my Boy,” he wrote next to a headline about Em’s YouTube dominance. “Im gonna remind people i’m nice this year. New Music New Tv New movie let’s go! #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi.”
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50 Cent was no slouch either when it came to YouTube streams in 2022. The Queens, New York native was reportedly among the 10 most popular rap artists on the platform with an impressive 1.8 billion views — despite having released just two songs last year: the Power Book IV theme song “Power Powder Respect” with Lil Durk and Jeremih, and the unearthed Eminem collaboration “Is This Love (’09).”
Only Nicki Minaj, Juice WRLD, Lil Nas X, Future, Lil Baby, NBA YoungBoy, Drake, Doja Cat and, of course, Eminem amassed more views.
“I didn’t put nothing out in a while,” 50 bragged in another post. “I would be mad if i was new and i wasn’t on the list. #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi.”
Snoop Dogg, DJ Quik and MSNBC’s Ari Melber were among those who applauded 50’s longevity. “Nice. Staying relevant,” Snoop commented, while Quik wrote: “@50cent You’re a Legend. Too seasoned. The charts exist for the Seasons you feel like working.”
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50 Cent opened up about his new music plans last summer, telling The Breakfast Club he has no desire to release another album. Instead, he flirted with the idea of dropping an EP or a soundtrack to one of his many TV series.
“I started working on some things,” he told DJ Envy. “It may not be the last album. It may be broken up into something that goes out with one of the television shows. But creatively… I got all the vehicles that I need to do it. I got 25 television shows.”
He added: “I could just put this EP connected to this. Let it rock without having the pressure of it being a full album. If you look, when the last time you seen the actual numbers on the sales of a record?”
50, whose last album was 2014’s Animal Ambition, elaborated on his plans in an interview with Hot 97’s Ebro In The Morning in October, revealing he’s adapted his approach to releasing new content after realizing his core audience are now at a very different place in their life compared to when he first broke onto the scene.
“Now, those people are 43 years old,” he explained. “They’re having that drink that they would have on premises at the night club, they’re having at home now. They meet the person that they’re hanging out with somewhere else, not in the nightlife. ‘Cause their kids are partying there.”
A musical comeback from 50 Cent in 2023 would be fitting considering next month marks the 20th anniversary of his blockbuster debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, which dropped on February 6, 2003. Home to hits like “In Da Club,” “P.I.M.P.” and “21 Questions,” the chart-topping project cemented 50 Cent as a global superstar while reasserting the dominance of gangsta rap.
Currently 9x platinum, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ may well surpass 10 million sales this year and earn a coveted diamond plaque from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It would mark 50’s first diamond record and make him just the ninth rap act in history to achieve the feat following the likes of Eminem, 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G.
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