Chopping it up on his songwriting skills, beef, G-Unit, when he first met The Game and how he feels about a Drake remake of “21 Questions,” 50 Cent Speaks on 10th Anniversary of “The Massacre” Album!
50 Cent Speaks on 10th Anniversary of “The Massacre” Album in a recent sit-down with XXL, recalling the air and atmosphere around the record. At the time of release, 50 was on rocky terms with a list Hip Hop notables including Jadakiss, Ja Rule, (Fat) Joe, and The Game–after he had stopped production on “The Massacre” to fly out and provide him a songwriting assist at the request of Interscope boss Jimmy Iovine. G-Unit was also getting ready to round out its stable of artists:
“G-Unit was already built, but those new additions were coming. I was building the aura of a company instead of 50 and his homeboys, you know what I mean?”
As far as the record, the international Hip Hop star and businessman recalls it was written in almost the same time frame as Get Rich or Die Trying–an album that meant everything to the mogul. He states 12 two-verse songs were recorded in one weekend and awaiting his completion (that’s grind). 50 Cent Speaks on 10th Anniversary of “The Massacre” Album and notes following his work with The Game for “The Documentary” album (also in its 10th anniversary year)–which he gave a few songs away to including “How We Do,”–he got back to work:
“I had to go re-write The Massacre, too. I was approaching The Massacre initially without writing anything sexual on the record. I was giving them “Hate It Or Love It” and these other things that didn’t have any sexual energy to them. Before I Self-Destruct was aimed at the street; I was making a street record. I wanted people to embrace it, but I’m making what I want to make, creatively. So that record is harder. The Curtis album is more like my actual personality. I did things creatively, I collaborated with people, worked with them. Me and Justin, No. 1 records, “I Get Money” and different things.”
50 Cent Speaks on 10th Anniversary of “The Massacre” Album which was also anchored by the approval of his grandmother–who bigged up “God Gave Me Style” (awww) while also reminding him to stick to “why people liked you to begin with.”
“My whole life I had to be two people; I had to be 50 Cent outside and then I had to be Curtis inside with my grandmother. Some of the stuff that I say on the records are 50 Cent lines, and my grandmother looks at me and goes, [Pauses] “Where’d that come from?” So when I played that one she was like, “I like that one. Wow, you done made one for me.” [Laughs] Then she said, “Don’t forget why people like you.” She said, “I know what you’re doing, I know why you’re writing it, but don’t forget why people liked you to begin with.” And I was like, “Oh, shit,” and then next record that I wrote was “Curtis 187.” It was back to the darker [side]. And this is what they always want from 50 Cent.”
Check out his take on the emergence of the rapper-singer in today’s Hip Hop music, saying we could effectively get a “21 Questions” from Drake today. Though happy about the shift, he says ‘they still can’t do what he does.’
“I had “Ryder Music.” This was my way of doing a soulful song without actually… Like, now the artists are singing. I’m so happy I can say this now; that shit that they’re doing now is singing. What I was doing back then was holding melodies, and it’s all flat monotone in my speaking voice; it’s Donnell Jones, “Oooh, say what say what say what,” it’s not muthafuckin’ Keith Sweat cryin’ and singin’. These niggas hittin’ notes now. It’s a whole other thing going on. I enjoy it. They’re using street content. Our formats are merging. Nobody’s paying attention to it, but R&B and hip-hop are one thing.”
Real talk! Thoughts on 50 Cent Speaks on 10th Anniversary of “The Massacre” Album??? Check the vid and the gallery up top! Read the full XXL interview here. With G-Unit stronger than ever it’s definitely 50 #ForTheWin yet again!
