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Page 1
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For hip-hop fans, 50 Cent is the chief that all hail ...
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Page 2
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50 fears Eminem and Dre; Em didn't know 50 would be such "a problem" ...
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Page 3
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Dre blends gunshots with pianos, and why Eminem annoys 50 ...
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Page 4
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"Oh sh--, somebody shot me in the face!"...
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Page 5
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Jam Master Jay warns 50 to stay out of the 'hood ...
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50 Cent: Sway Tells The Story Behind The Interview
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Sway sits down with the "bad guy" and gets both sides of 50 Cent
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Photo Gallery
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 Photos from the set of "In Da Club"
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Watch the MTV News Now special "All Eyes On: 50 Cent." Click for schedule.
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50's implacable willingness to say what's on his mind, combined with his dark humor, served as the catalyst for his industry breakthrough, "How to Rob," which came out on the Trackmasters' label in 1999. Before he signed a deal with Columbia Records, 50 found his first alternative to selling drugs by signing a production deal with Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay. Although Jay never wrote any of 50's lyrics, the late great record spinner would drop jewels on his protégé about the art of making songs.
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Jam Master Jay and
50 Cent at the
Mixtape Power Summit '03 in Puerto Rico
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"50 is an artist who actually hung with Jay when he wasn't in the studio," said DMC, who features his fellow line thrower on his first solo album. "It was like, 'Yo, Jay taught me about bars, Jay taught me how to write hooks and what was the purpose. And Jay taught me how to write and make rap records. He made me want to really rap and do this.' "
Jay remained 50's close friend even after the two parted ways on the business end, and always offered advice.
"It's weird because I saw Jay two days before he got killed," 50 said. "He was telling me about some film opportunities that he had and he wanted me to be involved in it. He was like, 'Yo son, you can really blow up. It's gonna be crazy.' Then he was telling me, 'Yo, you got to watch [your back], you can't be out in the 'hood. You can't go back. [You have to] act like you used drugs and this is [narcotics] anonymous — you have to change your people, places and things.' "
But 50 will never leave the 'hood if he has anything to do with it. No matter how huge of a star he becomes, no matter how tightly the mainstream cradles him in its collective bosom, he says he'll remain in the streets, even if he's not there physically.
"I'm never gonna give up my presence in the streets, because without that I wouldn't have the opportunities to do what I'm doing now," 50 said about continuing to flood the mixtape market. "I can't allow that. That's my core base, so if that's gone I don't think I'll exist long. It might be one day [the masses] decide, 'Oh 50's not hot no more, this other guy is,' and I'm gone. If your original base is not there, how do you expect to stay?"
For now, 50 doesn't have to worry about losing any love from anyone, especially his biggest fan, who may have just slipped down one notch on the "hot boy" ratings.
"Undoubtedly 50 will be the hottest rapper this year," said Eminem. "I wish my first album was this hot."
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Photo: MTV News
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