50 Cent has shed light on why he no longer releases new music, addressing the topic during a recent interview with Rolling Stone.
In the discussion, he touched upon various aspects of his career, including his ventures in hip-hop, comparisons to moguls like Jay-Z, and more.
A significant part of the interview revolved around the reasons behind his decision to step back from dropping fresh tracks, which spanned across several segments of the conversation.
At one point, the artist mentioned that he nearly worked on a mixtape in response to criticisms from fellow rappers like Jim Jones, Fabolous, Maino, and Dave East. This friction stemmed from remarks made about his Diddy documentary during their appearance on the “Let’s Rap About It” podcast.
While the debate led to considerable back-and-forth, it didn’t translate to musical feuds. 50 explained that he decided not to proceed with a response mixtape, recognizing that doing so would only amplify his critics’ visibility. He also reflected on what might inspire him to return to making music at this stage in his career.
“Look, I’m going to make music,” 50 Cent said. “I’m excited that this is the feeling. The general consensus is they want to hear something new from me, right? You can have the best verse, but I don’t think you should have the best verse at 50 years old. I think hip-hop is connected to youth culture and I think simplicity is the part of why it’s the best music.”
The rapper-turned-businessman also expressed that fans tend to fixate on an artist’s breakout phase, often longing for the sound and style they initially fell in love with.
Citing this tendency, he countered the interviewer’s comparison of himself with Nas, who has maintained his relevance over decades. Instead, 50 noted his personal evolution, emphasizing his success in areas like television and his reluctance to compete with artists he has surpassed both culturally and financially.
He commented on how the shifting media landscape may be at odds with the kind of music he’s known for.
“What I watch them get excited about is the mentality from ’03, ’02, the mixtape Fif. And I’m in a different place,” he shared.
“I couldn’t have had all the success that you’ve seen if I was still thinking the same way. Yeah. And you’ve gotta to kind of [be], I wouldn’t say immature, with these things, because it’s too easy to describe it that way, but you’ve got to grow with the your material at the same time. To grow into a different space and kind of offer something different.”
Despite stepping back from full-length studio albums, 50 Cent hasn’t completely disappeared from the music scene. As recently as last November, he released the track “Fightland” alongside Sheff G, Sleepy Hallow, and Jeremih, demonstrating that while his priorities may have shifted, his passion for music hasn’t entirely faded.
