50 Cent on TV Empire, ‘Power’, Diddy Doc, Super Bowl Half Time Show

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s forty ninth birthday was three days in the past, however he’s nonetheless in a celebratory temper.

If there was any query as “Fiddy” nears 50 whether or not he’s nonetheless on the prime of his sport, the reply arrives with him on the photograph shoot for this story: The rapper turned mogul brings $3.5 million in chilly exhausting money, most of it stuffed into two heavy black suitcases. Some is assembled right into a sq. stool that he sits on whereas smoking a cigar. Once in a while, as he poses for pictures, he digs into the stash and provides just a few extra stacks to the desk beside him — as these on set watch in awe, together with the 4 safety guards Jackson arrived with. The doorways are locked shut, and the window shades are closed for max privateness.

Requested whether or not he needed to go to the financial institution to get the funds, Jackson says with a relaxed smile: “I simply had that. I received greater than that,” then provides that “I used to be impressed [to bring it] by [Muhammad] Ali,” referring to the 1964 Sports activities Illustrated cowl for which the then-22-year-old boxer posed with $1 million in winnings. “I used to be like, ‘I need to do a shoot like that.’”

Suffice it to say, enterprise is sweet for Jackson. Energy, the Courtney Kemp-created collection he government produced, launched a run of hits for Starz after its 2014 debut, going six seasons and resulting in a number of spinoffs, together with Ghost and Elevating Kanan (every renewed for its personal fourth season) and Drive (renewed for a 3rd). His different collection for Starz, BMF, not too long ago wrapped its third season and, mirroring the Energy franchise, is increasing into its personal universe. Starz — which says Energy applications and BMF common about 10 million multiplatform viewers per episode — depends on Jackson for unrelated collection as properly. His firm is producing upcoming exhibits like boxing drama Fightland and Queen Nzinga, about an African warrior queen.

“Many government producers are government producers in identify solely, who begin off, go to the preliminary pitches, get issues going after which transfer on to their many different tasks,” says Kevin Beggs, chair of Lionsgate Tv Group, which owns Starz. “Given the scope of fifty’s portfolio, one may simply assume that it could be extra of an arrogance play, nevertheless it’s simply not the case. He’s hands-on, tremendous concerned, actually collaborative … he’s an impresario, he’s a promoter, he’s a inventive pressure that’s working intently with the writers and showrunners.”

Jackson’s G-Unit Movie and Tv firm has a number of exhibits in improvement for Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock and BET, and he’s now bringing a few of his most well-known musical collaborators into the fold, for tasks like a collection based mostly on 2002’s 8 Mile with Eminem, who first signed Jackson and helped launch his debut album in 2003.

“50 is sort of a brother to me,” says Eminem, who guest-starred on season considered one of BMF in an episode directed by Jackson. “50 has confirmed repeatedly that there’s actually nothing he can’t do, and no person will get in the best way of him getting it carried out.”

Jackson is also engaged on an animated collection for Amazon Freevee referred to as Girl Hazard Agent of B.O.O.T.I. with Nicki Minaj. “He’s a blueprint to what resilience seems to be like,” Minaj tells THR. “Every time he’s been counted out in the actual world or inside the leisure enterprise, he’s risen to the event and are available out triumphant. He’s good. He’s a businessman. I can see previous the ‘humorous 50’ — I see a really deep thinker. He’s trustworthy. He’s mastered the chess sport of reinvention all through many eras of music, leisure and social media. But he nonetheless in some way all the time appears to stay genuine. That may be a very troublesome feat.”

On prime of all this, Jackson is launching a FAST channel, constructing a movie studio in Shreveport, Louisiana, and (already a former New York Occasions best-seller) releasing a novel a couple of Black feminine Texas Ranger.

So, sure, the rapper is a full-fledged media mogul, although one who is never out of the information cycle, typically for different causes. Working example, in response to the assassination try on Donald Trump (which came about after this interview), the entertainer started to pattern on social media with viral memes that includes the previous president’s face imposed on the duvet of Jackson’s debut album cowl, a reference to Jackson being shot 9 instances in a drive-by taking pictures in 2000. The virality meant his 2003 observe “Many Males (Want Demise)” — which incorporates the chorus, “Many males want demise upon me” — noticed a current 250 % streaming bump.

Jackson hasn’t publicly stated who he’s supporting in November, however in 2020, he stated he deliberate to again Trump over Joe Biden, a choice criticized on social media, although he later clarified his stance: “Fu*ok Donald Trump, I by no means favored him.”

After which there’s Diddy, about whom Jackson is producing a doc for Netflix. An avid social media person, Jackson has been trolling Sean Combs for years (extra on that under), upping the depth as Combs faces a number of lawsuits over allegations of sexual abuse, rape and intercourse trafficking. (Combs has denied the accusations.)

“I’ve been very vocal about not going to Puffy events and doing shit like that,” says Jackson, who first met Combs as an unsigned artist and helped ghostwrite a few of his songs, together with “Let’s Get It,” the 2001 prime 5 rap hit. “I’ve been staying out of that shit for years. It’s simply an uncomfortable power related to it.”

He describes watching the ugly video of the Dangerous Boys Information founder attacking Cassie, Diddy’s girlfriend on the time (and whose now-settled lawsuit in opposition to him set off his avalanche of authorized woes). “First, he denied that it even occurred, after which the tape comes out — so which means all the pieces that n—a says is a lie,” Jackson says. “When somebody watches that, if they’ve a daughter they usually can think about her being beneath these circumstances, that shit is loopy. Like, they let him get away with it. With all of the affect and energy you have got, the particular person you’re with is meant to need to be part of your life, not be pressured.”

On board to make the Netflix Diddy documentary collection is Emmy-winning filmmaker Alex Stapleton, whose credit embody Shut Up and Dribble and Hiya Privilege. It’s Me, Chelsea. “As companions, we share the identical aim: to inform a narrative that’s genuine, multilayered and deeply partaking for a world viewers, which has adopted and lived with this still-unfolding story for over 30 years,” Stapleton tells THR.

Sitting down with THR — that $3.5 million now packed again into these suitcases — Jackson talks about his rising empire, the Diddy doc and why he was nearly not noted of the legendary 2022 Tremendous Bowl halftime present.

50 turns 50 subsequent yr. How are you feeling at this stage in your life?

I really feel nice, man. I had essentially the most superb birthday. I used to be in Canada. I used to be purported to be performing for them, they usually have been performing for me. I got here out, it was like a seashore membership, and the depth was like, “Holy shit. That is ’03.” [The year he released his multiplatinum debut album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’.] I stated, “Goddamn, maintain up.” That was the most effective birthday I had.

I’ve a variety of stuff I’ve received to perform over this yr. I’ve received to not make errors and be fully on it. This yr, I’m going to get some work carried out. I’m not going to fuck up. (Laughs.) I’ll maintain myself out of little bullshit.

What made you need to produce a docuseries on Diddy?

I’m the one one from hip-hop tradition that’s produced high quality tasks. We do have a variety of expertise inside our tradition the place the expertise has developed a comfortability in entrance of the digicam, in order that they’re often part of it as an actor or driving pressure of why somebody would watch the undertaking; not the behind-the-scenes manufacturing, producing the entire undertaking, so there’s a distinction.

Through the years, you’ve made some extent of not attending Diddy’s events — was that as a result of someone advised you the power there was off? Or did you go to one thing that felt odd?

He requested to take me purchasing. I assumed that was the weirdest shit on the earth as a result of that could be one thing {that a} man says to a girl. And I’m similar to, “Naw, I’m not fucking with this bizarre power or bizarre shit,” coming off the best way he was simply transferring. From that, I wasn’t snug round him.

I do know you and Diddy have collaborated on just a few songs. Had been you ever associates?

It was principally work. I wouldn’t name it a friendship as a result of there wouldn’t be disappointment between us if we didn’t converse to one another. There’s factors that we labored collectively. Jennifer Lopez really advised him he ought to work with me as songwriter at first. And I used to be round on the early phases, and he may have carried out my document deal at that time. That is following me being shot up, the Trackmasters deal [at Columbia Records, where Lopez was signed], and I’m simply getting again to work, and he’d name me to jot down. I keep in mind Diddy would name, and my son’s mother would reply, and I didn’t need to get on the cellphone like, “No, no, no.” And he or she was like, “What the fuck? We want cash.” (Laughs.) She’s taking a look at me, like, “What? Why don’t you need to discuss to him?”

I didn’t ever social gathering or hang around with him. Puff is a businessperson; when [people call him] a producer, I see those that have been taken benefit of, who produced issues that he took from them. He received the credit score. He’s not a producer. He’s been capable of benefit from the enterprise and the creatives in it. I don’t have any curiosity in doing that. I really fall beneath the inventive. So I simply didn’t take to hanging out with that.

There have been so many silent voices in the case of what’s occurring with Diddy, as if individuals are afraid to talk up. Why?

A few of them have been concerned, on the events and loved themselves, in order that they don’t know what the fuck is on tape or what’s not on tape, in order that they’re not going to say something as a result of they may have had an excessive amount of enjoyable. And then you definitely’ve received different individuals who look and go, “Properly, that’s not my enterprise and I don’t need to be in it.”

You then’ve received part of our tradition that claims, “That’s snitching” or “dry snitching” or shit like that. It’s not uncomfortable for me to say what I stated as a result of I’ve been saying this shit for 4 years, 5 years. I been telling you, “I don’t fuck with him. I don’t like the best way he transferring. It is a little loopy.” All people else isn’t going to be as snug as I’m saying it.

You and Mary J. Blige have an amazing relationship and he or she’s additionally shut associates with Diddy. I questioned if she had reached out to you …

No, no. what? Mary by no means reached out to me to inform me to not fuck up Puffy, as a result of she is aware of that he does shit.

Your ex and youngster’s mom, Daphne Pleasure Narvaez — who was named in Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones’ lawsuit in opposition to Diddy — claimed you raped and bodily abused her in a social media submit. [She has since deleted it.] You’re suing her for defamation. What’s occurring?

For me, I pussyfoot across the Daphne stuff and I’ll let you know why. I received a household court docket case. The allegations that got here out — she posted issues to her web page saying some loopy shit — however this comes eight hours after I filed for custody for my son. And he or she put that up in response to that, and I’m like, “Ugh.” On this local weather, you know the way rapidly they cross judgment. Issues have labored out since she’s stated these issues. I had my son on Father’s Day, and we chilled. I’d like to reply and say some wild shit, however I’ve received to maintain that for my son.

Had been you anxious? As a result of no matter what’s actual or not, these claims will be damaging, particularly since you’re making a doc about somebody who’s an abuser.

It’s damaging. It’s damaging simply to have something stated about you at this level. As a result of you have got folks on the market who don’t consider in your intentions, and if issues are getting in a constructive path for you and one thing pops up, they go (gasps), “That is what we’ve got been ready for.” For leisure functions, they exploit that as a lot as doable, however there isn’t any advantage to it.

Some critics have identified that Dr. Dre has an abusive previous and he’s your mentor and have questioned if that contradicts you producing the Diddy doc?

It’s advantageous that they’d really feel no matter they really feel as a result of I don’t know what’s true or what’s not true about that state of affairs. And this stuff date again to earlier than I used to be even signed to Dr. Dre.

However this may imply not acknowledging all of the issues which might be constructive about him, all of the successes I’ve had and all the pieces, as a result of that’s the time-frame we’re speaking about. Look, it might irritate those that have heard that. That’s loopy to assume that you wouldn’t produce a doc collection now based mostly on that as properly.

You’re opening a studio in Shreveport, Louisiana. What made you need to do this?

It’s given me an even bigger accountability. The studio itself, it’s for me to create content material, to go make tv exhibits and movies and stuff like that. However Shreveport, I’ve to have the ability to create an expertise for folks to return, so I began investing within the downtown space, shopping for properties and stuff. I received to revitalize that together with the studio. And I’m certain everybody can’t see my imaginative and prescient for it as a result of I have a look at issues like, “Nah, it’s going to be like this.” My profession has been like that. My life has been like that. I’ve been capable of firmly consider in issues the place there’s not a lot round me to help the thought at first, nevertheless it permits me to be passionate sufficient to work in that space till it really works — that tunnel imaginative and prescient.

What can we count on out of your upcoming FAST channel?

It’s an enormous distinction from the Starz format. Starz is subscriber-based. This one is free and ad-supported. There’s going to be new content material in there, however I received entry to an enormous library of motion movies. It’s received to be premium. I don’t need to see me like I see my folks on Tubi. I’ll be certain that the standard of all the pieces is there. The platform has to have the ability to match my authentic materials. So that you’ll see the Energy collection — these universes might be there. BMF now has spinoff exhibits coming. Give me one yr and I’ll be ranked the very best FAST channel.

Did you assume your manufacturing empire would get to this degree once you have been beginning out?

No. That is mirroring my music profession. My first album become the biggest debut in hip-hop, 13 million copies bought; the primary tv present that I produced grew to become the highest-rated present on your entire community. So when that occurs, the constructing form of leans towards you, “What different concepts you bought occurring over there?” It gave me the flexibility to [do more]. I needed to persuade them; Starz was very troublesome as a result of they weren’t acknowledging how important it was. There have been factors that I needed to say, “ what? Y’all know what time it’s” — as a result of it was taking six months for us to return again after I simply had Energy. And at that time, that they had misplaced 40 % of their subscribers. They simply turned it off as a result of they have been solely ready for Energy.

I’m like, “I do know I haven’t been doing this so long as you guys have been doing it, however you’re not acknowledging that you simply’ve received a programming difficulty. I’m not your downside. Your programming is your downside. What you want is extra.”

Have there been individuals who’ve served as Hollywood mentors?

Whenever you say mentor, I have a look at folks in positions and go, “How did you get to that place?” And I’ll do my analysis.

My coolest expertise was with Tyler Perry. As a result of there have been factors that I used to be feeling resistance or I used to be going, “What is that this?” As a result of I’m not feeling the power surrounding you being No. 1 for 10 years consecutively with a number of exhibits. And there was some extent that I used to be with a bunch entertaining the thought of shopping for BET, they usually couldn’t inform me what BET was value with out Tyler. They have been making an attempt to promote it for $3 billion and couldn’t inform me what it was value with out Tyler. So I regarded, and I’m like, “Oh wait a minute.” Then, after I stopped by his studios, I instantly recognized with how he was transferring quicker, the tempo. We now have the previous Hollywood tempo, the previous “we’re doing white Hollywood.” He’s doing the varied model of Hollywood that has to maneuver quicker to make extra. And also you don’t must compromise high quality. You’ll discover the distinction within the premium programming when it’s carried out accurately. It’s simply higher planning. That positively modified my perspective.

Perry complimented you in a current interview. Do you guys have one thing within the works?

He stated if I needed to do one thing, and I’m saying, “Sure, let’s do it.” Now we’ve simply received to type out what that’ll be.

Energy has by no means earned an Emmy nomination, whereas Recreation of Thrones has received 59 from 159 nods, and I all the time thought it was fascinating that the ultimate season of Energy had its premiere at Madison Sq. Backyard however Recreation of Thrones‘ last season solely premiered at Radio Metropolis. How did you pull that off?

I used to be capable of persuade Starz that what they felt was large wasn’t large to me. They assume the Chinese language Theatre in California is it. I’m like, “OK.” Radio Metropolis Music Corridor, Madison Sq. Backyard — I promote these shits out in a blink and I am going, “Wait, why do you assume there might be a difficulty? Are you unsure that what’s occurring is definitely occurring?” And I needed to discuss them into it to get them to help the Radio Metropolis Music Corridor thought first. There have been folks standing exterior; once you use prestigious venues, landmarks, folks dress to go to Radio Metropolis Music Corridor. They’ll clear up for that. Once we look good, we really feel good, proper, they take photos now and submit, “Going to the Energy premiere.” And it received a lot protection that they didn’t know they have been paying [for it]. It felt like we have been paying for a premiere, not for every particular person who documented the expertise. And it turned out that we premiered far larger than the prior season.

Then I’m like, “Yo, that was cool, however let’s do it greater.” And so they’re wanting like, “How many individuals? Are you certain?” This isn’t going to be an issue. In the event that they must pay for what went on at that premiere, it could have price them $3 million to $4 million. It positively created a cultural occasion — the biggest premiere for any tv present.

Do you’re feeling like if the Energy viewers wasn’t predominantly Black, it could get extra consideration and awards?

I do. And the acknowledgement that’s lacking, I obtain from Tyler. He understands it. He’s gone via it on a regular basis.

He’s by no means obtained a aggressive Emmy nomination. [He was honored with the Governors Award in 2020.] Have you ever ever had conversations with the Tv Academy?

I’ve carried out that a number of instances.

What have been the conversations like? Did any of it make sense?

No, it doesn’t make sense. The best option to level it out to the general public is the precise info: When the present is clearly No. 1 in African American households, if you happen to don’t need to acknowledge it, you don’t need to acknowledge African Individuals and Latinos. It’s a selection. I don’t know if it’s OK, nevertheless it’s a selection.

You have got received an Emmy — alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z — for the 2022 Tremendous Bowl halftime present. When the lineup for the present was first introduced, your identify was not on the listing … you got here out as a shock …

They needed to depart me out of it. They didn’t need me there.

Who’s “they”?

Roc Nation. Yeah, they didn’t need me there. Eminem wouldn’t do it with out me. That’s how I ended up on the present as a result of he was not coming if I didn’t do it. When that occurs, you go, “Rattling, so that you simply misplaced Eminem since you didn’t deliver 50? Rattling. All proper. Carry 50 then.” But when it was as much as them, they’d not have me there. I’m the shock. I’m not on the invoice in any respect. However they couldn’t get Em to do it with out me.

What are your ideas on the Grammys?

I don’t care about them. They don’t imply something. It’s an acknowledgment of the success of the undertaking, and the thrill is to be within the room together with your friends. Apart from that, what’s the acknowledgment? It doesn’t imply something. I haven’t even seen anybody in a foul monetary area the place they’d promote their Grammys. Then it could imply one thing that you simply obtained this award. It has zero worth.

Do you vote on the Grammys?

No. I don’t know who’s voting in that shit. It’s loopy. Whoever they’re, they’re off at Beyoncé’s home as a result of she has 30 of them.

Lots of people in your degree don’t deal with their very own social media accounts, however that’s positively you on Instagram, proper?

Sure. I attempt to not take issues so severely. On social media, normally, you’ll see the worst issues that you could possibly see about your self once you’re a celeb. You’ll see issues that can regulate your emotional state if you happen to’re not ready for it. And I’m so accustomed to it that I’ll go, “OK.”

As a metaphor, an individual throughout the road seems to be at you and since they see the garments you bought on they assume, proper? “He thinks he’s smarter than all of us.” In the event that they assume that they usually don’t know you, are you the form of particular person that will go throughout the road? As a result of that will require power so that you can cross the road. For me, the place that I’m in makes me look throughout the road and if I determine it as one thing unfavorable or uncomfortable, then I don’t go throughout the road to clarify myself. I merely say, “Fuck you,” from throughout the road, and I maintain going. And I solely do that as a result of if it doesn’t have an effect on me emotionally, then it doesn’t gradual me down from my journey.

You have been featured on “Monster” from Michael Jackson’s posthumous album, 2010’s Michael. However that tune and two others have been faraway from streaming companies in 2022 as a result of folks questioned the authenticity of Michael’s vocals. Did you’re feeling like Michael was singing on “Monster”?

These have been positively Michael’s vocals. what’s loopy, Teddy Riley [who worked on Michael’s 1991 Dangerous album] produced that document. And Chris Tucker will let you know how excited Michael was in regards to the music I used to be making.

You and Michael didn’t document collectively, proper?

Yeah. The communication about doing it began earlier than he handed [in 2009]. And when he died, Teddy was like, “Yo, you bought to do that joint.” “Monster” was like his new “Thriller.” I used to be like, “Yo, positively. Let’s do it.” I used to be excited to do it.

Did you and Michael ever get an opportunity to satisfy?

No. I didn’t. You know the way excited I used to be to document that document? As a result of I had the Michael Jackson photograph, when he was moonwalking and the road was lighting up throughout “Billie Jean,” that shit was over my mattress after I was rising up, and he was the best particular person on the earth. At that time, there was no person cooler than Mike.

Is there something that you simply regretted doing?

Regretted? Look, I feel we wasted an excessive amount of time arguing, me and Fats Joe, me and Cam’ron. There’s different guys like Jada[kiss], we cleared it up simpler. However we wasted time as a result of it was simply the aggressive nature. It wasn’t like we crossed paths and had actual warmth for one another. It went on extra with Joe as a result of he’s extra like me, he’s nearer in character to me. Once we’re at odds, we’re at odds, and we did that for a very long time. And due to his loyalty to Irv [Gotti] and Ja [Rule], as a result of he labored with them, I used to be seeing him not be comfortable from the issues that have been making me comfortable. It’s straightforward for me to say, “Fuck you,” if what makes me comfortable makes you sad, then we’re not on the identical web page and it turns into some shit, and I couldn’t pinpoint what precisely occurred. Whenever you look again at it, you go, “Wait, what occurred?” As a result of we didn’t even don’t have any altercation or no particular factor that created it. Now he’s like my buddy, and I don’t care that he has relationships with those that I don’t, as a result of he’s all the time had these relationships.

Do you ever see Kendrick and Drake being associates?

That is hip-hop. I feel it’s aggressive to a level, clearly. Even Drake, his place and the angle and his decisions, these are 50 Cent decisions. “Fuck it, all people received to get it then.” When it turns into Drake versus Kendrick, it’s as a result of it’s the one factor you may put up in opposition to Drake’s success.

Look, our tradition likes to see you go up as a result of it’s affirmation that they will go up. However once you keep up — “I would like this shit ceaselessly, man” — they go, “Properly, goddamn. Whenever you going to return down? In case you don’t come down, I ain’t going to have my probability to go up.” After which it’s these clouds that come over you, and that cloud is doubt, a shadow of doubt that doesn’t come from materials or your work ethic. It’s doubt from the artist group, the place they are saying, “I don’t know, his new shit is cool, nevertheless it’s not his first shit.” They do this to you and Drake’s simply experiencing what you expertise as a backlash from success, from the consistency he’s delivered again and again. I don’t see a loss for Drake. The individuals who purchased Drake materials are going to purchase Drake materials when his subsequent tune comes out. Now, the shit that I do, it ruins your complete fucking profession.

Talking of beefs — have you ever ever talked to Ja Rule?

Nah.

This story first appeared within the July 31 difficulty of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.