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Rapper Eve Leaves Interscope Records, Promises New Album This Year

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 15, 2010 at 5:37pm

Eve is making changes in the new decade. The femcee has left her longtime label and promises a new album in 2010. The rapper-turned-actress revealed on Twitter Friday (Jan. 15) that she has parted ways with Interscope Geffen A&M Records where she released her first three albums. “Let me tell u what happened with music so ya’ll don’t think I quit,” she told her followers. “Left Interscope, free agent now. Went back in re-doing music. Trust me.” As for her oft-delayed fourth studio album, the first since 2002’s Eve-Olution, she says it’s coming this year. “Not letting this year pass wit out an ALBUM! Can’t take the non-sense MUSIK.” A 2007 project Here I Am was scrapped, although it produced the Swizz Beatz-helmed “Tambourine” and “Give It to You” featuring Sean Paul. While on hiatus, Eve shared that she was going in a new direction with her sound, as evidenced by the leaked Salaam Remi production “Me N My (Up in the Club).” “I’m actually experimenting with this movement called dubstep in the U.K., this underground sound,” she told Jimmy Fallon in October. Source: Rap-Up Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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Lady Gaga Announces Plans To Donate To Haiti Relief On Oprah Winfrey Show. Performs Medley + Full Interview Inside [4 Videos]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 15, 2010 at 5:00pm
Videos After The Jump In an appearance as varied as one of her song medleys, on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" Friday Lady Gaga performed, announced that she'll be donating the proceeds from one of her forthcoming concerts to relief for Haiti, and indirectly addressed her show cancellations in the wake of her collapse from exhaustion after a show on Thursday. Regarding Haiti, Gaga said that all proceeds from her January 24 concert in New York will go to relief organizations for the earthquake in the embattled country. "Haiti's still suffering," she said. "And I was thinking earlier, because I was in New York during 9/11 and I always felt, the level of disaster isn't in the neighborhood of what is happening in Haiti, but I just remember feeling nobody really understood. And I worry that young people don't know enough about what's going on there. "And I will say today that on the 24th, the Monster Ball [show] in New York City, all of the money that I make in ticket sales and merchandise will go to Haiti. And on the 24th you can also go onto ladygaga.com and any merchandise that you buy, the money will go to Haiti." Reached for comment, Gaga's label rep told MTV News the specifics of the contribution would be announced in the coming days. Although the concerts she postponed or cancelled on Friday due to exhaustion didn't come up directly in conversation, Gaga did admit, "I always have very trying weeks in terms of my physical schedule." For Gaga's performance, she stepped onto the stage with a ball and chain and spiky getup — complete with a spiked hairstyle — that was part dress, part pantsuit and busted out a medley that started off with "Monster" before going into her hit "Bad Romance," complete with several dancers. She later took the ball and chain, jumped on a mock taxi and attempted to break through its windshield. (Oprah was shown pumping her fist in the crowd during the performance.) She then slowed it down by completing the set at her piano singing "Speechless." Also appearing on the show was "Avatar" director James Cameron, and Gaga revealed that she had always wanted to paint herself blue, like the Na'vi in the film. "It's actually funny about James Cameron, because I've been talking about how I want to paint myself blue for a performance for the longest time," she explained. "I've been preparing to do it and then 'Avatar' came out." In the interview with Winfrey, the singer addressed her long-simmering stardom aspirations. "I don't like that, actually. It feels so weird when people call me 'lady,' " she said about her stage name, adding, "I wake up in the morning and I get on my computer and I have files and reference boards and I call the Haus of Gaga all day and argue with them. For me it's all about being provocative. It's not just about getting attention, but about really saying something that affects people. "The hardest part about my job is that I'm bossy, really. This is my only opportunity to live my dream." Gaga also gave Winfrey's cameras a peek at the inner workings of her Monster Ball Tour, showing showing her wardrobe closet and her office. She added that before her team hits the stage they have a very specific pre-show ritual. "We always at the end of the prayer say 'Joanne' altogether because that was my father's sister, who died very young, and I believe she's onstage every night." Interview Part 1 Interview Part 2 Interview Part 3 Lady Gaga Performing "Monster" x "Bad Romance" x "Speechless" MTV Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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Cypress Hill Signs With Snoop Dogg At Priority Records, Prep New LP 'Rise Up'

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 15, 2010 at 9:49am

Snoop Dogg has made his first signing as Creative Chairman of Priority Records, adding West Coast rappers Cypress Hill to the revived label’s roster. Snoop and Cypress Hill made the announcement on yesterday’s Lopez Tonight show, where the Black Sunday band performed their hit “Insane in the Brain.” Cypress Hill will release Rise Up, their first album since 2004’s Til Death Do Us Part, on April 6th. The album’s first single, “Rise Up,” features the guitar work of Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. “It was great to work with my longtime friends and comrades Cypress Hill on these two monster rock tracks,” Morello said of his new collaborators. “Cypress are back with a vengeance!” Morello will also appear on another Rise Up track called “Shut ‘Em Down.” This isn’t the first time Cypress and Rage have teamed up: Drummer Brad Wilk also performed on Cypress Hill’s 2000 rap-rock album Skull & Bones. Cypress Hill spent the last three years in the studio working on Rise Up. “Making this record was so much fun,” Hill’s Sen Dog said in a statement. “It felt like the first record we ever made together. We recorded whatever we wanted to with no musical boundaries. And having the chance to work with one of my favorite guitar players of all time, Tom Morello, was amazing. I always knew we would make some kickass music together.” Snoop was handed the reins to Priority Records last year in the hopes that he could help bring the famed West Coast label — which featured artists like N.W.A, Ice Cube and Eazy-E — back to prominence. Snoop didn’t have to look far for his first signing, since Cypress Hill have been rap staples from Los Angeles’ South Gate for over 20 years. Other rockers rumored to be featured on Rise Up include Slash and Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda. Source: Rolling Stone Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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Alicia Keys On AOL Sessions Live. Performs "Fallin"x "No One x "Empire State Of Mind II" x "Un-Thinkable" & More + Q &A [3 Videos]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 15, 2010 at 8:30am
Videos After The Jump Alicia Keys is riding high on the success of her latest album 'The Element Of Freedom' She proves again why she is one of the best live performers during her show for AOL Sessions Live. Mixing the old with the new, Alicia looked and sounded fantastic


Alicia Keys "Question And Answer" Session


Alicia Keys Performing "Fallin'/No One" Alicia Keys Performing "Doesn't Mean Anything/Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart/Empire State of Mind Part II Broken Down/Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" Shouts To Yardie Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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Actor George Clooney And MTV Team Up For Haitian Relief Telethon

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 15, 2010 at 8:00am

As the crisis in Haiti continues in the wake of the devastating 7.0 earthquake on Tuesday, MTV and George Clooney have teamed up to present a telethon to rally support and raise money for the embattled country. On Friday night, January 22, the Oscar-winning actor will appear in a bi-coastal telethon and fundraiser on all MTV Networks channels. All proceeds will go toward relief efforts in Haiti. A roster of musicians, actors and actresses that will also take part in the benefit will be announced in the coming days. Before Friday's Clooney-led benefit, there are numerous ways in which you can take part in Haitian relief efforts. MTV has culled together a list of organizations, from the American Red Cross to Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti to UNICEF, that are providing valuable services on the island. "I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse," Jean wrote on his Web site. "We must act now." From Facebook support groups to the halls of Washington, D.C., the nation has galvanized around the embattled island nation as it experiences the latest in a string of humanitarian crises. President Obama pledged support for Haiti in a speech on Thursday (January 14). "In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you," President Obama said. "The world stands with you. We know that you are a strong and resilient people. You have endured a history of slavery and struggle, of natural disaster and recovery. And through it all, your spirit has been unbroken and your faith has been unwavering. So today, you must know that help is arriving — much, much more help is on the way." Head here to learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti. and for more information, see THINK mtv. MTV Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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DJ Green Lantern Talks About His Southern Remix Of Snoop Dogg's "I Wanna Rock" + Mixtape With Styles P "Green Ghost Project"

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 15, 2010 at 7:30am

Snoop Dogg sent out a warning on his Twitter page earlier this week to look out for the "Kings G-Mix" of his hit "I Wanna Rock." Shortly after, the track featuring him and Jay-Z was igniting the Net. "I wanna rock right now," Jay raps. "The name is Hov, and I came to shake the town/ Yeah, your boy's internationally known, but I'm from the 'hood/ Got a pocketful of stones." From there, Jigga drops an assortment of rappers' names, such as Big Daddy Kane, Notorious B.I.G., Doug E. Fresh and Rob Bass, as he talks about his rise from street drug czar to greatest MC ever. Fellow New York hip-hop heavyweight DJ Green Lantern said that's not the only "I Wanna Rock" remix you'll hear. The Evil Genius has an official reworking on deck, which is going to give the record a Down Bottom feel. "I'm working on a remix for Snoop, 'I Wanna Rock,' " Green told us a couple of days ago. "Trust me: When you hear it ... it's got a Southern feel to it. It's got a bounce to it. Right now, I got Yo Gotti, the cat Roscoe Dash, who's got the 'All the Way Turnt Up.' I'm waiting on a couple more verses. Snoop's got it. I'm working with it right now. It's a crazy flip of that." Green is also quick to point out that he loves what Scoop DeVille did with the original record: "I think that's a crazy beat." On Tuesday, get ready for an in-depth preview of the Evil Genius' next huge mixtape — the much-anticipated Green Ghost Project with Styles P — right here in Mixtape Daily. The mixtape will be released February 2 with production by Green, Statik Selektah, Vinny Idol, Buckwild, the Alchemist, Dame Grease and Poobs. Guests include Jadakiss and Raekwon. Styles-P & DJ Green Lantern "Legal Money" off the "Green Ghost Project" Snoop Dogg featuring Jay-Z "I Wanna Rock" (The King's G-Mix) Source: MTV Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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Snoop Dogg & Cypress Hill Perform "I Wanna Rock" x "Insane In The Brain" Live On Lopez Tonight [Video Inside]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 15, 2010 at 7:00am
Video After The Jump Two of the west coast's finest rocked the George Lopez Tonight Show last night (Thursday January 14). Snoop Dogg blazed through your favorite rappers favorite song right now "I Wanna Rock" off his new album 'Malice In Wonderland'. Then Cypress Hill surprised everyone by hitting the stage to perform an abbreviated version of their classic "Insane In The Brain"
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Kelis Goes Ham On PETA! Fires Off Diatribe Calling Their Founder Ingrid Newkirk A Hypocrite For Taking Insulin Because It Comes From Pigs!

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 10:00pm

Kelis is very busy these days. She has a new baby, a new recording contract with Will.I.Am/Interscope and enough beefs brewing to make any drama starter jealous. Forget milkshakes, Kelis is slinging mud from her yard! If she's not making Nas's life a living hell by draining his bank account. She's doing battle with the People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals. Kelis took to her myspace page today venting about a letter she recently received from Peta. Apparently they aren't too happy about her flaunting her love of fur. Check out her rebuttal below. Kelis' Letter to PETA Good morning all! Ok, so you’re gonna love this. The other day I got a personalized letter from PETA! Lol so after some thought I've decided to write one back. Goes a little something like this: There is no humane way to kill anything, let me start there. It’s unfortunate but it’s part of life. With that being said, I would eat pterodactyl if you found some and you told me it was meaty and delicious. And after doing a very minimal amount of research....... I found out that the founder Ingrid Newkirk is completely batty. I had a feeling but she far exceeded my expectations. I mean certifiably insane! Lol this chicks will is nuts, google it – it’s a riot! Beyond the fact that I think she's a diabetic, which means she needs insulin, which is taken from lab pigs (I know this because my sister happens to be in veterinary school), which would be completely hypocritical. It’s like don't abuse animals unless it can help me. I feel very strongly about a lot of things such as the sweatshops that spin cotton and the blood on their hands. Btw it’s not just the look of fur. It’s warm as hell and feels glorious, ever rubbed faux fur on your body? Nothing luxurious about that. Then the letter proceeded to name artist and designers who don't wear real fur. Great! More for me! I don't judge them, don't judge me. If I started wearing endangered animals like polar bear or orangutan then talk to me. (Which btw for the record I would not - I do believe in the preservation of endangered species) But the minks and chinchilla that quite honestly are rodents and if weren't in the form of a coat I would demand they be put to death anyway are not an issue to me. The death of high fashion. Ugh. I eat meat, and in fact my mouth salivates as I type the word meat! And the paint throwing that's just ridiculous! What if I was hurling Loubitons and Pierre Hardy's at every sad poorly dressed person on the street? As right as I may be it’s just fanatical and crazy. And people have the right to feel as they please. What about art? Survival of the fittest. Natural selection? No let's just let all the rodents run free and over take our cities. Oh wait they have, NY and LA in particular are infested! Why don't u save them all from scavenging on the streets and ruining my evening strolls, take them home. Make them pets! Get off my back! Pun intended! Underpaid minorities picking your vegetables, now that's fine for you right? Please, fight for their rights. How about the poverty in the communities of brown people around the world. She had the nerve to say (and I quote) "get over it" talking of the issue of black people and slavery in this country verses cows being slaughtered. Is she kidding me? Lol yes she must be. Actually, she's lucky most black people have real issues to worry about in the U.S and don't give a crap what her delusional privileged opinions are. But she should try saying that again just for kicks n giggles on the corner of Adam Clayton Powell Blvd in Harlem n see how well people "get over it" lol. If u want to preach do it about something worthwhile don't waste my time trying to save the dang chipmunk. Find a worthwhile cause like the women being maimed in these Middle Eastern countries. Or female circumcision. Or women's rights here in America, we still get paid less for doing the same jobs as men. Quite honestly if you hate the world so much go live in the forest where no one else has to hear you complain about the perfectly good food chain the good Lord created. Everyone has the right to an opinion, and that's mine on that! xoxo Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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MLK Weekend! Young Jeezy at Club B.E.D / Murph Mixtape Release Party (12-16-2010)

Posted by Prima B on January 14, 2010 at 5:35pm
jeezywebiblog126.jpg January 16, 2010 Phil Cardona, Shuga Shady, and The Miami Group presentRoom Service Saturdays at Club B.E.D Miamihosted byGrammy Nominated & Multi Platinum Recording ArtistYOUNG JEEZYANDMurph's Mixtape Release PartyRoom Service Dinner Party 8PM-11:00PMLadies 'Free' until 12:30pm with RSVPOpen Bar 11pm-12pm------B.E.D.beverage.entertainment.dining929 Washington Avenue, South Beach305.532.9070
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Nas Refuses To Pay Child Support. Kelis Wants Him Held In Contempt Of Court

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 5:35pm

Is Nas broke? I mean there has to be a reason he is refusing to pay child and spousal support to soon to be ex wife Kelis. According to TMZ, Nas hasn't paid Kelis since December 1st and she's out for blood. Nasir is behind $56,911.50 and Kelis's lawyer Laura Wasser wants him to cough it up now or be held in contempt of court. Nas has gotta be kicking himself for not having a prenup. Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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Washington Wizards Guard Gilbert Arenas Charged With Felony Gun Possession. Faces Up To 5 Years In Prison

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 3:30pm

Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas was charged Thursday with felony gun possession, a crime that carries a maximum five years in jail and a fine, authorities said. The charge was announced Thursday afternoon by the U.S. Attorney's office for the District. Arenas's attorney and prosecutors had been negotiating a plea deal during the day and it was not immediately clear whether the filing of charges was a part of the deal. Court officials said they had been told to prepare to have Arenas in Superior Court on Friday. The U.S. Attorney's office alleged that on Dec. 21, Arenas "did carry, openly and concealed on or about his person, in a place other than his dwelling place, place of business or on other land possessed by him, a pistol, without license issued pursuant to law." The guns became an issue after Arenas and Wizards teammate Javaris Crittenton got into an argument after a card game and Crittenton allegedly said he should shoot Arenas in his surgically repaired left knee, sources have said. Days later on Dec. 21, after a practice at Verizon Center, Arenas placed the guns on a chair next to Crittenton's locker with a note that said "pick one." A grand jury began hearing testimony in the case on Jan. 5. But it was not immediately clear whether Thursday's charges came from the grand jury or directly from prosecutors. Arenas's attorney, Kenneth L. Wainstein, could not immediately be located and prosecutors so far have not commented Also Thursday, D.C. and Arlington police searched Crittenton's home looking for the gun he reportedly used in the locker room confrontation with Arenas, according to sources familiar with the investigation and court papers. Police did not find the gun at his Arlington home in the 7:15 a.m. search, Crittenton's lawyer and the court papers said. Reached through e-mail, Crittenton's lawyer, Peter White, said he was not available to talk, but offered this statement: "I can confirm that a search warrant was executed on Mr. Crittenton's apartment today, that Mr. Crittenton cooperated with the officers conducting the search, and that no evidence was found or seized by police." The police affidavit in support of the warrant was sealed Wednesday by an Arlington judge at the request of investigators, said Theophani Stamos, Arlington's Chief Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney. According to the court papers, police were looking for a "silver/chrome-colored semiautomatic handgun with a black handle or similar/like artifact." They also were looking for ammunition, holsters, and "any photographs, video footage, or other media depicting the subject posing with a firearm." Since Arenas met with law enforcement , Wizards Coach Flip Saunders, team President Ernie Grunfeld and players Fabricio Oberto, Randy Foye, Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, DeShawn Stevenson, JaVale McGee, Mike Miller and Andray Blatche have also spoken to authorities or the grand jury. Players Antawn Jamison, Mike James, Dominic McGuire, Earl Boykins and Nick Young say they have not been asked to be interviewed. NBA Commissioner David Stern suspended Arenas indefinitely without pay Jan. 6. Stern said the gun incident, coupled with Arenas making light of the issue on his Twitter account and when he pretended he was shooting teammates in a pregame huddle, had led him to conclude "that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game." The incident, which is also being investigated by the NBA, has cast doubt on the future of Arenas's career at a time when the 28-year-old guard was trying to regain his all-star form after missing the last two seasons following knee surgery. The Wizards, who endorsed the suspension, have in the past week removed a banner with Arenas's image on it that covered part of the Sixth Street facade of Verizon Center, stopped displaying Arenas's No. 0 jersey and removed all references to him in the introductory video played before home games. Arenas met Wednesday with Billy Hunter, the head of the NBA players union, to discuss his situation. Hunter said Tuesday he wanted to ensure that Arenas receives due process and doesn't want the punishment to exceed the transgression. "You don't use a sledgehammer to drive a tack," Hunter said. "Right now, we're just waiting for the investigation to conclude and then we'll see what level or degree of discipline the commissioner is talking about imposing. And once the commissioner makes his decision, that will determine what extent we get involved and don't get involved." Washington Post Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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DJ Kay Slay "Thug Love" featuring Ray J, Maino, Papoose & Red Cafe (Official Music Video)

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 3:00pm
Video After The Jump DJ Kay Slay is prepping the release of his 2nd album 'More Than Just A DJ'. If this joint is an indication of what the rest of the album will sound like, then it's a must have. Slay recruited his Brooklyn family for this joint. Maino, Red Cafe and Papoose all come from the borough and bring that street flavor. To top it off, Ray J comes in and kills the hook. 'More Than Just A DJ' is in stores February 9.
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Rihanna Behind The Scenes Video For W Magazine Photo Shoot + Pics Inside

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 11:00am
Video After Jump Barbadian beauty Rihanna is starting to build a really impressive modeling portfolio. Her latest shoot is for W Magazine. She really looks stunning and appears to be quite comfortable shedding all her clothes if need be. Check out the video and pics below

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Insane Evangelist Pat Robertson Calls Haiti Quake A "Blessing In Disguise". Says They Are Cursed By "Pact With The Devil" [Video Inside]

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 10:00am
Video After The Jump VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- Evangelical broadcaster Pat Robertson says Haiti has been "cursed" because of what he called a "pact with the devil" in its history. His spokesman said the Wednesday comments were based on Voodoo rituals carried out before a slave rebellion against French colonists in 1791. Spokesman Chris Roslan says Robertson never stated that Tuesday's earthquake was God's wrath. He says Robertson's Operation Blessing group is sending millions of dollars in medication and relief workers to the country. Robertson has angered opponents many times before with comments on current events and criticism of other faiths. He once said American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and said Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for withdrawing from the Gaza Strip Source: ABCNEWS Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie Donate $1 Million Dollars To Haiti Earthquake Relief

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 9:42am

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's foundation is contributing $1 million to the emergency medical operation responding to the devastating 7.0-magnitude quake in Haiti. "It is incredibly horrible to see a catastrophe of this size hit a people who have been suffering from extreme poverty, violence and unrest for so many decades," says Jolie. Adds Pitt: "We understand the first response is critical to serve the immediate needs of countless people who are now displaced from their homes, are suffering trauma, and most require urgent care." The Jolie-Pitt Foundation is donating the funds to Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontiéres, whose three hospitals in Port-au-Prince were severely damaged, forcing the staff to work out of open-air hospitals. Source: People.com Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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50 Cent Speaks To Interview Magazine About The Art Of Hustling, Flying Coach, His Baby's Mom, Eminem & The G-Unity Foundation.

Posted by ChasinDatPaper on January 14, 2010 at 9:00am

50 Cent sat down recently with Dimitri Ehrlich of Interview Magazine. The G-Unit General gave some interesting insight into what it was like coming up hustling, why it doesn't bother him to fly coach and a lot more. Check out an excerpt from the interview below. EHRLICH: Do you get annoyed that people are afraid to say no to you? 50 CENT: Well, I have friends that treat me the same way they did before I was the boss. They don’t actually want anything from me. EHRLICH: Like who? Who’s your best friend? 50 CENT: My best friend? Damn. Probably Eminem. We don’t get a chance to hang out much, but we use the telephone. When I was in Detroit, I stayed at his house. He provided an opportunity for me, for all of these things to happen. EHRLICH: Do you still only communicate with your ex-wife, the mother of your son, via lawyers? 50 CENT: I don’t have any communications with her. EHRLICH: Do you ever think, with all this wealth and success, there are some things money can’t buy, like a happy marriage? 50 CENT: Yeah, but then you have people who don’t have any wealth and find themselves in spaces where relationships don’t work. People are like plants: They grow; they change every day. When a person completely has nothing but negative interest in you and would like nothing more than to see you in the worst situation possible, then why would you consistently go toward that energy? EHRLICH: I would assume that one of the most difficult things you’ve had to negotiate in life was the loss of your mother, who was murdered when you were eight years old. 50 CENT: Exactly. EHRLICH: Do you remember that moment—getting the news? How has that loss continued to affect you to this day? 50 CENT: Well, I was a baby—I was eight when my mom passed. The reason my mom made the choice of going into the lifestyle she went into . . . I was the motivation for her going into that. She had me when she was 15, and teenage pregnancy wasn’t as common as it is now. And at that point, there’s no blue card. Your options were either to go on welfare or to go into the lifestyle that she went into, hustling to get what she could provide. So I remember my mom and associate her with everything good because every time she showed up, she had something for me. I never knew my father, so she was everything, you know? After I lost my mom, I can remember feeling like I wanted to go into a park but it was raining outside, and I felt like it was raining because my mom was dead. Literally, I used to feel like everything that was going wrong was going wrong because my mom wasn’t there. I remember when she passed and my grandparents told me that she was going away, that she was going to be in a better place—I didn’t understand that. Went to her funeral and everything and still didn’t understand what was going on. Just knew that everything that was good went away. And then all of the people that I ran into who appeared to have a nice lifestyle, the things that I wanted, like nice cars and nice jewelry—people who were well-kept and looked like they was living good—they were all from my mom’s life. They said, “Hey, what’s up, little Sabrina?” They used to call me my mother’s name because they knew me as Sabrina’s little boy. They’d look down and be like, “Why your shoes look like that?” And then they’d buy me shoes. And afterward, they’d take me aside and say, “Hey, if anyone bothers you, then you tell ’em you got those shoes from me.” And that’s giving you a license to actually sell the shit in the neighborhood. But even when I was selling, I had to do it between 3 P.M. and 6 P.M., when my grandmother thought I was in the after-school program. EHRLICH: Did you ever sample the goods when you were dealing drugs? 50 CENT: Nah. As far as getting high was concerned, it was easy: Do I spend $10 on some weed and smoke it, or do I hold on to $10 that I need to live? EHRLICH: What would you say is the art of a true hustler? 50 CENT: True hustlers are prepared to get hustled and know when to change positions and move to something different and aren’t afraid. Even the toughest guys are afraid to be anything outside of the toughest guys. EHRLICH: Your charity, the G-Unity Foundation, gives grants to low-income kids to get through school, which makes perfect sense, but explain why when you opened the Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson Community Garden [in Jamaica, Queens], you partnered with Bette Midler, whose core audience is, well, very different from yours. 50 CENT: Yeah, her core audience is different from mine, but we had the same intentions at that point: We were working together to do something positive for the youth in that area. Bette is probably one of the top 100 philanthropists in New York City, and to get with her and do something positive in my actual neighborhood made perfect sense. Following that, we’ve been a part of other projects together. I don’t actually promote what I do for charity—you shouldn’t even be doing it if you’re doing it to promote it. But what’s troubling is that I sometimes feel like I’m being held to standards that they don’t usually hold other people to. Like, we did this event called Family Day in Queens, and they made me have licensed vendors for food, but they didn’t give me the sound permit. And then Mayor Bloomberg and the governor—it’s on the Web now—they were talking about how they reached out to me and I told them that I wasn’t going to perform, that I was just going to attend it. But one of their stipulations was for me not to actually perform at the event. The New York Post wrote negative articles about it; they said I’m a “bullet magnet”! They printed a two-page story showing the distance from where I got shot to the location where I was trying to throw the event. I don’t think they realized that the event was for kids. You see what I’m saying? EHRLICH: Right, you’re just trying to help kids, and they’re being insulting. 50 CENT: Right. So it’s interesting. I got my ass kicked for trying to do something cool, you know what I mean? EHRLICH: I read that you don’t mind flying coach. Is that true? How do folks react when they find themselves sitting next to you in economy? 50 CENT: Well, I really don’t mind flying coach if I have to. If the front of the plane is sold out, I’ll sit in the back. Some people are like, “Oh, first class is sold out. I can’t go.” I guess they care about people seeing that they’re not sitting in first class. But I’m clear with my financial space—I don’t need to get any validation by someone else who sits next to me in first class. If you think a seat in first class makes you a star, then you’re not one. To Read The Rest Of The Interview Please Go To InterviewMagazine.com Photo Credit: Robbie Fimmano Follow Me @Twitter.com/ChasinMoPaper
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