Rapper 50 Cent is no stranger to success; all four of his already released albums garnered healthy doses of commercial success. His first album, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, released in 2003, sold eight million copies, making it the fourth biggest selling hip hop album of all-time in the USA. The Massacre, released in 2005, sold 1.14 million copies in its first week, which makes it the sixth fastest-selling album since 1991 (when SoundScan began compiling sales data), and 2007′s Curtis sold 1.3 million copies. However, his 2009 joint Before I Self Destruct, only managed to sell 436,000 copies, and now it seems that his record label is losing confidence in his current project. Over the New Year holiday, 50 Cent took to Twitter to complain about Interscope letting him down. At 4:11 am on the 31st of December, 50 tweeted, “I got 3,500,000 views in 3 day on hands up. Ok I need a record deal jimmy iovine , call me early tomorrow or I’m putting out another mix tape.” Later the same day, 50 Cent reiterated his frustration and disappointment on Twitter:
My next album is great its shame the hardest people to work with were suppose to be on the same team with me. SK
— 50cent (@50cent) December 31, 2011
I’m not doing any press for this album. I worked really hard on it my music speaks for it self. I may put out another mix tape for fun. SK
— 50cent (@50cent) December 31, 2011
Music was so much fun for me now the people and politics involved disgust me. I’m putting out a song tonight FT … m.tmi.me/k2OhK
— 50cent (@50cent) January 1, 2012
I have lost all the faith in the team I’m on. I having nothing left to say I will not be promoting my music.
— 50cent (@50cent) January 2, 2012
Apparently fed up and not getting the support he was looking for, 50 Cent went ahead and released a mix tape, The Big 10 [download it here], to coincide with his partnership with Pepsi’s new energy shot, Street Kings. 50 Cent will help promote the drink, sales of which will go to feeding the needy. Although it seems like while 50 has food in his mouth and a roof over his head, he’s in need of something, with his emotional, overshare-y Tweets continuing into the new year. Just yesterday, 50 tweeted “I’m going to deliver this album then. I have a film I wrote to focus on I’m not upset I’m just convinced this is not how I want to remembered,” and then, rather worryingly, “Ill be honest I don’t think I’m gonna live much longer. That’s why I started my street king movement. I want to mean more in other peoples lives.” We’re wondering what’s really getting 50′s goat right now — and if we’ll ever see that promised fifth album.
50 Cent Partners with Pepsi to Distribute Street King Energy Shot [Billboard]
