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 50
Cent's
Next Power Play
by John Mbugua
Hate
him or love him, Curtis "Interscope" Jackson a.k.a. "50 Cent," is a
bread-winner. Fresh off a $100 million dollar profit from the sale
of Glaceau's Vitamin Water to Coca Cola for $4.1 billion, 50 Cent
has rocketed into a new "financial space," and plans to leverage his
worth in his next multi-million dollar power play.
Back in 2002, Eminem signed 50 Cent to a 7 figure deal which
contractually obligated 50 to release four albums and a greatest
hits disc, totaling five solo albums to be released under Interscope
Records.
In 2003, 50 Cent's debut album, "Get Rich Or Die Tryin'," was a
massive success and sold over 11 million records and catapulted
Curtis into hip hop history.
50 followed up with "The Massacre" in 2005, scoring another hit
record that sold over 9 million copies.
This time around, 50 Cent utilized a media frenzy between him and
Kanye West to promote his album "Curtis," which is the third album
of his four album contract, plus one greatest hits record.
Curtis has realized his enormous negotiating power now because he IS
the sole bread-winner of Interscope, and if he decides to not
re-sign with them, he is eligible to receive MASSIVE offers from
other labels, most importantly, Warner Music Group. Lyor Cohen (CEO
of WMG), has expressed interest in 50 Cent and has as much marketing
power as Interscope Records CEO, Jimmy Iovine.
This is why 50 Cent is taking shots at Jimmy Iovine on Smile (I'm
Leavin), because this is terribly nerve-wrecking for Jimmy,
considering 50 has made him hundreds of millions of dollars. Jimmy's
weekends on the islands are all of a sudden worry filled because 50
is seriously considering leaving Interscope, and has been publicly
making statements blaming Interscope for his not as successful
launch of "Curtis."
The departure of 50 Cent from Interscope would almost totally shut
down Interscope's ability to get songs played on radio. Why? Because
when you have a 50 Cent on your label, you can also get the other
wack rappers on your label easy radio spins! People get it twisted,
50 Cent is a music powerhouse.
"Curtis Jackson is about to pull off the ultimate, music industry
stick-up, to be hot on his fifth and last album!" (Funk Master Flex)
This brings us back to Lyor Cohen, CEO of Warner Music Group. Chris
Lighty, 50 Cent's manager, is head of the marketing department at
WMG, which means it only makes sense for 50 to head there, knowing
he will receive full marketing and promotion for his projects. This
places Interscope in a terrible position because the only way they
can keep 50 Cent is to offer him a historic, record-breaking, music
deal!
This historic event will happen very soon because 50 Cent is
planning to release his fourth album, "Before I Self Destruct,"
December of THIS YEAR.
50 has stated he has already completed 80% of the album.
His fifth and final album under Interscope would require him to
almost do nothing simply because it is a greatest hits CD.
You might be wondering, "what happens to the rest of G-Unit if 50
does leave Interscope?"
They leave too.
-John Mbugua
To join the
movement and get the latest hip-hop news, visit More Than Music.
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