‘In Da Club’ rapper 50 Cent once labelled four of his favourite new-generation MCs as “damaged and advised them to evolve and grow if they wanted more success in the music business.
It is well known that prior to his death, 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson), 50 Cent was a fan of the Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke. Jackson was honoured to meet Pop Smoke during his prime and admitted he saw a lot of himself in the young man.
However, Pop Smoke is not the only new school artist 50 Cent has publicly endorsed, and during an interview with MSNBC’s Ari Melber, the G-unit founder reflected on his growth and how the younger generation of artists could learn from him. The lyricist even went as far as to call some of his preferred musicians “damaged.”
Speaking about his early days and how he sees himself in some of the fresh artists he listens to, Jackson unveiled, “[Fans] were in love with the wrong part of me,” he stated as he reflected on his early gangster personality. “The part that won’t actually continue to be successful. The part that people won’t continue to be something that people celebrate.”
Selecting some new artists who possess the aggressive, hostile and erratic behaviour Jackson had when he first arrived, the ’21 Questions’ rhymer stated, “My favourite artists, the younger artists that are out there [such as] 21 Savage, Da Baby, Lil Durk, NBA Youngboy I like them because they already been bumped around.”
He continued, “They’re damaged enough by the experience that even if they make it they won’t make it if they don’t figure out how not to be who they are right now. They have to turn into something bigger and better as they go with the new information and new opportunities that come because they’re really street.”
It seems as if 50 Cent is encouraging the younger generation but is also keen to impart some wisdom to them. Many new school MCs cite 50 Cent as a big influence in their music, so they will undoubtedly listen to his message. You can watch Jackson’s interview with MSNBC’s Ari Melber in the video below.
