50 Cent: 50 Ways To Get Rich

Interview By: The Wonder Twinz & Chris Gravagna
Story Written By: Katelyn Nudo

Although 50 Cent is the head of his several businesses, including his label G-Unit Records, he admits having management and the right team behind you is necessary. "I can't take every conversation or make every meeting. A big part of being able to excel, is being able to delegate responsibilities. You can't do everything yourself, nobody can. If you can accomplish making people underneath you feel like they're the boss too, then you'll boost overall moral to the highest level it can get."

50 credits his chooling in "music Biz 101" to the people at Columbia Records, where he first signed as an artist, years prior to Aftermath. After spending a year learning all the responsibilities of his past product manager, Ron Archer, publicist Yvette Gayle and now Art Director of G-Unit Records, Julian Alexander, 50 came out of his deal with Columbia with a well rounded education. "After being around that environment for a while, you learn how to navigate and maneuver. I don't regret that record deal at all. I thought I was ready in 1997, but it took for me to have that experience with Columbia to truly prepare myself."

Now Ten years later, 50 Cent has built a BRAND centered on his name and his G-Unit franchise. Despite all of his current million dollar companies and Formula 50 Vitamin water's gross, his record company is still his pride and joy. Alongside, one time manager and G-Unit Records President Sha Money XL, the label has signed numerous acts, all of which have brought the label success. "I was able to do what a lot of artists weren't. The public knows everyone in G-Unit because I didn't keep them around just to be my homeboys. I broke them up separately and presented them to the general public so that they could be recognized as individuals."

There's often a misconception about what truly happens when an artist receives a record deal. Many Artists believe that once they're signed, they're rich. They instantly want what follows with being a successful artist. The truth is that once you get signed, the road just begins. To beon the level of HipHop successes like Jay-Z and 50 himself, "it's harder than making it in the NBA. It's because of the amount of people trying to make it. Just imagine how many artists are in the studio right now, thinking that they're already in the business."

50 considers himself more conscious than the average guy in the music business. "If you can learn from your own mistakes you're smart. If you can watch other people and analyze their mistakes, then you're bright." To put it in perspective, 50 Cent currently has nearly ten business ventures besides his music career. So don't you think it's about time we all step our game up and learned from the HipHop mogul himself?