During a recent interview, hip-hop mogul 50 Cent spoke his mind on the latest rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar and had some blunt advice for the Canadian superstar. Now, there’s been some serious tension brewing within the hip-hop community, but 50 Cent really feels this: Drake shouldn’t let the haters bring him down.
50 Cent gave some real talk to Drake after he got into his beef with Kendrick Lamar. According to an interview 50 Cent did with Billboard, he told Drake, “I was telling him, it’s not him. I’m listening on the outskirts, it’s not you. Don’t let yourself think that for a second”. He encouraged Drake to keep his creative energy focused and not to let the criticism get to him.
50 Cent made it clear that amidst all the controversy, Drake had lost nothing of real consequence, considering how much he had earned from his last tour.
“Some real s–t, I said, ‘They said you lost, OK. Well what did you lose?’ What exactly did he lose, if he got $300 something million on his last tour? You didn’t lose a mothaf**kin thing, man”, 50 Cent said.
One of the deep connections 50 Cent could make was between creativity and criticism. He urged Drake on to convert any negativity into fuel for his craft. “If that’s the moment, you keep your creative energy in the right place, and keep creating,” he said. This is an important perspective, considering the majority of artists within the industry feel compelled: forced to make choices between going by the books or public opinion.
According to 50 Cent, the beef with Kendrick was actually good for hip-hop because it pushed both artists to produce better material faster. Drake seemed to take this advice seriously and has continued to be a powerhouse in the music industry. Fascinating to hear such insights from one artist to another.
”The resistance will make you feel like your material isn’t good,” he said, in a push for Drake to stay focused and keep creating. ”What I think is important in the creation process is that sometimes obstacles beget creativity.”
50 Cent’s insights extend beyond just Drake’s current situation. In addition to the advice he gave Drake about staying focused and continuing to create despite the criticism, 50 Cent also discussed the broader context of the hip-hop industry. He mentioned that when an artist is consistently successful, there’s often a pushback from certain parts of the hip-hop community. He emphasized that this resistance is a sign of an artist’s impact and success
”When an artist is successful continually, there tends to be one pushback,” he said. According to him, this pushback to him was just one sign of impact an artist has made rather than another word for failure.
50 Cent also addressed the notion that he should automatically side with Kendrick Lamar due to their mutual association with Dr. Dre. He made it clear that he didn’t see anything wrong with Drake’s contributions and believed that the beef actually pushed both artists to produce better material.
50 Cent and Drake have had a pretty interesting relationship over the years. While they haven’t always seen eye to eye, there have been moments of mutual respect and collaboration. 50 Cent has often given Drake candid advice, especially during times of public scrutiny, like after Drake’s beef with Kendrick Lamar.
While the duo has never collaborated on a musical level, the two have been spotted several times talking about possible collaborations outside of music, be it in film and television. Indeed, both artists have made huge names for themselves in Hollywood, with 50 Cent developing the critically acclaimed “Power” universe, and Drake producing popular shows like “Top Boy” and “Euphoria.”
As Drake continues to navigate through all the complexities of fame and artistry, 50 Cent just reminded him that no artist has it easy. Be it criticism or rivalry, what truly matters is how one would respond. It is in 50 Cent’s advice that the mantra “keep pushing, keep creating” rings into the minds of everyone that hip-hop’s heart beats strongest in the face of adversity.
50 Cent’s honest words speak not only to advice for Drake but, quite literally, serve as an encouragement beacon for the rest of the artists. It may be a journey that is tough, but quite often, it is in that struggle that some of the most powerful and resonant art is born.
