After Over A Decade With Shady/Interscope Records, 50 Cent & G-Unit Leave
Interscope Records and its IGA affiliates A&M and Geffen, is one of the major arms of the Universal Music Group. It’s hard to believe that this label that Heads now associate with big sales, big stars, and big egos was once a fledgling indie, back in the days when 2Pac signed his deal there at the top of the ’90s. Through partnering with labels like Death Row, Aftermath, and Ruff Ryders, Interscope became a top destination throughout the last 20 years. One of the artists who really helped make that point clear is Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
50, who originally came up at JMJ Records, under Jam Master Jay in the ’90s, saw the major label system. At Trackmasters/Columbia to follow, Fif’s projects sat on shelves. When the buzz from “How To Rob” had cooled off, it was Eminem, Hip-Hop’s biggest star at the time, who signed 50 Cent to his expanding Shady Records imprint. Just as Dre had built his own pyramid while at Interscope, so was Em. After Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ proved to be a massive debut success, so did 50.
These men changed each others’ career paths, Em getting a bit Gangsta, and 50 making songs beyond his bully rap that was feeding the streets on mixtapes. They made millions together, and developed acts like Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, and others together.
This week, 50 Cent announced his severing relationships with Interscope. This news is not surprising, given nearly five years of vocally criticizing Jimmy Iovine’s label for not treating him properly, and threatening to go. In 2010, Fif was rumored to take his own G-Unit imprint to EMI Distribution, then home to Raekwon, N.O.R.E., and Twista. However, it now appears that Curtis is headed to another West Coast-based label, the Caroline arm of Capitol Records.
However, was 50’s exit angry, controversial, salacious? Nope. Here’s how he left it: “I have had great success to date with Shady/Aftermath/Interscope and I’d like to thank Eminem and Dr. Dre for giving me an incredible opportunity,” 50 Cent said, per Associated Press. “I’ve learned so much from them through the years. I am excited to enter this new era where I can carry out my creative vision.” G-Unit is currently in transition, without the Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo many Heads remember.
Eminem, who signed 50 back in 2002, reacted quickly, “I’ve developed a great friendship with 50 over the years, and that’s not going to change. We know 50 will have success in his new situation, and we remain supporters of both him and G-Unit.”
Capitol Records was famously home to MC Hammer, King T, Beastie Boys, and the Boogie Boys. In recent years, the famed tower was home to Chingy, Ras Kass, and Slum Village. Think they can bounce back big?
What’s your favorite G-Unit/Shady Records moment?