50 Cent Has A Change Of Heart Regarding Album Sales & Artistry
DIGITAL NEWS By MZ on November 20, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I really didn’t want to speak on this until his official first week numbers came in because, outside of water cooler banter, it doesn’t really matter much. At least not to the average listener; I imagine first week numbers can make or break a TI’s week nowadays. But in doing what 50 does best, he dropped this gem to Meka over at BET in response to Hits Daily Double’s projection that his first week sales to be around 150k-160k:
“The actual project is arguably my best work, to have the general public respond the way they’ve responded to it,” 50 continued. “I haven’t heard anything negative about my choices artistically, so if I was in the space where I absolutely needed finances from the actual sales of the record, it might mean something, but if it offers the material that I can go out and perform and make everyone enjoy themselves as much as I enjoyed myself making it, Ill be happy with it.”
*Rubs eyes*
Yep, that’s 50 “Mr. I Made First Week Sales The End All Be All” Cent extolling on the artistic merits of BISD. Of course he also essentially said “It doesn’t matter what I sell because I’m already rich and it just gives me more to perform, which will make me money regardless if people in the crowd bought my new album or not.” Some may call 150k – 160k a flop (especially when you consider his iTunes sales from Nov. 9th are included as well) considering 50’s past track record, but it’s more of just a sign of the times. I’m sure a lot of people would kill for 150k.
It’s amusing to see Curtis speak so highly on artistic vision now, given his track record putting sales before music. Has he turned a new leaf or is he just saving face?
As an aside, here’s his appearance on Gotty’s™ favorite late night show show, Chelsea Lately.
Posted in DIGITAL NEWS, SMOKE BREAK, THE NEW MODEL — Tags: 50 Cent, Before I Self Destruct, Chelsea Handler, Chelsea Lately, Interscope, iTunes, Soundscan, VIDEO
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56 Comments
“Some may call 150k – 160k a flop … but it’s more of just a sign of the times. ”
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Agreed. 150K with the leak a month ahead is really not as bad as it sounds. I wonder what this album would have done if it leaked normally (week in advance). I’m just saying, I don’t think it’s as bad as 50 haters make it out to be.
Figgedey Flop
Umm..this is 50 cent. Dude’s whole shtick is numbers. Numbers. Numbers. Numbers. He did Rick Ross numbers.
Are we forgetting how he made fun of Ross’s numbers? 50’s a lame.
^ egg-zactly
Contra, what did I say last week? “50 Cent won’t outdo Kid Cudi’s 1st week numbers.
Rick needs to make Rick Ross numbers just to be Rick Ross. 50 Cent can make Rick Ross numbers and still be 50 Cent. He doesn’t have to do *shit*! If you don’t know what that means then 50’s quote isn’t for you.
He is now known internationally as the cat who flopped. Somewhere Mr. Knowles is having a good laugh. lol
*slow clap*
Thank you 50 for admitting you lost.
Only been like 3 days since the album came out so 150.000 isn’t bad at all.
And those numbers only represent the US-sales. Internationally he going to outsell all of your favourite artistis, excluding Em.
50’s net brigade got more excuses than a pregnant nun smh.
“I’ve never heard a Jay-Z song. I don’t listen to pop music,” – Miley Cyrus
Best quote I’ve seen all year
Ain’t no excuses, just reality.
Y’all still saying he lost to Kanye with Curtis but internationally he sold more.
Now what’s more important?
US sales or International Sales?
Only been like 3 days since the album came out so 150.000 isn’t bad at all.
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46,000 of those are from the week of Nov. 9th iTunes sales, where he got them to count & they only had the album for purchase & not songs a la carte.
another curtis jackson business move ftw
Word @ DS. And I agreed with you on the most part.
Ross did 158 on Trilla right? Lets see what homie does on his double disk, extra digital week, best album ever 1st week sales. Real talk, if he doesn’t touch 300, he needs to sit down and shut up.
But we all know he wont….
Ain’t no excuses, just reality.
Y’all still saying he lost to Kanye with Curtis but internationally he sold more.
Now what’s more important?
US sales or International Sales?
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You go gold just by selling 10k lmao.
*slits wrists*
goodbye cruel world.
“I haven’t heard anything negative about my choices artistically”
*blank stare*
His album is still gonna go platinum.
LOL & SMH @ Cats preying on this man’s downfall.
internets leaks + fiddy’s arrogancy = 160k is a flop (for a mogul like him btw). cudi did that and that’s great for him in this crisis/internet era. but for fiddy it’s not enough against the wayne’s, jayz’s, t.i.’s and yeezy’s
ps: lloyd banks’ year is 2010, ‘Get It Hot’ remix video,
plus double mixtapes on the way and third solo album. it’s his time now
fiddy’s BISD part II on the way as eminems relapse refill,
Gunit 3rdnlast album in 2012 “end of time theory” that’s a good concept for them.
and then fiddy’s comeback with a big album
(wit eminem & dr dre in a laboratory… somewhere) !
fiddy is strong enough to create great comeback for his fifth solo album. After ‘Detox’ of course !
fiddy is worldwide platinium
@ Amp
I hope you were LMAO and SMH over 50 cheer-leading other artists downfall.
He set himself up for this. He has strong enough instincts that he may have another smash album in the future. But for now having John Mayer crush him in album sales is not a good look.
I forgot all about it until I heard hot 97 promote it on Tuesday. People are entitled to call BS on how he spun his first week sales but can you really be surprised?
@ Ampgeez
Haha yup, 50 is still one of the most polarizing rappers around.
i could care less about the numbers its about the music, and his musics actually pretty good again
ergo: no ego
its okay fif…you went platinum in my heart.
I like the album. All that other shit is entertaining too, but dudes stay hating. I thought y’all wanted entertainment?
50=done
“Rick Ross album can’t be considered a flop because its a number one album ” – 50 cent – he only dissed the 8,000 sales from fat joe and 10,000 from Triple C’s.
its okay fif…you went platinum in my heart.
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LOL
I’m not praying for his downfall, because like he said he’s rich. & he’s too shrewed to lose his money. He just did a 180 on his stance & it deserves to be discussed.
People want 50 to fail so bad that they’re willing to ignore the fact that his album is pretty fucking ill!!! Fuck the first week sales, give it some time and I guarantee that 50 will move units. I’m loving this album, he’s back on his gutta shit and making bangers for the streets. Then again, this site is pro-Jigga/anti-50.
Before I Self Destruct >>>>>>> The Blueprint 3
I bought both albums and played them, scrutinized them, and evaluated them front to back. Jay ain’t saying shit this time around, 50 has regained his hunger to some extent on this album. Talk to me.
HE SUCKS AS HE ALWAYS HAS AND NOW ITS CATCHING UP STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR HIM PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The comment wasn’t even directed at you MZ. The article makes it’s points well and 50 had this coming to him. I just think cats are being premature with the 50 is finished” rhetoric, especial considering the album’s content and the amount of time between the leak and the release date.
Dude will still sell some records and he will continue to be a thorn in the side of his detractors cause even without the sales, 50 Cent is entertaining in a way the best rapper’s alive wish they were.
Dude will still sell some records and he will continue to be a thorn in the side of his detractors cause even without the sales, 50 Cent is entertaining in a way the best rapper’s alive wish they were.
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Co-sign my ninja.
I just think cats are being premature with the 50 is finished” rhetoric
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no doubt.
150K is the new 1.5M.
I don’t chime in much, but I will not stand by when people claim this site is pro anything. I personally feel this is the only hip-hop site where inteligent discussion is encouraged. Me personally I’ve crossed over into listening to music for it’s real worth and not for all the hype and bs around it. That being said I still can’t bring myself to get down with 50 because he’s built his career on the aformentioned bs. This is actually a pointless comment because I really don’t care that much either way. *Turns up El Michels and rides out* Go FAMU!
Susan Boyle outsold 50 Cent. Then again she outsold all your favorite rappers combined in 2009.
King”.
50 Cent is the undisputed king of the Hip Hop Talking Point. If I only had a dollar for every time he said “In the space”.
Beyond that, I agree that many would kill for 150k in this era so I don’t think anybody can say he flopped or anything, the public seems to like this album, which is a good thing considering they’ve (I’ve) pretty much disliked everything he put out this year sans “Forever King”.
If you are a new artist, hell yea you’d kill for 150k but if you are 50 Cent, 150k is a flop. 2007 – 697k. 2009 – 150k. In 2007, people were preaching that “nobody buying albums” shit too but he still sold 697k. There are no excuses!!
This is a straight up FLOP. 150k with two weeks worth of sales for a giant like 50 Cent??? Not to mention the major promo run he went on and is still on, the extra movies, and the disses to create interest strategy.
of course it’s a flop and people are trying to come up with every excuse in the book. Rick Ross sold more first week and his shit was #1 album, Kid Cudi, JayZ etc. But he stay trying to make fun of them though. 50 Cent is finished. It’s over. Unless there is some way he can humble thyself…his rap career is gone. Now that he aint selling he wanna talk about how artistic the album is? Nigga GTFOH
Yes this is a flop for 50. To everyone saying its not, what would you say if Jay/Kanye/Wayne/T.I. etc did those numbers? FLOP! They’re all in the same league, they all play by the same rules. The fact that he is already defensive should be proof enough.
And no I don’t pray for 50’s downfall either. Like he said himself, album sales aren’t going to make or break him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he lost some relevance, but its not that big of a thing for him. Shit he still has millions of dollars.
All the same I don’t mind seeing someone reap what they sow.
I told my girl about 50’s album selling so low; she said “who listens to 50 cent anymore?” I nodded and changed the subject. She summed it up perfectly. Also I had a copy of carter 3 and blueprint 3 at LEAST 3 weeks in advance off of rapidshare. I had the blueprint 3 so early that I hadnt heard of a release date when I downloaded. Both of those albums had good solid numbers.
That 160k doesn’t include itunes, some guy read it wrong and posted it up online and from then on it’s spread. go reread the Hitsdailydouble article, they specifically say it doesn’t include the Itunes sales. So he will probably end up doing 200k+ which is still a flop for him.
“Has he turned a new leaf or is he just saving face?”
He’s SAVING FACE!! SAVING FACE! SAVING FAAAAAAAAACCCCCEEEEEE!!!!! The new record is good but this man is some ol bull…
fiddy is worldwide platinium
^^
exactly, even that whole “kanye beat him” shit, internationally 50 still outsold him.However
I’m glad this should finally dead the issue of sales stop people rating albums on their numbers…. big sales numbers just don’t happen in the current market anymore…
fuck that shit, curt deserves better.
As stated before [here], I have not really been a fan of his music since Get Rich or Die Tryin’…
But this greatly concerns me.
For those who make a living from music (50 is no longer in that category) or the music industry (every facet)… this is a grand wake-up call.
Diversify – and quickly.
If you are an aspiring artist… YOU MUST COME UP WITH THE NEXT WAY TO GENERATE REVENUE FROM MUSIC.
You are going to have to be an aspiring artist as well as INVENTOR if you now wish to own a home, car, have health insurance (tentative), put your children through school (and food on the table for them) from making music alone.
Be forewarned.
Either that or make music on the side. Go get your degree and do music as a hobby – if it works out to where it can be a full-time occupation, great, if not… you will not have the worries.
I am telling you because I see it.
I see the declining budgets, declining sales, less money coming in. This industry is ruined – until someone comes up with a way to make money from it once again.
I was speaking to an exec about this today when she brought up 50’s numbers (someone at his own label) and I equated purchasing music to asking us to start purchasing email addresses.
My first email address was free through Hotmail (I still have it) back in 95. Once something is free, you are not going to pay for it. These kids have grown up NOT paying for music – so why would they all of the sudden start willingly paying for it now?
We need a new model in music and you had better be the one to come up with that model or spend years wasted just getting by and struggling.
Who of you wants to struggle or just “get by” in your life?
I do not know of many who do.
Aspiring musicians please take my advice (because I know what I am talking about): DO NOT MAKE MUSIC YOUR #1 GOAL PRESENTLY.
Trust me.
Use it as a hobby. Go get a degree or find something else that you love to do and use music as a side thing.
(I would caution even getting involved with ANYTHING related to the industry at this point)
Again, if you become the next 50 or Jay… great. But do not count on it.
This (above – 50) is your future.
first week number always interest me as do those outside the states. when all is said in done i’m sure 50’s album will have generated some serious cash whether its 150 or 300 or whatever… certainly more than his peers.
as far as the music is concerned I don’t think anybody really outclasses him in the gangster rap department. can you really say t.i., wayne, ross, game (you could add a few more, maybe fab) are really any better? interesting to see if t.i. and wayne can still do 500k+ though.
^ That was some real shit my dude. If you’re a aspiring artist and your goal isn’t just to make great music you shouldn’t really even bother at this point.
@rosecity: oh come on. There are artists who do bigger numbers currently. It comes down to the fact that his music is stagnant and not in high demand. Of course lil Wayne would do those numbers (prob first day) and I bet TI could do more when he gets out of jail. The public doesn’t like him as a person; and he doesn’t have the musical talent to still draw people to his albums. I spin in DC and it has been well over a year since someone requested a 50 song. Easily. Sadly I saw the same thing coming with Wale (who I like) because girls always wanted to hear “the lady gaga song with the rapper.”
“what would you say if Jay/Kanye/Wayne/T.I. etc did those numbers? FLOP! They’re all in the same league”
They are NOT in the same league (especially Jay-Z and T.I.) Period.
Hip-Hop in India = 50 Cent
and now go and take a look at World’s Population chart.
for the record, digital sales or not included,they r talkng bout his nov 16 release date.not itunes nov 9 date, too diff release dates,and besdes that this is just a projection anyays …..
Its one thang being cocky and its another being arrogant. I think 50 is arrogant reflects in his numbers. Maybe he’ll go GOLD .Honestly, his mususic sounds that same. I don’t see that change.
currrrtisssss
50 cent needs to take a break & get that hunger back. It’s so much pressure to compete with get rich or die trying. BISD flopped cause his heart wasn’t into it. Ya’ll don’t want to see 50 of when he first came out. Raw & Hungry. The Great ones fall & get right back up. He’ll be back. Better than ever.