50 Cent’s anticipated mixtape is here, but 50 Cent has already proclaimed that his next album will drop on July 3, no matter what the conditions are surrounding the project.
“There’s a lot more business involved [in putting out an album] than the general public is aware of. And that part causes the actual delay with [Interscope]. I’m releasing my album July 3rd, whether is has commercial promotions or not,” he told AllHipHop exclusively. “My birthday is July 6 and I planned for it. And I’m doing everything that I planned to do regardless if its huge airplay or not. I could care less, I’m putting the record out.”
The untitled album has been in the works for a number of months and is reportedly finished at press time. Another project, Black Magic, was almost the fifth album from 50, but he scraped the entire project. Since his debut, Get Rich Or Die Trying, all of 50′s albums have been released via Interscope.
He said that the freedom from concerns of sales and business have helped him produce music closer to his heart.
“I don’t need a record to sell. How much money you think I’ma make off record sales? You think I’ma sell 13 million records?” Its starting to feel like that corner that I left,” 50 Cent explained, stressing that music’s ability to make money is now very limited. “I ain’t going to keep sitting on the records. Even if everything ain’t in order, album five will be out July 3 and they can wait another two years for me to give them another one.”
“I have new ideas so my passion for making the music hasn’t gone anywhere. That’s why I’m making music for free. The mixtape is for free unless DJ Drama is getting some paper I don’t know about. I need a piece of that paper,” 50 joked.
“Its not about the money,” Drama replied. “Its about the music.”
And musically, 50 delivers.
The Lost Tape, a 15-track opus, features cameos from Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Jeremih, Precious Paris, Kidd Kidd and beats from a number of producers like IllMind and Araab Muzik.
50 Cent explained The Lost Tape was the culmination of an attempted collaboration dating back to 2007.
“At the point is when the actual network of technology started kicking in. I started thisis50.com. So, started to put mixtapes out without actually having a DJ brand on it,” he explained. “It drove traffic to the site. It was effective there, so I said we might as well go and do [the mix tape with Drama.]“
He also said he wanted to get back to the real taste makers like DJ Drama, not bloggers that have begun to curate the culture.
“My entire career I’ve been happy with the launch of my material. I only put music out on the mixtapes to develop a consistency, because I believe consistency is the key to all success. And I’m giving out samples. If we selling dope, we gonna give out a few sample so the fiends know exactly what to expect. Drama and Gangsta Grillz is the biggest [mixtape] brand standing.”
Drama, a native of Philadelphia, explained his role in The Lost Tape at a time that seems particularly pivotal in 50 Cent’s illustrious career.
“I had my input, you know. I listened to the record upfront and we swapped out a few records to make this tape what is actually is today. When it becomes my brand, I like to treat them as albums,” Drama said. “And with Fif, because our brands are so strong, and the relevancy to the mix tape game, it would be a lot of eyes so I wanted to make sure we put the most potent project out – possible.”
Drama also said 50 Cent would be taking the mix tape hustle to the viral market as he has in the past, but to the next level.
“He’s doing a viral to every song. You know, every song will have a video. We worked on what were the strongest songs. Basically, treat it like an album, something people would flock to once they got an album,” Drama said.
Interscope has not release a statement or confirmation as to the release date for 50′s new album.
