50 Cent gives his opinion on Billboard and VIBE’s top 50 rappers list.
50 Cent, who recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin“, made an appearance on MSNBC for an interview with Ari Melber. The rapper talked about his new television broadcast deal with Fox, the 2024 elections and more. During the conversation, he was also asked about Billboard and Vibe’s recently released top 50 best rappers list, which was topped by JAY-Z.
“Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar and Nas top 3? Nah, they are still good artists but all time? No. I do not know who should be number one artist is,” he said at the 29:30 minute mark. “It depends on a time period. How do you not look at number one selling artist if we are in business? If we are in business, then you have to look at number one selling artist, because it’s a business.”
He continued, “I am talking about Eminem when I’m saying that. Em sold like 90 million records [in the US]. The bridge, when you see these Lamborghinis, Ferraris and Bentleys, there are no Lamborghinis and Ferraris for you to buy from Hip-Hop culture if there is no consumer base. If they don’t see where they fit into the culture then there is no reason for them to support and buy it.”
“So, right now them guys at home are like ‘Ooo, 50 just loves Eminem so much,’ yeah… I love him to death. I do love Em to death. I am looking at it and I am saying why would people be interested in it enough to consume it without it being marketed to them directly for them to feel like they are part of it.”
Meanwhile, Ice Cube has expressed dissatisfaction with Billboard’s Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time lineup, arguing that his ranking on the list is evidence that the publication “ain’t Hip Hop.” “Who?” he asked rhetorically when the reporter mentioned Billboard‘s list. “I don’t f**k with Billboard or the editor. Billboard ain’t Hip Hop so their opinion don’t matter. So who gives a f**k?”
In a recent interview, Lil Wayne also reacted to the list, and claimed that he should be number 1. “Man, who the hell is before me? Was the list including ALL hip-hop, like before and after as well?” he said. “I can deal with that… I will tell you that I am a muthaf**kin’ one. Everybody whose names you named, they also know I’m number one. Go ask ’em. They know what it is.”
Just recently, Fif celebrated 20 years of friendship with Eminem and Dr. Dre during his celebration post for “Get Rich Or Die Tryin” album’s 20 years. “When you have a team like this it’s hard to lose, I’m so blessed to have worked with the best ever,” 50 wrote on Instagram. “You can re-write a book, you can re-write a song but you can’t re-write history. The 3 headed monster EM, DRE and 50cent. Boom.”
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