As one of Hip Hop's elite group of successful moguls, 50 Cent has mentored several artists. The Rap icon's accolades include everything from television to production to music and beyond, so it was only fitting that he caught up with Billboard for a sprawling feature. During the conversation, Fif was asked about mentoring artists like DaBaby and Pop Smoke. Additionally, he was questioned about this generation's Hip Hop artists and his involvement in helping them with their careers.
"I only like the ones that I see myself in. A lot of the other s–t, I be like, 'Yeah, what the f–k is this, man?' I’ve got to believe them and the s–t they’re saying to be into the artist. They [also] have to want to be mentored. I’ll talk to them and touch base with them because I see that in them. You go, 'Yo, you have to focus on what you came for and what’s important to you, and get those things together versus just riding it out."
Read More: 50 Cent Comments On Cardi B Fighting Nicki Minaj: “She Been Through Way Worse”
Fif also touched on his "competitive energy," noting that "Hip Hop culture makes you battle." He further mentioned Nicki Minaj. "But the funny s–t is, I like watching her when she’s upset," he said. "I like that because she has something that comes from the experience of living in South Jamaica. I’m looking at it like, 'Yo, I know they think she’s nuts, but they only think that because they don’t understand.' I get it. She thinks you’re trying to play her."
"When Cardi B came, I thought she was dope. She’s from the bottom," Fif also said. "She was in Club Lust in Brooklyn. [Going] from that and actually making a hit record and turning into who she did? I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t like to see that. It felt like she got everything — married, the baby — it came really fast. That’s the American dream right there."
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"When her and Nicki clash, I go, 'Oh, s–t, it’s going to be interesting to watch how it plays out.' Lyrically, I won’t say anything competitively about the two of them, but I love Nicki. I don’t have anything against Cardi. I think anyone who comes now, she is going to check their temperature. Nicki is going to check if this b-tch is friendly or looking to take over the s–t."
Meanwhile, the tension between Minaj and Cardi has been well-documented. These days, the women have quietly been in their own spaces, but their fanbases have been called out for continuously pitting the women against one another. Check out more from 50 Cent's Billboard cover feature below.
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