at 14:25 on November 28, 2008, EDT.
By Michael Oliveira, THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO - With stock markets and real estate values plummeting, times are tough across the United States - even for rapper 50 Cent, who reportedly made US$150 million last year but is still anxiously watching his investment portfolio sink and multimillion-dollar mansion languish unsold.

The 33-year-old hip-hop mogul says he's not shy about lending his name to TV shows, movies, video games, clothes, sneakers, bottled water, body spray and condoms - in addition to selling his music, of course - because the last thing he wants is to be the next MC Hammer or Mike Tyson.

"Ten years ago that was actually taboo, for you to be associated with a major company or corporation - from a hip-hop perspective, you was a sell out," he said in an interview.

"But those artists from that time period are (television) specials, they're completely broke right now."

So he's willing to dress up in designer suits and play the part of a businessman when shaking hands with corporate heads, although he insists he'll always be a rapper from the streets at heart.

"I'm like the fire hydrant. I'll be right beside the street regardless of how they feel about it," he said.

50 Cent - real name Curtis Jackson - actually bought Tyson's old home in Farmington, Conn., in 2003 for US$4.1 million, and the "East Coast Playboy mansion," as he's nicknamed it, typifies the out-of-control excess that has bankrupted celebrities.

When 50 Cent put the 4,650-square-metre house up for sale, the listing mentioned its six kitchens, 19 bedrooms and 37 bathrooms. 50 Cent's additions included a 40-person hot tub and some of his own personal designer touches - like stripper poles.

He's been trying to sell it for US$18.5 million for more than a year now, and every night that he sleeps in the monster mansion he's reminded of Tyson's fall from grace.

"I'm waking up in a room that was previously Mike Tyson's bedroom, a fighter who earned over US$500 million in his actual career, and when I purchased his house from him he was in bankruptcy," he said.

"If that's not a strong enough reminder for you, I don't know what's going to remind you to be aware of where you are financially and make conscious decisions."

He's very aware of the downturn in the global markets and admits he's worried about watching his money disappear, even though he's got lots more of it hanging around.

"Well yeah, I lost a couple million dollars already, you see what I'm saying? I sit with my investors and business managers and accountants looking at the numbers and I'm like, 'Yo, the values of stocks in different areas that I invested in are decreasing!' So I take the loss like everybody else."

The sagging economy also persuaded him to delay the release of his new CD, "Before I Self Destruct," which was supposed to hit stores in time for Christmas.

The release has been pushed back into the new year to get more airplay for singles and build up as much hype as possible to ensure that CD sales aren't disappointing.

"Pushing it back was to position myself a little better. I want to make sure (buyers) hear some things before I actually get my CD physically on sale," he said.

Another way he's promoted the CD and its lead single "Get Up" was by making it the theme song for his new reality TV show, "The Money and the Power," which is airing in Canada on MuchMusic.

"Of course it helps to have 'Get Up' as theme music for my new show. When they run the commercial spots and all those different things it's a consistent reminder (about) the song."

Buyers of the album will also get a bonus disc with a new movie that 50 Cent directed, produced and starred in.

He believes there's no such thing as oversaturating his brand and he's happy with the deals he's made, especially the one that resulted in him getting his own record label, G-Unit Records, which is distributed through the Universal Music Group's Interscope Records.

"Even if I'm not as relevant as I was when I dropped (major label debut) 'Get Rich or Die Tryin,' five years from now I'll still be creating a platform for new artists to come through."


©The Canadian Press, 2008

Hmm funny, I didn't think Hammer was a sellout because he ventured out beyond rap - his cartoons, commercials, movie/tv cameo's etc. I felt like he was a sellout because he abandoned his image and his style to go gangsta' rap all of a sudden just to keep up with the masses. Plus Hammer with all of his endorsements and other money making ventures, he still wound up broke because of his uncontrollable and outrageous spending habits (purchasing nearly 18 vehicles was just rediculous) and besides that, Hammer isn't completely broke, he just isn't a multi-millionaire.

Fiddy, shut up.

oh, waaaah

Timmy84 said:

missfee said:

not just that, but he was throwing out money to EVERYBODY. He was trying to help the community but they turned against him

Timmy84 said:

Wow. Um. He's actually pretty reflective here and comes off with a lot of common sense. Was he on drugs?



On another note: Stripper Poles!!! LMAO!

i thought this might be a new trend in the hip-hop community. even rich folk are clipping coupons and shopping at wal-mart. and sorry 50, but you're going to be stuck with that 18.5 million $ home for a looooong time. (_?_)

luv4u said:

That DOES pretty much sum it up, though

SynthiaRose said:

One reason its not selling.I know MC hammers house got bought by some CEO
If you r targetting high end buyers and u add some ghetto accesories.
I bet they wont be too pleased.

50's ex and mother to his son she was staying at this expensive house owned by
him and he want her to vacate and he even took her to court.
Then one fine day the damn place mysteriously burnt down

Fifty Cent is the prime example of this "fake ass" image that consumed rap over the last 15 years at least. This is a guy who thinks he knows the streets, and yet first chance he ran and hid in a guarded community.

I do not like 50 Cent, but he came off as fairly intelligent and honest in this article. He knows he isn't as hot as he used to be and needs to resort to things like reality shows and bonus movies to sell his music.

Silence should become his best friend.

lastdecember said:

Exactly.