Public Enemy Number One

We at VICE are taking full credit for 50 Cent getting signed to Eminem’s Shady Records. In ’99, the song "How To Rob An Industry Nigga" came out, with 50 Cent namedropping over 30 rappers with shit like, I rob Pun without a gun, snatch his piece and run/This nigga weigh 400 pounds, how’s he gonna catch me son?? None of the lambasted rappers thought it was funny, and 50 quickly became the most hated MC in the game, lost his record deal, and got shot nine times. Last year, seemingly out of the blue, he started putting out mixtapes of his own amazing freestyles. Then he bootlegged his shelved LP. VICE reviewed the record and gave it love. We’re betting that Eminem read our review (because you know he sweats Vice), heard the surprisingly dope album, and signed 50 on the spot. VICE: You got into some trouble after "How To Rob." Didn’t you get stabbed by Ja Rule?
50 Cent: He and I had our first altercation in Atlanta. He said more than what you can say to another man, so I punched him in the eye. The next time we crossed paths, I ended up with three stitches, but it was nothing. The shit stopped bleeding on its own. I’ve gotten worse scars from my baby moms. The whole thing with Ja Rule is just media hype. You know how that goes. Like that night Jam Master Jay passed and I had to cancel my show. I don’t know nothing about nothing and all of a sudden they tell me somebody’s trying to kill me. Word? Tell me something I don’t know, nigga.

Sean’s opinion:

I like, I love rap music. Yeah I do.

I like the um, disco music. I like the music on this.

(After paying attention to the lyrics, Sean refused to listen to 50 Cent again. He didn’t like the vulgar language.)

Any tips on how to rob rappers?
Well, first you got to look good. Half the time, security be off point, and if you look good, they’ll overlook you. Plus, rappers keep buying new jewelry, so you can get them again and again. In the hood, somebody’s always going to try you. In LA, it’s gangs. Here in New York, it’s a drug dealer structure. Individuals get money from each other, and with enough finances you can make anything happen. Certain artists hire people to rob other rappers. The bottom line about robbery is this: be prepared to pop niggas if it don’t go right. 50 Cent’s album, Get Rich or Die Trying, is out in February on Shady Records/Aftermath.