Huffington Magazine Issue 52 | Page 70

Exit S HE ADDS MORE business ventures and philanthropic efforts to his resume, 50 Cent has found himself in a curious spot. Battling not only album delays (see: the upcoming Street King Immortal), but also a rapidly shifting hip-hop landscape, the man who exploded onto the scene 10 years ago with the inescapable night-out anthem “In Da Club” is once again hungry, and acutely aware that living legend-status doesn’t necessarily come with influence or relevance. MAJA HITIJ/DAPD/AP PHOTO A MUSIC Consider this: When 50 Cent dropped “Get Rich or Die Tryin,’” it was still vaguely acceptable for his mentor Eminem to refer to homosexuals using gay slurs, rap was becoming the dominant music of American party and radio culture, and Snoop Lion was still a Dogg. So, yes, time files. I asked 50 to lay aside all album delays, business stresses and take a look at his own legacy. If he never released another song, would he be pleased with his legacy? “I’m comfortable,” he says. “I’ve made some of the right steps. Of course I’ve made mistakes, and some of them aren’t visible because of momen- HUFFINGTON 06.09.13 50 Cent performs at the 2012 IFA Consumer Electronics Fair in Berlin, where he also showcased products from his audio company, SMS Audio.