S. Samuel
G-Unit head 50 Cent recently discussed the various factors which contributed to his shocking exit from Interscope Records last month and admitted fear played a significant role in the decision.
In Fif’s perspective, too much emphasis on Interscope placing its focus on marketing around CEO Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre‘s Beats By Dre audio company left a bad taste in his mouth.
“Not that there wasn’t a whole lot of support, but just an actual fear factor created from the aura of respect that Jimmy[Iovine] has within the Interscope system,” Fif began to explain. “When you see Interscope turn into Beats Records, where everyone that you see is actually marketing Beats headphones — you don’t even see a music video without Beats headphones in it.” (MTV)
A few days ago, 50 revealed Interscope hit him with various restrictions after the launch of his SMS Audio headphones line a few years ago.
“Interscope is Beats Records,” 50 Cent told FORBES. “There’s no artist that has a marketing budget supporting what they’re actually doing that doesn’t have Beats headphones in the actual visual to support that brand, that company. So when I invested in SMS Audio, it kind of made people afraid.” In particular, 50 Cent recalls not being allowed to display his own SMS headphones shooting the video for “My Life.” At one point, he wore a hat with the SMS logo on it; the letters were blurred out in the final edit. (Forbes)
Rap veteran Pharoahe Monch recently spoke to SOHH about the theory of going indie being the best option for every musician.
“The music sets the tone for the career that you want as well. It’s maybe talking about less exposure but a more loyal fan base,” Monche told SOHH’s Nikita Rathod. “To what degree if you are already a multi-millionaire do you need the middle man? What does 50 Cent need with them? What do they do? What relationship does he have that he doesn’t already have with contacts of his own? If you got your manager and your agent, at that level, you can make it work like a label.” (SOHH)
Pharoahe also offered up some suggestions for aspiring artists looking to plan out their careers.
“So as for the young up and coming artists, who are trying to find fans and trying to find a place for themselves in the industry, it’s a much different course than when you have a fan base,” Monch added. “I was fortunate that I had that fan base already, a niche fan base. At least I had that already, so it made the transition a little easier and I was fortunate enough to keep the fans along the way. If you are an upcoming artist, the marketing is much more different because you are trying to break into the industry.” (SOHH)
