Calling the last ten years for 50 Cent a journey would be an understatement. Coming into the rap game, fresh off a strong run of mixtapes, 50 Cent was the ultimate underdog. At the time, he found himself on the bad side of Murder Inc.’s duo of Ja Rule and Irv Gotti. While the mixtape scene was dominated by 50 Cent, Ja Rule was the biggest artist on mainstream.
Though street fans had grown tired of Ja Rule’s anthem for the women, the mainstream loved it. Irv Gotti, meanwhile had become one of the biggest producers in the game, with many comparing him to Dr. Dre, who rapped over an Irv Gotti beat. Given the way things looked, it was only a matter of time before Ja Rule collaborated with Shady/Aftermath.
But, his decision to include Dr. Dre and Eminem in his feud with 50 Cent after they signed him quickly ended those possibilites. 50 Cent’s success coincided with Ja Rule’s downfall and he rose to mainstream success, feuding with the likes of Nas, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, and his own artist, The Game.
50 Cent had strict rules of who his team could collaborate with and they could not collaborate with, or speak highly of, any of his rivals. However, Rick Ross proved to be the exception of the rule, as he gained more popularity after dissing 50 Cent, and has been working with Dr. Dre. During his interview with WGCI’s “The Morning Riot,” 50 Cent spoke on Dr. Dre’s Detox and his work with his rival, Rick Ross.
