When 50 Cent made his mainstream entry in the rap game, he immediately changed things. At the time, Ja Rule and Murder Inc. were on top of the game, this changed when 50 Cent entered. Rap stardom was only part of what 50 Cent wanted, however.
Partnering with Interscope Records allowed 50 Cent to finally grow his record label, G-Unit, to be more than a group. G-Unit Records soon began signing multiple artists to their roster. Notable during this run was the launch of G-Unit films, leading to the Get Rich or Die Tryin’ film.
50 Cent soon landed a $200 million deal with Lionsgate Films and created such movies as All Things Fall Apart. Many figures in hip hop have had success with movies, but hip hop is now beginning to capitalize on television and not just sitcoms, full dramas and primetime soap operas. Less than a decade ago, the idea of soap operas being welcomed in hip hop would have been met with laughs.
Daytime television is in peril when it comes to the soap operas and only a few still exist. Those who admit to watching them still get met with laughs, but all of that is slowly changing. A key figure in this change is 50 Cent, the creator and executive producer of “Power,” which airs on Starz and is returning for its second season, which starts on June 6.
With “Power” in its second season, 50 Cent is doing a lot of promotion for the show. The success of “Empire” means he has to step his game up with his show, but there were also elements of the FOX drama that were lifted from “Power,” which 50 Cent pointed out. But, “Power” is a much different show, which 50 Cent also pointed out after watching an episode of “Empire.”
The shift came from 50 Cent and he is keeping the traditional soap genre alive, with Debbi Morgan of “All My Children” fame having a role on the show. Definitely cashing in on the soap genre and using elements of it for “Power,” the show’s storyline of a drug kingpin going legit and dealing with the fallout keeps people tuned in. Some elements of Ghost are similar to that of “General Hospital” central character, Sonny Corinthos.
Often, many daytime soap opera pundits question why daytime soap operas have failed in recent years. They answered their own question by pointing out the fast pace on “Power” and their storyline. But, it’s clear “Power’s” main character, Ghost (James St. Patrick) is inspired by the likes of the aforementioned Sonny, “The Young and the Restless” main character, Victor Newman, and all of the other powerful soap opera antiheroes.
However, the difference is 50 Cent and company have also based Ghost off of himself. But, the traditional soap elements are all in play, the difference comes in with the hip hop music being added in and issues relating to hip hop’s target market being included on the show. The standard is definitely set and, at least for the next five years, fans should get used to “Power,” “Empire,” and other hip hop soap operas joining the mix.
