Christian BryantHip-hop artist 50 Cent is going indie. Mr. "P.I.M.P." announced Thursday he's leaving his current label for presumably greener pastures.
50 Cent, a.k.a. Curtis Jackson, and his own imprint, G-Unit Records, are parting ways with Interscope Records and Shady Records/Aftermath Entertainment after more than a decade. (Via Interscope / 50 Cent)
With his departure, 50 also parts ways with Eminem, his longtime friend and mentor who gave him his first big break in 2002 under Shady Records.
"I felt like 50 was going to be gigantic. Within those couple of days, I brought him to [Dr.] Dre and was like, 'Yo, you need to hear 50.' I played him one record and he was like, 'Let's do it.'" (Via VH1 / "Behind The Music")
50 posted a statement on his website saying, "I'd like to thank Eminem and Dr. Dre for giving me an incredible opportunity. I've learned so much from them through the years. I am excited to enter this new era where I can carry out my creative vision."
Eminem also released a statement saying "I've developed a great friendship with 50 over the years, and that's not going to change. We know 50 will have success in his new situation, and we remain supporters of both him and G-Unit." (Via Interscope Records / Eminem)
50 has previously been very vocal about wanting to cut ties with Interscope. He tweeted this back in 2012.
According to MTV, 50 blamed Interscope for delaying the release of his Street King Immortal project.
But now that he's signed with Caroline, an independent label under Capital Music Group, everything's good... right?
Well, there's no bad blood between 50 and Eminem, but G-Unit artist Tony Yayo say things aren't cool at all. According to Vibe, the original G-Unit artist said in comments on Instagram and Twitter the label is kaput and he doesn't want anything to do with music anymore.
Yayo signed with G-Unit records shortly after it was founded in 2003 and released his first solo album under the label in 2005. (Via Interscope Records / Tony Yayo)
According to Billboard, 50 plans to release his new album "Animal Ambition" June 3. Fans will be able to preorder the album March 18.
