If you want a sense of how stressful it's been for 50 Cent to release his third album, just look at the CD cover. Whereas his first two albums featured portraits that exuded confidence and authority - a rippling torso coupled with a menacing glare - 50's new album out Tuesday, "Curtis," shows a seemingly frustrated 50, hands on his head, an extreme close-up accenting his furrowed brow.
"This has been such an unpleasant process," 50 admits during an interview, a bit wearily.
At times, it's been a downright unfriendly process as well. First he had to deal with a lackluster response to the album's first singles, including the "Candy Shop" sound-alike "Amusement Park" that drew yawns from radio. Then his record label, Interscope, pushed back the release date from summer to fall amid battles over promotion.
Finally, there have been whispers - getting louder by the day - that the streets are growing tired of their favorite bullet-scarred, tough-talking antihero. A direct challenge from critical darling Kanye West, whose album "Graduation" also drops Tuesday, only served to fuel rumors that the mighty 50's global empire is vulnerable.
Still, despite all the setbacks, 50 isn't about to cede his position as rap's reigning sales king, to Kanye or anyone else. When asked if he's suffering from a backlash of sorts, he readily acknowledges it - and just as easily dismisses it.
"That's exactly what I'm experiencing. Like right now, they're anti-Beyonce," he says of hip-hop's fickle fans. "But we don't have a replacement for Beyonce. ... and we don't have a replacement for 50 Cent. Until they can find an artist that builds the same consistency ... they better stick with what they got before they be stuck with nothin'!"
Given 50's past spectacular success, it's hard to fault his bravado. He debuted in 2003 with "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," which sold a stunning seven million copies. Two years later, his "Massacre" sold 1.1 million the first week alone, and went on to sell approximately five million.
His victories didn't stop at records. The charismatic New York rapper launched a G-Unit record label, which had top selling debuts from entourage members like Lloyd Banks, and G-Unit clothes, which have adorned everything from baby tees to backpacks. He also became a mogul with deals like a Vitamin Water endorsement and street lit book franchise, and starred in several movies, including his own autobiographical flick.
"He's transcended just rap or hip-hop," says Stephen Hill, an executive vice president at BET. "He's a businessman, he's head of a G-unit brand ... He's incredibly smart as well as being incredibly connected to the street."


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