50 Cent is not one to shy away, always responding back to all news as it relates to himself and Young Guru revealing Jay-Z’s warning 20 years ago is no different.
As Jay-Z and Nas beefed it out on wax and stole headlines in the big apple, there was another New York rapper ready to make his mark. Hov a leader, and student of the game, saw 50 Cent’s potential a mile away.
Dropping an album every year since his “Reasonable Doubt” debut project in 1996, Jay-Z entered the 2000s with the mindset to dominate the rap game. Kicking off the decade with “The Dynasty: Roc La Familia” followed up with his solo albums “The Blueprint” and “The Blueprint 2,” Hov was enjoying the success as both projects peaked at number one on the Billboard 200.
Appearing on Math Hoffa’s My Expert Opinion, producer Young Guru recalled the time Jay-Z stepped into the studio and warned everyone about 50 Cent.
“There’s a point where Jay walks in the studio, and it just so happened that everybody was in the studio,” said Guru. “Jay walked in the studio—he said it before but I’m telling you how impactful it was—he walked in the studio and he was like, ‘Yo, this dude 50, y’all gonna have to deal with him in the next couple months.’ He said it to the whole crew, ‘You have to deal with him.'”
Turned out Hov was right. 50 Cent’s debut album in 2003, “Get Rich or Die Tryin,” not only peaked at number one on the Billboard 200, but nearly sold 1 million copies in its first week with over 872K units sold. Yes, that’s units sold, not streams. Very impressive.
The 16-track album would go on to sell over 9 million copies till this day and is regarded as one of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. 50 Cent, full aware of Guru’s interview and Jay-Z’s warning, took to social media for a response.
“@youngguru763 I love you niggas too, 🤷🏽♂️I just need somebody to compete with. It makes me find a way, Jay know I will always find a way. @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi,” 50 Cent wrote in the caption as he shared the video clip.