50 Cent Explains Why He’s A Bully: I had to be two versions of me.

Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson

Rapper, actor, entrepreneur, investor, record, film, and executive producer 50 Cent (born Curtis Jackson) has displayed his multifaceted sides over the years. People have described the rapper turned mogul as a “bully” and a “savage”, while 50 cent has described himself as a “pussycat.” Recently, he spoke with Vanity Fair about the upcoming third season of Power, his new variety show for the A&E network and why he’s had to be many men. Peep excerpts below.

On being Curtis Jackson vs. 50 Cent:

Growing up, I had to be two versions of me. I had to be aggressive enough to get by in my environment and then be my grandmother’s baby in the house. That’s the two versions. I wasn’t even able to cuss in my grandmother’s house. Since she passed, my grandfather is that for me now. He still lives where I grew up in Queens, but also Long Island. I moved him to a new place.

Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson

On if he will payout his recent lawsuit:

Oh, you know I ain’t got any money. [Laughs.]

On how success has changed his friendships:

I went from a basement apartment in Queens to a 50,000-square-foot house, and when you’re successful, it’s valuable to have people around who represent what was there before all the confusion started. But you know what happens? If you don’t take people with you, they say you left everyone behind. And if you get them involved in your businesses and provide an opportunity for them to better their life, they become someone who works for you. Then that taints the relationship.

50 Cent, Floyd Mayweather

On 50 Cent vs. Floyd Mayweather:

Floyd and I are really good friends, but we argue like regular people argue. The difference is when we have disputes, it winds up on CNN or Instagram. I can cuss him out, call him names, say whatever I want to him, but he’s my little brother. Every fighter says he’s going to retire—what’s left when you fight the biggest, most highly anticipated fight? But I do think he’ll fight again.

On what it was like dating Chelsea Handler:

Yes, for eight months. If you’re around her long enough, to know her is to love her. She has a captivating personality; she’s just totally honest—do you know how difficult that can be?

On if marriage is in the future:

I’m not sure. I do want the friendship that I think can be priceless, and if that’s what comes along with it, I’ll take that.

Empire Cast (Upfronts 2015)

On how he feels about Empire:

The comparisons between those shows are really small. I don’t even like being classified as a black show. The movie American Gangster had Denzel Washington in it, Russell Crowe as the cop, and the poster had both of them on it. [Eminem’s] 8 Mile was a movie about the hip-hop world and it opened in about 3,000 theaters. But Get Rich or Die Tryin’ [the semi-autobiographical film that marked 50 Cent’s acting debut] cost $36 million; they gave me [director] Jim Sheridan, Quincy Jones did the score that movie and was classified as a black movie—and it opened in 1,700 theaters. I guess all we needed was a white police officer.

With Power, I wanted the poster to feature Joe Sikora—Tommy [the white character]—because this show is as diverse as New York City. When we said that New York was a character, it is literally that. My goal is to make the show bigger and bigger and have everybody watch it.

Naughton, 50 Cent

On if he will appear on Power this season:

I come back.

Read the full article here.

By -@OctaviaNakia