G-Unit Records finds a home at EMI Records

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

50 Cent made it painfully clear to Interscope Records of his impending departure three years ago. Known for speaking and retracting, many assumed things would change. As promotion for his fourth studio album, Before I Self Destruct, it appeared as if he may be inclined to stay with the label responsible for making him big.

However, following the lackluster sales of the album, the lowest of his career, 50 Cent made plans to leave. From the start, 50 Cent said G-Unit was going to leave Interscope Records, but hinted at the possibility of him staying. Actually signed to Aftermath as opposed to his own G-Unit label, 50 Cent said he may stay with Dr. Dre. When Dre chose Game over him, though, 50 Cent set his sights on landing over at Def Jam.

The deal between G-Unit and Def Jam was all but done, when it fell apart at the last minute. Speculation says the feud between 50 Cent and Rick Ross kept G-Unit Records from moving to Def Jam. However, 50 Cent plans to expand the G-Unit label to the size of Def Jam and he needs a major label for that task. In the future, there are plans for a G-Unit South label, G-Unit West label, more artists added to the mainstream G-Unit label and a film division. 50 Cent had considering linking with an independent distributor, but after the way he teased his rivals, Cam'ron and Fat Joe, for being indie, he stayed major.

Hoping to have more creative control, 50 Cent moved his entire roster of artists, including Young Buck, over to EMI Records. There were rumors of G-Unit Records moving over to Capitol Records, the biggest division of EMI Records, but 50 Cent soundly shot that rumor down. The executives of EMI, however, will still be laughing their way straight to the bank with 50 Cent and his entire roster under their label.