50 Cent rebuilds

"America has turned into a crack house. A place to distribute product, we don't manufacture nothing so we got to get back to that. Even the clothes we're wearing is being shipped back on a slow boat from China."

50 Cent's long awaited fourth album Before I Self Destruct was released on iTunes today, just a week early before its official release on November 16^th.

Taking his place back at the top of the charts with his latest hit single “Baby By Me” featuring Neo and produced by Polo The Don, 50 revealed that it wasn't the creative process that stalled the album and caused it to be pushed back for nearly six months.

But in fact, it had more to do with the business and the climate of the recording industry we're in right now.  With only two albums going platinum this year so far, Jay-Z's Blueprint III and Eminem's Relapse, 50 wanted to make sure he was in that company.

“They was out of whack (Interscope Records) because they fired half the staff. The person that was in new media is now my product manager. Her responsibility… she's doing the job that three people used to do.  Everything just shifted around and is now all crazy.  So now I had to go back to redevelop what that system is within the system before we released this record and then it was to sit down with Eminem, Dre, Paul Rosenberg, Jimmy Iovine and Chris Lighty.  Then we sit there and go this is the single, this is the second single, this is where we going with after that.  Then it's let's launch this project and “Baby By Me” is out.”

When the album officially hits stores next week, a special edition will include two new movies, “Before I Self Destruct” and “Two Turntables And A Microphone:  The Life And Death Of Jam Master Jay.” Since downloading and bootlegging is at Mt. Everest and shows no signs of deteriorating, 50 reveled that these additions have to be included with the music nowadays because technology has made people no longer support real art anymore. Citing what will bring about regulation of pirating music, Curtis checked in with V-103's Greg Street while in Atlanta debuting his new fragrance “Power By 50” at Macy's, stating,

“When the blockbuster films that bring in a $120-million a weekend ain't bringing in no money, what's it going to do with our economy? All we got is entertainment in America. Everything you got, all the devices… the TVs, the microphone I'm talking on, it's made in Taiwan. Thailand, China, Bangkok.  America has turned into a crack house. A place to distribute product, we don't manufacture nothing so we got to get back to that. Even the clothes we're wearing is being shipped back on a slow boat from China.  As far as these clothing companies, when we do license agreements and deals… Sean John's kid's clothing is made by the same person that makes Roc-A-Wear kids clothing [and that] is made by the same person that makes G-Unit's kid's clothing so it's one big manufacturer.”

New York City Celebrates

G Swag

New York City will throw a parade Friday morning for the New York Yankees to celebrate their 27th World Series title. The victory parade will travel through the financial district's Canyon of Heroes.

The ticker-tape parade will begin on Broadway at Battery Place at 11 a.m. and continue uptown along the Canyon of Heroes to Chambers Street. Then, a ceremony will be held at City Hall Plaza, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg will present the Bronx Bombers with the Keys to the City.

Swaggerlicious

G Swag
In stores November 5th.Looking buffer than ever, 50 Cent is gearing up to launch his newest men’s fragrance, Power by Fifty Cent — and he’s giving PEOPLE readers an exclusive sneak peek at the ultra-sexy new campaign. “For me, power isn’t just something you learn on the street or in the boardroom — it’s a way of life,” says the rags-to-riches multiplatinum star. So just what does Power smell like? The masculine fragrance mixes notes like lemon leaves, black pepper, coriander and nutmeg—which all adds up, according to 50, to a whiff of success. “I really wanted to bottle up the rush it gives you so my fans can make it a part of their lifestyle,” he explains in a release. Power by Fifty Cent launches exclusively at Macy’s Nov. 5, with prices ranging from $50.50 (for a 1.7 oz. eau de toilette) to $68.50 (for a two-piece gift set of eau de toilette and after shave)

–Kristin Larson

Wayne's World

Lil Wayne graces the cover of Billboard Magazine for there new issue.

Given earlier leaks from the project, did you make many changes to the final version?

As of now Rebirth is coming out as a double disc with a [disc of songs] by Young Money. I had to add new cuts because a lot of things leaked, making people think they had an idea of what I was doing with Rebirth and what it would sound like. And I hated that because I never want anybody to think they know what I¹m doing until I present it. So what I did was make it totally different I flipped it.

Does the album still lean toward rock?

Yes, the album is still rock. I play guitar on 80% of the songs and there’s a lot of rock influences and rock beats. I also have Travis Barker on the album. But I don’t want people to think I’m trying to do something I can’t do. Don’t think you’re going to put on the album and hear me screaming and singing . . . Don’t worry about that [laughs]. When people hear me say rock, they may get a little scared like, Oh, God. What is he going to do? When I said I was doing a rock album, it was about doing a freedom thing. This album isn’t hip-hop. When I do my Carter albums, I know I’ve got to rap, I know I’ve got to spit. I know the words I’ve got to say and the subjects I’ve got to talk about. I also know the things I shouldn’t say, the things I shouldn’t talk about. There’s none of those limits on this album. I say what I want, how I want. That’s what this album is: a freedom album. And rock is the avenue that gives you that freedom. I’m just having fun, that’s all. Trust me: People will like these songs. It’s my job to make them love them, but I know for a fact they’ll like them.

World Series Swag