730 Column: The End of the 50 Cent Era?

Remember when all 50 Cent had to do to turn an entire fanbase against an artist was snicker in his, or in Ashanti’s case, her direction. Those flinchingly loyal fans all of a sudden had to burn their CDs, trash their mp3s, and deny any positive feelings they may have had for said artist at any time. Back in the day, and it makes me feel old that I can write like that now, 50 launched an all-out assault on this cat named Ja Rule, who was absolutely killing the game at the time. Not only did every single he drop strike radio gold, but he had a solid team around him, and, more valuable than all of that, Ja had perfected the rap and R&B crossover that 50 would soon take for himself, minus corny J.Lo cameos.

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