50 Cent Takes Rap Beef Online
by Markus Robinson
50 Cent has taken rap beef to a completely new level. Infusing the popularity of his website and the clever employment of social networking tools like Kyte and Youtube, 50cent’s beef with Rick Ross, has spilled off wax, and online. Unlike rap beefs of the past, this battle has quickly become less about the use of clever metaphors and more about the clever use of social media tactics, and so far it seems as if 50’s social media investment is paying dividends.
Regardless of which side of the 50 vs. Rick Ross debate you’re on, you must admit that that 50 cent is winning the battle of the number eyeballs. Using 50’s already mega popular Ning powered website, Thisis50.com, and Youtube Channel 50centmusic, 50 has launched barrage of assaults on Ross, including interviews with Rick Ross’s baby’s mother, the creation of an animated YouTube series, portraying Rick Ross as a police officer, as well as the launch of a YouTube series starring 50cent as a pimp name “Curly”, which spurred from a Rick Ross’ insult. Regardless how you slice it, 50cent has control of the medium, and thus control of the battle.
Ross has attempted to fire back, releasing his own cartoon taking shots at 50cent and the rest of G-Unit, but because of Ross’ scarce investment of social media, the video has had to rely mostly on Ross’ Myspace page to gain traction. Ross’ Myspace page, like most artists, is only updated ahead of the launch of a major events or the release of a new album. Ross, as far as I can tell doesn’t even have a YouTube channel. The video embedded on the front of Ross’ Myspace page is from a Youtube channel with no indication of an association with Rick Ross (which makes me wonder if his camp even made the video).
Like 50, Ross recently launched his own Ning powered social network Deeper than Rap. But unlike Thisis50.com, Ross’ site is more about the promotion of his album, record label, and clothing line than it is about enhancing his presence online. The site requires a user account to view videos; links for artists takes you to their Myspace page instead of their Ning profiles, and the image library is housed on the Def Jam website instead of using Ning.
Rap beef has entered a whole new realm, and without a solid social media foundation even the best rappers could be vulnerable. So rappers heed this warning, regardless of whether you’re an up and coming artist, or a 20 year veteran, beefing without social media is like throwing rocks at a tank, you might get a few hits, but odds are you’re going to lose. Because even the hottest diss record is worthless if no one hears it.
Category: Celeb 2.0, Digital Media, web 2.0 | Tags: 50, 50 cent vs. rick ross, 50 vs rick ross, 50cent, 50cent vs rick ross, fifty, fifty cent, fiftycent, rap beef, rick ross, rickross, social mediaDid you like this article? Share It!
tiffani says:
Yeah, 50 Cent is doing well leveraging all this social media stuff, but I just think it's a little silly. Why use all these tools to assail a rapper nobody really pays that much attention to anyway (I mean, I liked “Push It to the Limit”, but let's be serious…). If you're any good, people will gravitate to your stuff because they like your music, not because you put a video up on your Ning site insulting some rapper who occasionally puts out a hit lol. He couldn't beat Kanye, so he resorts to this. FAIL.
I personally am more of a fan of how Soulja Boy has used social media and everything. I'm not a fan of his music, but it's all a lesson in marketing. He's not off insulting anybody and trying to build a career off that. 50 Cent should call him.
Lamar says:
I'm sure 50 has one of the revenue sharing deals with youtube and like everything else he does I'm sure his reason behind this starts with M and rhymes with Honey. lol
markusrobinson says:
Rick Ross is pretty big here in south, but beyond that i really haven't seen 50 back down from anyone (that could be to his detriment). One thing's for sure rappers should be careful about dissing someone with his web presence.
Soulja Boy is not immune to online beef either. He just recently ended a long, drawn out, <ignorant> beef with Bow Wow, that took place primary through youtube.
Quincy Booker sr says:
I cant stand 50…. I hope Rick Ross get back at him.
ccrintern says:
Use this link for the live interview between Rick Ross and St.Louis' s own Kiki the first lady of 100.3 the beat.
http://www.100.3thebeat.com/cc-common/mediaplay...
Daddy's Girls says:
just like to say hi to Rick Ross
JD’s World: Jermaine Dupri launches Blog | Black Web 2.0 says:
[...] Global14.com is far from social marvel that is Thisis50.com, and while JD’s social media game may not be as tight as Diddy’s and Soulja Boy, it seems as [...]
allycathiliard says:
this is to Don Danger, why and who are you calling a monkey?
tonyp4747 says:
main really 50 aint been nothing since get rich or die trying. to tell u the truth he booty lyric wise ross is killing him ,spankn him like a 3 year old baby. but 50 got the money so 50 does what he does but ross n ja rule are nothing alike ross is a hole nother level as far as rapping go. 4 real
tonyp4747 says:
u must b froom ny