The momentum to Obama's campaign is tangible at this point, but any premature assumptions feels counter-intuitively dangerous. It's as if thinking about an Obama election could derail the entire thing and start an era of Palin presidency that'll last 16 years, re-writing the constitution on the back of a hockey jersey along the way. Still, every day (other than those when the Dow drops 500+ points), Obama's momentum graces the front page of this site. His campaign is resonating with the American people, reaching voters once thought unreachable for a liberal black man with a degree from Harvard Law. Meanwhile, McCain's campaign appears to be shooting itself in the foot out of a dire desperation to get noticed.
So what does this have to do with 50 Cent? As the presidential election gets down to the nitty-gritty, 50's new album campaign is starting to get serious. Before I Self Destruct is the rapper/actor's fourth full-length and set for release on the second Tuesday in December. Always atop the Hip-Hop Forbes List, the artist born Curtis Jackson made his millions on the back of corporate investments and more than his share of Rovian tactics. But if last year's "loss" to Kanye West -- when both artists released albums on the same day -- didn't teach 50 Cent anything, maybe the apparent tanking of McCain's campaign will.
Divisiveness Doesn't Work...
"Divide and Conquer" may be the most fundamental principal of the politics that got George W Bush elected. It also worked really well for 50 Cent. Fiddy ascended the thrown as King of New York by forcing fans to be with him or against him. Rap fans were either with the terrorists (Ja-Rule, Fat Joe, any non-G-Unit rapper ever) or with 50 Cent's America. 50 tried that on last year's release of Curtis and while the increased attention it caused for the record's drop date, it was still the most disappointing opening week of 50's career. The divide over divisiveness has increased, as a generation of Millennials has gotten a little older. Working together is actually kinda cool now, while argumentative fillibusting just seems childish. With the exception of FOX News, nearly every major media outlet is attributing some of McCain's second-place poll position to his overwhelmingly negative campaigning.
...Revealing A Little Vulnerability Does
Conversely, showing some humanity has boded well for two of Chicago's finest: Barack Obama and Kanye West. Today, showing weakness is not synonymous with being weak. From the Senator's speech in Philadelphia to the MC's penchant for self-deprecation, admissions of vulnerability are endearing fans and voters alike to those brave enough to take the once-precarious stand. In this recent video for MTV.com, 50 Cent seems genuinely amused/befuddled/astonished by a rap album about "love"...but doesn't he know that hope is the new black?
The Internet Isn't The Enemy...
Part of Barack Obama's astounding fundraising is attributed to his embrace of the Internet. Not only does his campaign's tech savvy appeal to all the kids and their MySpaces and Facebooks, but those first-time donors and their $50 checks definitely add up. Meanwhile, McCain was openly mocked for an inability to even check his email (while also having a surrogate claim that he invented the Blackberry). Not a good look. And just last week, it was announced that Radiohead made more money from the digital pay-what-you'd-like In Rainbows in the first few weeks than the band made from the total run of its previous release. Thisis50.com might get some page views, but it remains to be seen if it'll be enough.
...OK, It Kind Of Is
Still, it's not like any rap fans are still buying music. And perhaps even more terrifying to a rapper whose cred is built upon urban myths, the Internet has proved to be something of a fact checker in the 2008 Presidential Election. Wait, you mean Sarah Palin actually lobbied for the Bridge To Nowhere? And there were staunch Republicans on that "terrorist" board alongside Bill Ayres and Barack Obama? What's this about everyone's favorite Maverick being involved with the questionably ethical contributions from this Keating guy? Still think it's smart to defend a gangster lifestyle from a mansion in Connecticut? Surely, 50 knows how many homes he owns.
Choose Your Running Mates Wisely
A few years ago, remember how Tony Yayo was a much better rapper when he was incarcerated...and no one had heard him rap yet? Then when he finally got around to making an album and no one actually bought it? It definitely hurt 50 Cent's credibility. Snap...maybe 50 should've taught McCain a trick or two.