50 Cent Vouches for Gucci Mane & Waka Flocka Flame

When it comes to being real, every artist claims authenticity but few live up to the title. During our interview with 50 Cent for the November 2010 issue of XXL, the G-Unit general—never known for not having any issues when it comes to street-credibility—co-signed 1017 Brick Squad’s own, Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame for their believability on the mic.

“When I offer aggression, I offer it from an author, a real place,” Fif explained to XXL co-deputy editor Rondell Conway. “It’s who I am; it’s who I had to be. Not even by choice, but to survive where I came from. So a lot of actual artists don’t have it. They don’t have that thing. Waka Flocka, 'Hard in the Paint,' Gucci [Mane], those guys have that.”

“It’s just a lot of the other artists, I don’t believe them,” he continued. “I believe hip-hop is in a struggle of being artistic or [having] authenticity—which one matters? Because a lot of them that write music that has a street-life theme to it haven’t actually been exposed to very much of that. It’s starting to feel like it doesn’t matter. I’m watching it, and I’m like, Okay, it sounded great, but ya lyin’.”

XXL’s November 2010 issue, which features 50 Cent and Soulja Boy on the cover, is currently on newsstands nationwide. —XXL Staff