50 Cent Explains How Jay-Z Used Eminem to Boost His Tour Career

In a candid conversation with comedian Andrew Schulz for Interview Magazine, hip-hop mogul 50 Cent pulled back the curtain on the behind-the-scenes mechanics of stadium tours, directly targeting Jay-Z’s industry leverage. Pointing to Jay-Z’s marriage to Beyoncé and long-standing industry relationships, 50 Cent argued that major tour promoters structure deals based on high-stakes leverage, explaining, “If you have a strong enough relationship with the tour companies, they’ll do a touring deal with you because they’re securing the tour deal with Beyoncé.”

50 Cent went on to detail how strategic co-headlining runs are used to manufacture parity between artists of different commercial standing. Referencing joint shows like the 2010 Home & Home Tour, he highlighted how pairing Jay-Z with Eminem in major venues was designed to elevate Hov’s stature: “He’s done the stadium in New York. Him and Em[inem], they matched him up with the biggest rapper in the world like they’re the same… We do your hometown and then my hometown.”

According to 50 Cent, these massive co-op tours served primarily to alter public perception rather than reflect genuine solo ticket-selling power at the time. “That’s just to change perception and make him appear as big as Eminem,” he asserted, questioning why certain projects in Jay-Z’s catalog are treated with such historical reverence despite modest initial debuts.

Ultimately, the G-Unit leader credited Jay-Z’s legendary status not strictly to organic commercial dominance, but to brilliant corporate positioning and timing. Pointing to the disparity between initial sales numbers and long-term narrative, 50 Cent bluntly concluded: “Bro, the album showed up number 23 on the chart when it debuted. It was not a f–king big deal then. Why is it a big deal now? It’s great marketing.”

For the full interview, visit Interview Magazine.

50 Cent Eminem jay-z