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50 Cent Talks Kelly Rowland Collaboration, 'Self Destruct' Album

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by Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.  |   November 03, 2009 11:49 EST

Kelly Rowland (above) and 50 Cent (top)

Artists in this Article

Kelly Rowland
50 Cent

Albums in this Article

Ms. Kelly
Kelly Rowland
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
50 Cent
Before I Self Destruct

50 Cent chose Kelly Rowland to star in his "Baby By Me" video "because she's beautiful...and has a really strong international presence," the rapper tells Billboard.com. The Chris Robinson-directed clip premiered on the internet yesterday (Nov. 2).

"I ran into Kelly at the Latin VMAs, which I attended to perform with Wisin and Yandel, and I asked her if she would consider doing it," 50 explains. "You can't forget all the work she did with Destiny's Child. The difference between Kelly and Beyonce is the extreme focus they put on Beyonce to make sure she was completely right. Kelly wasn't held in the same regard, so, in order for her to mean anything to America, they'd have to match the marketing dollars spent on Beyonce. She never received the superstar treatment."

The video for "Baby By Me," which appears on his "Before I Self Destruct" album now due Nov. 16 on G-Unit/Shady Records/Aftermath/Interscope, finds 50 Cent meeting an around-the-way Rowland and day-dreaming about moving out of the 'hood and living a blissful life in the suburbs, where the happy couple resides with their three sons. But, after declaring his love and promises of sexing her up, 50 discovers the visions were all figments of his imagination, as Rowland is actually already married to another man, with whom she has a child.

Rowland isn't the only "Kelly" 50 Cent worked on this album with; he also collaborated on a total of three songs with R. Kelly, including one titled "Could've Been You," which has made the final cut.

But the album isn't all love, lust and sex, according to 50, who says there's a lot of "aggression" on this album as well. "This album is the sequel to 'Get Rich Or Die Tryin' -- it has all the elements that I missed writing about on that first project," 50 says. "That album translated the strongest and what I presented then was a lot of aggression. The actual album has lyrics about moments from my childhood, and I describe then from a child's perspective."

Other confirmed album tracks include "Do You Think About Me?" "Stretch" and "Strong Enough." Dr. Dre, Polow Da Don, Rick Rock and a few unknown names produce on the album, with Polow helming the follow-up single, "Psycho," featuring Eminem.

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