What 50-Cent Can Teach You About Confidence

Call it braggadocio. Call it attitude. Call it confidence.

We can all use a little more of it, applied properly, during important life situations.

Take a look at this interview of rapper 50-cent (watch the video), and tell me isn’t one of the most confident people you’ve ever watched. He talks deliberately, like he owns the conversation. His words never placate himself. He assumes he is on top, and that any indicator to the contrary is a false one.

While he called West a talented producer, he also said the Chicago MC is a “worker bee” while he’s a “boss.”

“Don’t get lost in the hype,” he continued. “I got the right records, so we’re gonna sit here and I’ll see you next time. Maybe next time they can send me off to the pastures. But right now, I’m gonna stick around and sell this record — and I will be #1 on September 11.”

He goes on to make an analogy that reference his albums in comparison to that of an all-time great, Michael Jackson. This statement makes people think of 50-cent on part with an all-time great, further downplays Kanye’s level of artistry and drops a few stats that further illustrate his past success (12 million albums? I had no clue his album sold that much).

“Look at how you’re talking to me, like Kanye West is my equal right now,” 50 said, launching into a rather imprecise comparison. “That’s like me putting myself against Michael Jackson’s [album-release] date and then acting like, ‘Woah, it’s a battle between 50 Cent and Michael Jackson!’, when Thriller sold 30 million records and 50 Cent’s biggest album sold 12 [million], you feel what I’m saying?

He consistently demonstrates higher value throughout the interview in his words, subtle movements and voice-tone. He makes some blatant statements of confidence, but I find the more subtle expressions more interesting.