Rotimi Explains His Exit from 50 Cent’s G-Unit Label, Credits Afrobeats Evolution

Afrobeats star Rotimi has opened up about his decision to leave American rapper 50 Cent’s record label, G-Unit, citing creative differences over his music style. In an interview with Adesope Live and reported by Dirlypost, Rotimi explained that at the time, Afrobeats was not yet mainstream in the U.S., which led to a disconnect between him and the label.

"I was signed to G-Unit, but back in 2017/2018, Afrobeats wasn’t mainstream in the U.S. While artists like Davido and Wizkid were gaining traction in places like Boston and New York, it wasn’t fully recognized in Los Angeles," Rotimi shared.

He revealed that 50 Cent struggled to understand his musical direction:
"We had a conversation, and he asked, ‘What’s this sound you are trying to do?’ I told him, ‘It’s Afrobeats. I have a record called Love Riddim and it’s going to blow up. But if you don’t get it, I need to move on.’"

Rotimi said the disagreement over creative direction led to his release from G-Unit. He later became the first Afrobeats artist to sign with Empire, a label that embraced his vision and helped push his sound to a broader audience.

Rotimi’s journey highlights the rise of Afrobeats from a niche genre to a global phenomenon, thanks to artists who believed in its potential despite early skepticism.