Your past has become common discussion in the hood and for many authenticates you as a "black superman" and makes your lyrical content beyond reproach. Who knows if you'll ever see this letter, but for you and those who will see it, I feel compelled to encourage and challenge you since you have the ears and minds of our youth on lock right now and many parents agitated. Don't get it twisted, this is not an arbitrary dis, or resentment from someone "hatin' on your success, because as a disciple of Christ, I'm called to love you, but as it's been said, "love without truth, is compromise."

"My songs belong in the Bible with King David…" 50 Cent / Song: U Not Like Me

Now that's deep! King David was a man after God's heart. King David's psalms praised God, your songs grieve God! David was not a perfect man, but when confronted, he repented. Get Rich or Die Trying, huh? The very title of your CD glamorizes materialism and underscores the distorted values so prevalent in the 'hood today. Now there is a more complicated component to why that is, but you can't front on how rappers and ballers have the minds of young people captive. As you've experienced already from drawing crowds wherever you go, these people LOVE you, and look up to you whether you want them to or not. Do you honestly believe you survived nine gunshot wounds to talk about promiscuity, drug runnin'and thuggery?

" Every night I talk to God but He don't say nuttin back, I know He protecting me…" -50 cent / Song: Many Men

"I got that X if you into doing, drugs" I'm into having sex, I'm not into making love," "I got the Magic Stick", given the HIV/AIDS rates, and drug use among blacks these are things the hood really need to hear right? 50, you may not believe it now, but you will give an account for every lyric you spit. (Matthew 12:36)

I can't expect you to see things spiritually through your natural eyes 50, but for you to say that you "wanna sell records, but not your soul" but not see that the reason, you're selling records is because your content contradicts everything God stands for. Knowingly or unknowingly you're promoting the kingdom of darkness, for PROFIT.

Providing a soundtrack for the hedonistic lifestyles of a generation, deceiving many with your vain words (Ephesians 5:6), causing them to stumble as they pursue riches and fame and not God (Matthew 6:33).

Some of this may be hard to swallow 50, but the Lord corrects those whom He loves (Prov. 3:11-12), and the fact that you're still here brotha is a testament to that love. The Yuinon is here to walk with you as you submit to God's true purpose for you life. In your BET interview you stated, you couldn't do "gospel" unless you were living it. 50, you're a man of integrity in the making. Please don't end up like Pac, a brother who knew better but didn't DO better and died on the fence of indecision and doublemindednesss. Hip-hop has presented many religious options through the years, but if you noticed only one brotha demonstrated true HARDNESS and gave up what God showed him were ill gotten gains, Ma$e, remember him? No one has promised you tomorrow 50. Hopefully one day we can meet in person and build. Until then, I'm in prayer for you homie, hoping that you'll spend eternity with God, and not with the one who has you P.I.M.P.ing our youth's minds, Satan.

"I've seen gangstas get religious when they start bleedin, sayin "Lord, Jesus Help Me" cause they a** leakin!" - 50 Cent

~vessel

July 2003