50 Cent, the hip-hop icon who once dominated the music charts, has been relatively quiet on the music front in recent years, shifting his focus to other business ventures. During a candid conversation at Invest Fest with Earn Your Leisure, the rapper opened up about why he’s stepped back from making new music—and his explanation was brutally honest.

According to 50 Cent, a major reason behind his decision is the changing landscape of the music industry. He admits that to create songs that align with today’s popular music trends, he’d have to embrace a side of himself that he feels isn’t worth exploring. “If you listen to the music that’s out right now, I have to tap into my st*pidity,” the rapper said, explaining that the current music climate doesn’t inspire him to write in the same way it once did. “I have to tap into the st*pid side of me to write the right thing when it comes time to write the music.”

Rather than chasing trends that don’t resonate with him, 50 Cent has opted to pour his energy into film production and development, an area where he feels he can make a more significant impact. “This is why I haven’t created as much content as I was creating in the past,” he explained. “I started going towards the film production and development of these projects because I can impact things in a bigger way through that.”

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While he may have stepped back from music, 50 Cent hasn’t ruled out a return entirely. Late last year, he teased that he might release a new album once his ongoing “Final Lap” tour wraps up. During an interview with Evropa 2, he mentioned that the end of his tour would allow him to refocus on creating new music. He even compared his potential return to music to the paths of his long-time collaborators Dr. Dre and Eminem, suggesting that he could adopt a more behind-the-scenes role like his peers.

“When I’m not moving around and I’m not touring and doing things, it’s going to permit me to focus on creating music,” 50 Cent shared at the time. “You’ll get a little more of what you get from Dr. Dre and Eminem from me at that point.”

Despite spending more time in the world of film and television, 50 Cent’s influence in hip-hop remains undeniable. His honesty about his creative process offers a glimpse into the mind of an artist who continues to evolve and adapt, even if that means stepping away from the microphone. Fans may have to wait a little longer for new music, but 50 Cent’s legacy is far from over—whether he’s behind the scenes or back in the booth, his impact is sure to be felt.