# “I have nothing against 50 Cent, but what does that even mean?!” AFI were told to collaborate with 50 Cent in the mid-2000s

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/i-have-nothing-against-50-cent-but-what-does-that-even-mean-afi-were-told-to-collaborate-with-50-cent-in-the-mid-2000s/
- Published: 2026-07-30T09:13:25+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-30T10:16:26+00:00
- Original publisher: Louder
- Original article: https://www.loudersound.com/news/afvi-told-to-collaborate-50-cent-decemberunderground-2026
- Topics: Music

## Key points

- AFI were urged to collaborate with 50 Cent.
- The idea aimed to win Jimmy Iovine’s attention.
- Davey Havok questioned the creative logic.

## Summary

AFI singer Davey Havok says the band were encouraged to collaborate with 50 Cent during the mid-2000s, after their label situation changed from DreamWorks to Interscope. The proposed pairing was intended to attract the attention of Interscope head Jimmy Iovine, illustrating the commercial pressure AFI faced despite their established goth-punk identity.

Havok told Metal Hammer that an A&R representative was determined to make Iovine notice AFI, particularly as Iovine had publicly said that rock was dead. Because 50 Cent was then a major priority for Iovine, the collaboration was suggested, although Havok said he had nothing against the rapper and questioned what such a partnership would mean creatively.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.