When 50 Cent’s song “Many Men” started trending alongside news of the Donald Trump assassination attempt, it created a buzz that was hard to ignore. The song’s producer, Darrell “Digga” Branch, saw this as both a blessing and a curse. While the sudden surge in popularity for the classic record from 2003 was definitely a plus, Digga expressed discomfort with the idea of the song being associated with making Trump seem “gangsta.”
Digga made it clear that he does not have any love for Trump, and seeing his song being used in connection with the controversial figure was not something he was thrilled about. He mentioned that his notifications started blowing up after the news of the assassination attempt broke, and while he initially thought it might be a prank, he soon realized the seriousness of the situation. Despite the increase in streams for “Many Men” following the incident, Digga remained hesitant about the unintended implications.
The aftermath of the assassination attempt saw a significant uptick in streams for “Many Men,” with a staggering 250% increase and over 2 million streams in just 2 days. This unexpected resurgence in popularity for an album cut that was released almost two decades ago was certainly a welcome surprise for Digga and 50 Cent. The rapper even capitalized on the buzz by featuring the song during his concert in Boston, where he projected his album cover with Trump’s face photoshopped onto it.
While Digga acknowledged the lighthearted nature of using the song in a concert setting, he was firm in his stance that he would not approve of Trump using the song for any campaign-related activities. This clear boundary indicated that there was a line that should not be crossed when it came to the political implications of associating the song with a controversial figure like Trump.
Digga’s journey as a producer for various artists, including legends like Big L, served as a reminder of the rich history behind the music industry. He hinted at potentially revealing more stories and insights from his career in an upcoming beat battle in Atlanta, showing that there was much more to his legacy than just one viral moment with “Many Men.”
The unexpected resurgence of 50 Cent’s “Many Men” in light of recent events served as a reminder of the power of music to bridge the gap between past and present, while also highlighting the complex relationship between art and politics.
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