"50 [Cent] Was With It; He Just Didn't Sign Me Because Of My Jeans"

Detroit rapper Danny Brown has opened up about nearly signing a deal with G-Unit Records and why he ultimately got rejected by its leader, 50 Cent.

According to Brown, his image did not fall in line with the Unit's profile.

Danny Brown is certainly one of rap's most unique figures in recent memory, which can also be a disadvantage. In 2010, Brown befriended G-Unit rapper Tony Yayo, and together they recorded their collaborative Hawaiian Snow mixtape. The G-Unit association led many to wonder ifBrown would eventually sign with 50's crew. But Brown, who favors fitted jeans and a vintage rock-inspired wardrobe, didn't fit the part of G-Unit soldier. "It was a real thing. 50 was with it; he just didn't sign me because of my jeans. He liked the music, but he didn't like the way I looked," Danny said. "I understand where they were coming from with that, but you gotta understand where I'm coming from too: I'm from Detroit." (MTV)

This week, Danny dismissed stereotypes based on his image.

"I mean at the end of the day, if you meet me and get to know me, appearances don't really mean sh*t. I'm a hood a** n*gga. I'm from the D (Detroit). I just don't want to get put in any box. You see me next year, I'm going to look a whole different way. I keep changing." (VIBE)

Last March, Brown officially inked a deal with independent record label Fool's Gold.

We're extremely proud to officially welcome Detroit's own Danny Brown to the Fool's Gold family! Recording since his teens, 2010 was Danny's breakout year, with his self-released The Hybrid showcasing a hypnotic, unique flow that Pitchfork called "the most peculiarly infectious voice since Dizzee Rascal," while the LA Times praised it for "punch lines like Conan O'Brien if he'd come up selling crack." He built a rabid online fanbase, stole the show on collaborations with everyone from Tony Yayo to Das Racist to the late J Dilla, and covered the Metro Times as the most acclaimed underground Detroit MC since a certain blonde fellow named Marshall. When it came time for Danny to take the next step and find a real home for his new music, it was only right that he would find a perfect fit with Fool's Gold. (Fool's Gold Records)

Although 50 did not sign Brown, the G-Unit leader recently joined forces with "Jersey Shore" reality star DJ Pauly D.

"50 Cent has also been somebody I look up to," Pauly D explained in an interview. "We ended up linking up and we just clicked. We hit it off immediately with the music and everything like that. So, I'm definitely gonna be working with him. There's been talks about the album and the headphones. I'm looking forward to working with that as well." (XXL Mag)