Backstage Pass

Like Jay-Z, 50 Cent isn't a businessman. He's a business, man.

And when the set-up for his new "Before I Self Destruct" CD didn't look right, he pushed the whole project back from Dec. 16 into early next year. "I decided to push my record back because I have so much more to offer the public as part of my presentation," he told me backstage at the "TRL" finale. "In hip-hop music, the big bang comes the first week. If you set a strong impression up front, then you can actually win big because people know that it’s good enough to actually go out and get it."

In addition to the album, the early pressings of "Before I Self Destruct" will be bundled with a movie of the same name, starring Fitty, and a documentary about Jam Master Jay that he produced.

"R&B records, they can actually take their time to actually grow -- if the company actually believes in the artist in their system, maybe single four on the album will be the one to make you decide, ‘I’m going to actually go and buy this record,’" Fitty said. "Hip-hop artists don’t make it to single four if they’re project isn’t successful. They have to hit with the first record and be in tune with the audience. Hip-hop has a youth-driven audience, people who determine whether it’s a hit have a short attention span."

However, he's happy with the reaction the album's first single "Get Up" is getting. "‘Get Up’ is actually performing better at radio than ‘I Get Money,’ which I felt was a record that was dead right, so I gotta say I’m in a pretty good space," he said. "I’m not going to hurry to put the record out because I want it to be perfect."

Fitty is also focusing on his new MTV reality show, "The Money and The Power," shrugging off criticism from Donald Trump, who claims it's a rip-off of "The Apprentice."

He said he counts Trump as a friend, adding that his show is currently the No. 1 show on MTV.

"I want to talk to him about selling one of my properties," Fitty added. "We all know we’re in a recession. Real estate isn’t one of the best businesses to be in. I think Donald Trump may want to be 50 Cent."

Fitty then busted into an impression of Trump doing "In Da Club" that was, while disturbing, far better than the real thing would ever be. Let's hope the Trumpster doesn't take that piece of advice.

PHOTO: 50 Cent at the "TRL" finale. Photo by Peter Kramer for Associated Press.