50 cent swaps hip-hop for dance

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The rapper admits he has been inspired to take his music career in a different direction after spending time in European nightclubs.

The hip-hop star has already recorded some of the tracks, and hopes his decision to embrace a new sound will help cement his reputation as a versatile artist.

He tells MTV, "I went to a nightclub... The music they were playing before they were playing the music I created was more up-tempo, more dance. I wanted to make a song like that, so I went into the studio. Because I'm travelling with my live band, I took the band with me and we sequenced it and recorded the actual record while we was (sic) out there.

"I won't allow myself to be placed in a box where I can only do one style, or do one kind of music. They should expect the unexpected on this one. If they can understand how I enjoy different genres of music and different styles, for the people who have various tastes in music, they'll really like it."

50 Cent's new album, titled Black Magic, is due for release later this year (10).