# Rappers Who Announced Retirement But Changed Their Minds

> Three hip-hop legends tried to retire but returned to music.
- Title: Rappers Who Announced Retirement But Changed Their Minds
- Summary: Three hip-hop legends tried to retire but returned to music. Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Lupe Fiasco each announced retirement but returned to rapping.
- Keywords: jay-z, 50 cent, lupe fiasco, hip-hop, retirement, rappers, news, culture, Announced, Changed, Minds, VICE
- Source: VICE — https://vice.com/en/article/3-times-a-rapper-announced-their-retirement-then-changed-their-minds
- Author: Caleb Catlin
- Published: 2026-10-21T18:38:30+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jay-z, 50 cent, lupe fiasco, hip-hop, retirement, rappers, news, culture
## Rappers Who Announced Retirement
Hip-hop has seen many rappers change their minds about retiring.
## Jay-Z's Retirement Attempt
Jay-Z planned The Black Album as his final hip-hop project in 2003.
## Jay-Z Returned to Music
Jay-Z returned to rapping two years after The Black Album.
## 50 Cent's Retirement Tease
50 Cent teased retirement during a sales battle with Kanye West in 2008.
## 50 Cent Returned to Music
50 Cent released two mixtapes and an album two years after the sales battle.
## Lupe Fiasco's Retirement Plan
Lupe Fiasco was 85 percent sure he would retire in 2007.

> I love music, I love performing, I love my fans, but I don’t like recorded music.
## Lupe Fiasco Returned to Music
Lupe Fiasco continued rapping despite his retirement plans.
## Key takeaway

Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Lupe Fiasco each announced retirement but returned to rapping.