Welcome to the wild and crazy world of 50 Cent. Listen to this guy’s story. In the past few years, 50 Cent, a native Jamaica Queens rapper, has been the protégé of the late Jam Master Jay, incarcerated in prison, stabbed by someone in Ja Rule’s Murder Inc. Crew, shot nine times, joined up with Eminem and Dr. Dre and now has the No. 1 album in the country.
Yes, you read correctly: nine times — including one in the mouth — and rumor has it he drove himself to the hospital. This dude is no joke.
The G-Unit rapper gained huge recognition by signing with Dr. Dre and Eminem to Shady-Aftermath-Interscope Records. So, of course, Dre and Eminem appear on “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” 50 Cent’s debut album, with great beats and lyrics. On “Patiently Waiting,” one of the opening tracks on the album, 50 Cent and Eminem collaborate styles in smooth verses with a catchy hook. The song is focused on 50 Cent’s determination to become an emcee while patiently waiting to blow up into the music business. The song provides many clever flows, one being, “if you have a glass jaw, you should watch your mouth.”
Few tracks on the album stand out like “Many Men” and “Back Down.” Both are extremely personal and revealing about 50 Cent’s gangsta lifestyle. In “Many Men,” he admits he is no longer afraid of death and that he is aware that numerous individuals wish for his death. “Back Down” is one of the harder and tougher tracks 50 Cent brings to the table. It comes off as a memo to all those in disagreement, i.e. Irv Gotti, Ja Rule, and Benzino, to name a few. The track is mean, brutal and honest.
50 Cent’s flows can be hardcore thuggish and at the same time funny and clever with a laid-back hustler drawl. Other tracks include the two songs 50 Cent has videos for, the bonus track “Wanksta” and “In Da Club,” which seem to be dominating MTV and radios everywhere. In “21 Questions,” a love song featuring Nate Dogg, 50 Cent shows his softer side. He remarks serous instances in relationships and also says funny things like “I love you like a fat kid love cake.”
The much-hyped “Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ ” was released a little over a week ago. It was originally scheduled to be released later; however, it was pushed to an earlier date because there were too many bootleg copies floating around. Regardless, the album is No. 1 on the Billboard charts and is now sold out in most stores. 50 Cent is being called the resurrection of Tupac and the epitome of the word “gangsta.” Well, 50 Cent did not die tryin’, but he is definitely rich now.
