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| 50 Cent- Get Rich Or Die Trying: When I originally heard "How To Rob" from the "In Too Deep" soundtrack, I liked the song and the clever wordplay involved, but I wondered if 50 Cent had enough to carry a whole album. Rappers like Jay Z, Ghostface Killah, Sticky Fingaz from Onyx and others weren't too pleased with what 50 had to say and they came out with their own things to say about the song. Just as 50 was about to record his 1st single from "Power Of The Dollar", "Thug Love" w/Destiny's Child, 50 was shot multiple times. After he recovered, 50 called his label and they acted as if 50 had never even existed. To reestablish himelf, 50 hit the mixtape circuit and would appear on various mixtapes freestyling or with songs that were supposed to appear on "Power Of The Dollar". In early 2002, Full Clip Records released "Guess Who's Back" which included underground songs and freestyles that included 50, G Unit, Nas, Nature, The Bravehearts and Bun B of UGK on different tracks. Shortly after that, 50 Cent & G Unit released several mixed Cds and the buzz definitely had been recreated. Eminem heard "Guess Who's Back" after he completed "The Eminem Show" and that was the beginning of 50 Cent being signed to Eminem's Shady Records. 50 Cent's popular mix tape track, "Wanksta" appeared on Eminem's "8 Mile" soundtrack, as well as, "Places To Go" and "Love Me" which was a collaboration with Eminem, 50 Cent and Obie Trice. These songs and the mixed CDs were enough to keep 50 out in the streets until his highly anticipated CD, "Get Rich Or Die Trying", was released. When "In Da Club" was released to radio and started appearing on MTV and BET, 50's CD was definitely going to be in demand. Dr. Dre's club banger had everyone sayig "Go, go, go, go, go..". The song would propel "Get Rich Or Die Trying" with over 800,000 units sold in the first four days of its release. The CD gets off a nice start with "What's Up Gangsta". Fans of 50's street releases will definitely like this track. Next up is "Patiently Waiting" as Eminem and 50 collaborate on the Eminem produced track. 50 and Eminem rip the track to shreds. On "Many Men (Wish Death)", 50 speaks about how after being shot multiple times, how he reflects on things and how your enemies and people that are jealous of you are always plotting behind your back. This is one of "Get Rich Or Die Trying's" best tracks. Dr. Dre shows up again to produce the passion filled "Heat". 50 is back in street mode once again and has an anthem for anyone that wants to come at him and his G Unit crew. "If I Can't" is more of a radio friendly Dre song but you will forget the commercial appeal of the song once you hear 50 rhyming to the track. "Back Down" has 50 speaking on his long term beef with Ja Rule. This is the CD's best track, in my opinion, as 50 says, "You're a pop tart, sweetheart, you're soft in the middle...". Since then there have been several back and forth disses with the latest being "Hail Mary 2003" with Eminem, 50 Cent & Busta Rhymes. The 2nd single, "21 Questions" with Nate Dogg is an ode for the ladies that will definitely continue to keep "Get Rich Or Die Trying" on the charts for awhile. "Don't Push Me" w/Lloyd Banks of G Unit and Eminem, has 50 Cent rapping a little too much like 2 Pac for some people. I like the song as the rappers flow lovely to the Eminem's beat. "Poor Lil Rich" is a Sha Money XL track that plans keep 50 in heavy club rotation along with the aforementioned "In Da Club" and "P.I.M.P". The only song that you will have to fast forward, in my opinion, is "Blood Hound" with Young Buck as it sounds like DMX is barking throughout the whole song. "Get Rich Or Die Trying" also includes "Wanksta", "U Not Like Me", and "Life's On The Line" as bonus tracks, but loyal 50 fans have heard these tracks already. 50 recently released a DVD, "The New Breed" that included a bonus CD with 3 tracks: "True Loyalty" with G Unit, "8 Mile Road" (G Unit Remix)with G Unit, and the Dr. Dre produced "In Da Hood" with Brooklyn. To anyone who doesn't know G Unit is 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, Bang 'Em Smurf and a cast of other characters. G Unit recently signed with Interscope Records, so a G Unit CD and a Lloyd Banks solo CD should be out by the end of the year and expect a new 50 Cent CD by February 2004. For 50 Cent the sky is the limit. If you judge "Get Rich Or Die Trying" by just "In Da Club" and "21 Questions" then you will be saddenly mistakened. This CD has more than club friendly songs on it. Fans of 50's street anthems will enjoy this CD as well. I wonder how Columbia feels now that 50 Cent has sold more than 4 million records in 10 weeks? I would advise you to get "Get Rich Or Die Trying" and "Guess Who's Back" to start your 50 library. FREE YAYO!!!! 8 OUT OF 10 |