Reviews (page 5 of 8)
He’s a national treasure for how much he hates Diddy. That’s all you need to know.
Meh
First 5/5 for me for sure.. well 4 but close
Not enjoyable musically, nothing catchy, lots of stupid lyrics
Throwback to my teen years. It still slaps. A few songs are meh but the nostalgia puts this at 4 stars for me.
Okay album for something I'm not into. Some catchy entertaining stuff, but it was a long album and got tiring. Understand why so many people said g-g-g-g unit.
okay i guess dint get very far. lost interest.
This just isn't for me. The music style, the topics. Nothing.
Nice flow. Like his earlier mixtapes that were floating around in the early 2000’s. I remember buying one on the streets in Manhattan.
Bragger rap at its most mediocre. LOVE P.I.M.P, though.
2000's Rappers try not to make an overly long album challenge, impossible. This didn't need to be 74 minutes long, none of it is bad but it doesn't all feel essential. That aside, it's a pretty fun listen that holds up surprisingly well. I like the big beats all throughout and 50 cent has a pleasant voice to listen to. A lot of Hip Hop in the years following tried and failed to sound like this. A bit conflicted on this one, it was a fine album to listen to but way too long and not every song is quite In Da Club genius. Points knocked for the Eminem feature as well.
So this is not my genre, but I honestly enjoyed it. It was more musical than I expected. It’s from the period of rap that I relate to the best I think or I was around the most. Having all kinds of van rides with kids who listen to this I was exposed to it. I have to say I love to swear, but this was an agregious amount of F bombs even for me. I especially like when Eminem is rapping so I guess I prefer his rapping to .50 but I really liked both. Overall surprising so good first album to start with
I'm a bit biased because I like hip-hop. Pretty decent rap albulm.
Not for me but listenable
I listened to this with a kind of reverse nostalgia. I did not listen to this when it came out and did not appreciate rap at that time, but was aware of a lot of it due to being in high school in 2003. 20+ years later brings me back to that time and I’m able to appreciate this now. This is 2000s mainstream rap and you can tell exactly what decade it came out from the jump. Pop that collar and act gangsta even though you’re a skinny white boy from the suburbs.
the album that taught me how spell the word Pimp
This sounds surprisingly ok for gangsta rap, it’s musically interesting with a minimum of obnoxious sound effects (could have done without the medical beeping). Between a 2 and a 3 depending on whether I pay attention to the lyrics.
Meh
It's catchy! I actually had a great time listening to this, probably the most fun I've had with a gangsta rap album. 5 stars for 50 cent! Find me in da club...
This takes me back to the early 2000s when gangsta rap ruled the clubs. Definitely representative of the genre.
shyte
A flash pan in the moment of time.
Com certeza o ponto alto do álbum são os instrumentais. Apesar de ter algumas faixas mornas e repetitivas no meio, o que da uma desanimada, ainda é um álbum interessante para quem curte o estilo. Pontos altos: What Up Gangsta, Patiently Waiting, ManY Men e P.I.M.P.
A good album for when you want to feel like a bad ass while mowing the lawn
Can't rap. Can't sing. Good beats.
This is a very good rap album. A bit too long and on the low side of 4 stars for me but it gets to the 4 star territory. It sounds good, is funny at times. Good stuff.
Catchy beats, but they seem a little dated. He's got a solid sense of humor. I'm just ok with his rap style.
Boring
Liked it more than I thought I would
Not as bad as Eminem, but this whole era of hip-hop does very little for me. Beats and production tries really hard to elevate itself above that from the 80s and 90s. I understand wanting to innovate, but it often falls flat. Simplicity is key. Rhymes are unrelatable being mostly tough-guy fantasies, glorifying violence and misogyny. I'd rather listen to Public Enemy or BDP for the millionth time over ever hearing this again.
This was better than I expected. It was closer to late 1990s type of gangsta rap spinoffs. Not too cheesy sounding like much of this periods rappers always struck me.
Ehhhh? 2.5?
I had no idea this album was so long. And I really only knew "in da club" and "candy shop" by him. But this album is why I typically don't like rap. I don't think the songs had much substance and it was just hard to get through. I don't think anything special was said and the actual music is just whatever. I could've gone without this one.
This has got to be a joke inclusion. This is not great Hip Hop. This is cliche nonsense. Continues to support my case that the naughties were the worst decade of popular music, ever. "In da Club" would be fine if they would cut out the ridiculously sophomoric lyrics and vocals and just let the jam groove instrumentally. But alas, we are stuck with idiotic lyrics ruining the groove. WTF Hip Hop?! Stop with the 1 hour long albums. Ain't nobody got patience for that.
Kinda ass.
I hate this. Couldn't finish this rap pile of trash. I guess the only resealing quality was I didn't hear and stupid skies that rap albums tend to have; I only got a little halfway through, there might have been some and I didn't get to them. I'm not going to find out though. 0/5
Certified classic. I listened to this on my walkman in middle school every day. So many bangers including some of the deeper cuts. Main critique is it's a bit bloated at 21 songs and 77min. Probably could have gotten the same impact at 14/15 songs.
I enjoyed listening to parts of it. Is it good? Not so sure
Shit go hard. I don't think it really holds up and probably doesn't deserve too many stars, but nostalgia
This was painful to listen to. Cheesy simplistic loops. Rapping about how much of a badass he is. I made it about 12-14 songs in and gave up. One of the worst albums I've listened to on this list.
I gave it a listen, or about half of it. That’s more than enough. You don’t need the full 75 minutes (!!!) to absorb Curtis’s worldview, which - guess what?! Women be ho’s and he’s the baddest MF on the planet. You’re boring, Fitty.
I really hate this junk
21 Questions is so nostalgic, but besides that this album was not a pleasant listening experience.
Banger of an album! Patiently Waiting, In Da Club, P.I.M.P., and 21 Questions are ones I've always loved. Especially Patiently Waiting, with Eminem's part. Funny thing about In Da Club, some of the lines in the edited version actually seem better. Hadn't heard the rest of the album before, it was a blast. High All The Time had a killer beat, If I Can't was great, Blood Houd was nice (with a good cameo by Young Buck). Back Down had some good music. Don't Push Me was nice, another awesome Eminem cameo. The rest of the songs were all mostly good. I normally don't listen to the extended versions of albums, but I had to for this one. I've always like Wanksta, that should have been on the main album. The others I hadn't heard before, but all of them are 5s. The P.I.M.P. remix with Snoop Dogg and a couple others was insanely good, can't belive I didn't hear it until now. Best song: Patiently Waiting
Franchement bien. Allez pas croire non plus que j ai aimé. On parle de rap. Mais comparé a ce que Rene m'a déjà fait écouter, c est petit banger. Déso sch et Karris maus j'ai trpuvé mieux.
1h de gangsta rap c'est un peu trop pour moi mais le début est bien surtout le feat avec le blanc de Detroit
So many bangers on this album and the production of the beats is amazing. Favourite line is "you shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass house And if you got a glass jaw, you should watch your mouth"
1.6 I remember once being in church as young lad in a very white northern English town. There was another kid there, couple years younger than me, probably around 9 or 10 wearing a 50 cent shirt. The priest liked to get the kids involved (no pun intended) during the sermon and I vividly remember him asking this kid what his goal was for life and his response was, obviously, "get rich or die trying". I tell the story as I think that kid encapsulates who this album was marketed it at, and shows what really went wrong with hip-hop in the 90s/00s, overly commercialised shite, god awful cringe lyrics, terrible beats, just an embarrassment to the human race overall. This might be one of the worst I've heard of this variety, of which this list has had far too many already.
In Da Club remains a banger.
God, I never wanted to hear this again. I had a roommate back in the day that played this on repeat for months. I like the first song with Eminem, and PIMP. Other than that, I just can't get into this album. I know Dre produced some of it, but I don't like 50's flows. Not my thing. 2
Well I've never really been very drawn to 50 Cent, even during the time when he was more ubiquitous. But I'll say that this was better than I was expecting. I especially like hearing Eminem a little bit. I forgot he "discovered" 50 Cent. 3.5
The 2nd coming of Mase. As popular as 50 cent was/is, I never really listened to his albums. On this one I do like the more old school hip hop sounds. Sort of NY sounding tracks. His voice is very relaxed and he just not in much of a hurry.
An all time favorite rap album. From start to finish it is just a banger with no bad tracks. I saw someone else’s review here calling out white folk for the way they talk about this and other rap albums, but rate albums high from white artists that talk about the same things in different ways. Hell some of those white artists have sung about, and actually slept with underage girls. Or Johnny Cash’s songs about misogyny, violence, or animal abuse. Like if you’re going to criticize a black rapper’s message, maybe look at the music you like first. We know why you actually don’t like rap, and it’s not really about the content. Trust me, we know
Curtis :)
won me over but then just went on and on and on
Wall-to-wall bangers. And don’t skip those bonus tracks. Music may have peaked with Wanksta. Best song: Many Men (Wish Death)
I mean obviously a landmark slapper album. But never really made an impact on me when it came out and i get the production and maybe the raps/bars/rhymes/flow but i know he doesnt smoke or drink and it just sounds like hes cosplaying. not a fan.
I wish Dre had spent his time and energy on a more worthy rapper than 50 Cent. What a waste.
He got rich, somehow.
The overall album feels really lame while never getting to be aggressively bad.
Debut Gangsta.
舒服的饒舌
Decent beats, but I quickly tire of the subject matter. I enjoyed this, but it will never get anything higher than a 3/5.
This was fine thanks to the music from Dre and a few solid radio hits. Otherwise it's purely forgettable posturing and machismo
343/1001 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
Not for me 1/5
Rap, 2003 -> 1
3.5 stars. The thug persona he portrays certainly isn't faked, the violence comes across pervasively in the lyrics. The Dr Dre production influence helps a lot on this album to elevate it. Lots of mainstream hits but the standout is the timeless "In Da Club".
Fantastic beats, Great flow, Great production.
I have this CD in my collection and I'm trying to figure out how it got there...
Maybe I just don’t like good rap? Maybe I really love bad rap? I don’t know. This seems to be an unpopular album with rap junkies, but I loved the vibe. I had a good time. Even though this is an hour, I was still into it by the end of the runtime. With most really lauded rap albums that people say I absolutely need to hear, which win tons of awards and are lifted up on this pedestal (looking at you Kendrick and Kanye) I just don’t give a damn. Give me a 50 cent bag of chips over nutritious veggies any day!
1. intro - 2. gangzta - 1 3. uuaiting - 1.5 4. men - 1 5. club - 2 6. time - 1.5 7. heat - 1 8. cant - 1.5 9. blood - 0 10. douun - 1 11. pimp - 2 12. ztyle - 1 13. rich - 0 14. queztionz - 3 15. puzh - 1 16. heaven - 1 17. uuankzta - 0 18. me - 1 19. line - 1 20. pimp - 2
Some definite bangers on here but it is about 10 minutes to long
Testosterone poisoning!
Rhythm and sound: A+ The actual content of the lyrics is where rap and hiphop usually lose me; it's just not for me.
Old school rap, reminds me of the old school Christian rap since style and beats. Not my preference for rap style/ flow, but better than most I've listened to on this list so far. 3.4
3.5 - Nostalgic
This has not aged well at all. It was bad when released and is worse now. The words rap and music soild never be used in the same sentence.
I'm ready to put on some Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica and put this on in the background. Bring me back to 2003 please!
A couple songs I bump to but too long and repetitive
Well this one really came out of nowhere. This album was huge back in the day. The hits are iconic and the less well known tracks are still good, some even great. It’s funny to me given the contents of the rest of this list that Robert chose to include this one, but I certainly think it was a valid choice.
50 Cent is not for me. It’s okay if it’s on in the background at a party or a bar, but that’s about all the tolerance I have for it. It’s mostly cliche subject matter that doesn’t resonate with me. Familiarity may have saved this album- somehow there were like a dozen singles off this album, so it kept the songs from completely running together for me.
This sucks... to each their own. One thing is clear; No other form of music has played such an integral role in the deaths of so many American youth, nor led to an epidemic of unwanted and parentless children. 50 Cent and his peers reap the riches from their message of bravado bullshit. I've got no use for this misery.
Not something I’d listen to now but I was in middle school when this came out and it was huge, even with a bunch of white suburban kids.
Somehow both nostalgic to high school and not for me
No, keine Chance!
Songs to (possibly) push you husband off a roof to. Lots of hits. Was worried about the length but it was more than bearable. Great Album.
unfortunately i dont rly have an Overall Take on this thats v interesting or that divergent from consensus...very catchy, too long, mostly fun, still kind of the ultimate measuring stick for mainstream gangsta rap records of this decade to be placed in some kind of relation to. i think i just have to jot down some disconnected observations again lol sorry for struggling 2 write a decent overall takeaway for a lot of these records recently! (1) this is obviously not the most lyrically diverse record in the world lol but it does i think deserve a bit more credit for the variety of samples and instruments it strings together on the beats, i dont think it ever feels suffocatingly monotonous musically which makes the bloated runtime go down a lot smoother than would otherwise be the case (2) outside a handful of features this is mostly 50 cent by himself, and that actually does feel like a rly distinguishing part of the record. theres not even a lot of vocal samples! in particular, just about every hook is handled by him, which is v confident and he handles them v well...it helps give the album a lot of character (3) i absolutely love big dramatic string samples on 2000s rap records
Die Lyrics nicht berücksichtig, musikalisch ziemlich gut, aber viel zu lang und auf Dauer etwas eintönig.
Great album. So many hits. It's pretty much a classic at this point.
What did 50 cent say when Eminem made him a sweater? Gee, you knit?
Why is this album anywhere near the others?
Huh, this monotony has been going on for a while. <checks playlist> Oh shit, there's another 25 minutes to go‽
Admittedly, this isn't my favorite genre, but I've heard better... way better... This radiated a stiflingly lazy vibe to me. I felt like I was being asked to put more energy into listening to it than 50 put into producing it. Honestly, this doesn't even deserve a 1 since I'd rather have an album outright disgust me than induce such a feeling of ennui.
Well this takes me back to high school. Nostalgia is making me say yes this is a blast. But I don’t really know if this holds up to my expectations. This was fun to revisit, but I grew a little bored by the end.
I knew the hits, and there were some pretty big ones on this album. Even the songs I didn't know were pretty good. Solid 3.
Never actually listened to this... It's good! The beats are awesome and 50 is creative and has good style to his presentation. There is a glorification of violence and pushing drugs which is a bit hack and sometimes bores me as far as taste in rap.
Some bangers on this album.
Pretty good stuff
high 3.7 maybe. i liked this but didn’t love it
Pre-listening thoughts: hey generator. It's me, your old pal writing. I've just got a small favor to ask you. Would you mind generating an album that's under 1 freaking hour long next time please? I am dying out here. Thanks. Also two Eminem features is just two too many. Post/during listening thoughts: well I enjoy my fair share of rap and hip hop but there is almost nothing about this that says "hey I'm essential listening!!!". Nothing special about the lyricism or flow, and 50 Cent is just sort of forgettable against the other rappers/groups on this list like Kendrick, Biggie, De La Soul, etc. I mean even a really lyrically questionable album like Biggie's or Snoop Dogg's I could immediately tell they were super talented and I did understand why someone would need to hear at least some part of those albums before they died. I just can't find myself caring about this at all. The production is occasionally really good though (shoutout Dr. Dre). Also so many of the rap albums on this list are way too long. 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: In Da Club, Blood Hound Least fav tracks: Heat
Minne meg om barneskulen
Ontkom niet aan Eminem
Bättre än vad jag trodde, men fortfarande inte så mycket jag fastnade för
The singles are absolute bangers, that's like saying the sun is shining and the sky is blue. But beyond that, thanks to the excellent beats and 50's charisma in full-force, the album is just really damn fun!
In Da Club made me chuckle
Absolute classic '00s NYC hip-hop. LOADED with catchy songs and killer beats. Has aged surprisingly well.
Such an absolute time capsule. This screams early 2000s in a way few other things do. I was meh on that t then and I’m meh in it now but it brought back good memories at least.
J: 2 N:3
This is real for many people, I suppose, but I don't really know. I am fine with telling stories in one's own way, this way just isn't for me...
Banger after banger. All time classic album
Great album. Loved the production on it and the consistent theming throughout. At times a little cheesy and over the top, but it was 2005 after all
Banger
2.5
In the club and heat. What more can you ask for. Sound and lyrics are dated af but it’s a great album
It was fine, not for me.
It's your birthday!!
Profoundly *not for me* though it hit exactly in my prime college party era. Suuuuuper 2003, so very 2003. Still I was not expecting that much Eminem. Get outta here with that, I already have two Eminem albums from this list I'm procrastinating on, I don't need more.
The hits are the hits, but not much else here stood out for me
why is this here
"In Da Club" is a certified hood classic but other tracks are pretty mid. 3/5.
Didn't do much for me. That said, there's some talent... I'm not a fan of this genre but I have to give some credit for the obvious skill of the artist.
Meh, a little too vulgar/violent for me.
holy hell what a debut album, who knew 16 year old me and current me would agree on how good this is. It also made white teenagers everywhere very comfortable shouting racial slurs. I'm not even talking trash, I bought a spinner chain so I wasnt immune to it. And goddamn normalizing pimping as a cool thing, what a time. Whats to say, front to back this album screams coming out party, Fifty Cent has arrived and he's here to make his mark. I cant say I didnt enjoy any of the songs on this album, nothing got phoned in here, the features dont disappoint either. I also appreciate the high energy in the production, like it needs to be played on a good sound system or pumping through your car stereos when you meet up with friends in a parking lot of a mcdonalds or a 7-11.
Holy shit was this the album of the year in 2003 er what eh? 50 put everything he had creatively into this album and it shows. Gangster rap that’s actually fun. Sure not every song is a masterpiece (the bonus tracks are particularly mediocre), it’s too long and some of the beats sound like “free beats to rap to” but he doesn’t phone it in on a single track. So many bangers. And there’s a silly little song where Young Buck woofs throughout the whole thing! What’s not to love?!? Plus that Lapp Dogg verse on the P.I.M.P remix will live rent free in my head forever “I’ve got some butter pecan Puerto Ricans from the boogie down, that’s waiting on me to return so they can snatch these braids out and put my shit in a perm. Word” One day we’re going to have to discuss Pimp culture and how it went mainstream around this time and it just fucked up a lot of young men and their views on women. Obviously now’s not the time but man… we had famous pimps! And they were silly little guys who talked funny and dressed funny and splashed money around… oh and also trafficked and abused women. “Keep my pimp hand strong” was something you heard people say sincerely?! Insane Also special shoutout to Q Unit. The Queen/50 Cent remix album which is mostly shitty except for “Old Fashioned Outta Control Loverboy” which bumps
It's OK for the background and there are certainly worse hip hop albums out there but it's nothing you need to her. Fitty has a flow that is boring after a while. The instrumentals sound dated. He's helped by good features.
It doesn't get much worse than this
So, I did not expect to give this album a 5 star rating. 50 Cent has never been one of my all time favorite artists, and I frankly had never consider this one of the greatest hip hop albums either. However, after making my way through this whole album for the first time in probably 20 years I'll go ahead and say that it absolutely holds up. This came out my Senior year of high school and pretty much defines the sound of prom for my graduating class, and our first-year college parties. I knew I'd enjoy it for pure nostalgia reasons, but there wasn't a single track on this album that made me want to reach for the skip button. It's pretty much banger after banger, with "21 Questions" being one of my favorite rap songs. There are just so many catchy hooks, so many catchy beats. Is this album as good as Aretha's or Simon and Garfunkel's, which I've already rated 5 stars? No, but I saw another review saying "not all 5s are equal," and while I didn't consider 50 Cent as the same legend like they are - I believe it to be one of the best rap albums of the 2000s, and absolutely worth of a top spot on my own personal Best Of lists.
If your life is this bad, surely you don't want others following you down this path. I really do not get this entire genre of music and why record companies continue to release it.
5/5
I feel like 50 Cent owned the early 2000s rap scene, especially on the radio. Heard so much In Da Club and Candy Shop growing up (could've sworn Candy Shop was on this, but it's on his following album). I've listened to about half of the songs on this album, but never did a start-to-finish listen before. What Up Gangsta is a great opener, while Patiently Waiting (even with the Eminem feature is just ok. The back-to-back of Many Men and In Da Club is unmatched. Baller songs. Some other favorites were If I Can't, P.I.M.P, and 21 Questions. For as much commercial success as 50 Cent has had, I've never thought of him as a top rapper or amongst the best of all time. He has some strong hits in his bag, especially on this album, but the other filler songs on this album feel like very generic rap. Overall, I would put this firmly as a 4 though.
Somehow even through I grew up in the peak of his relevancy, I have never listened to a 50 Cent album. While the beats themselves are catchy (as would be expected from Dre) the actual production sounds like trash. I always thought I just had a bad download of Patiently Waiting from the limewire era, but that is just how it sounds. Snares sound clipped and 50's vocals in particular sound almost deliberately gritty. This album has a very solid front 4, with Patiently Waiting featuring an overly epic bordering on corny beat ready made for the Em features. Em certainly shines, but 50 hangs in there and holds his own alongside. In Da Club is a timeless staple. Just an incredibly catchy nonsensical chorus with one of the best beats 50 has handled. Back Down is another standout with an eerie beat and strong-man lyrics. The back half feels more like filler than fire. P.I.M.P. with its buoyant silly steel drum beat alongside the aggressive siren-evoking Wanksta are the only real standouts. I enjoyed the nostalgic tour, but as a whole album this slogged for me. I'd say its a soft 3 for me.
4.5 stars. High school fucking jams. I was so close to giving this a 5 until that last quarter of the album. Heat is fucking great. other jams patiently waiting, many men, high all the time, 21 questions. these songs just go hard.
Anytime we get a rap album like this I'm always curious to know how much gangster stuff the rapper actually has been a part of. I know 50 Cent got shot, but I'm curious about rappers as a whole, especially after they have successful music careers. That being said this album was a good one. Solid beats with understandable lyrics is always good. Some of the beats felt like they got reused on the album though, not sure if that's intentional or not. It was entertaining that all of the songs were about guns and crime and cars and status and then there's "21 Questions" where all of the sudden he gets sappy, then it goes right back to the gun stuff.
High school brain unlocked. 3-4 of these songs were constantly on repeat at every party we would go to, and I don't hate that I was just able to relisten. 50 Cent is just so raw and hardcore. The backing beats too go so well and are all very original.
Man this is loaded with jams. Patiently Waiting, Many Men, In da Club, PIMP, 21 Questions, and my personal favorite Heat. All others are songs I haven't heard in a while but still all bang. Loved Back Down and the Ja Rule diss track that was a huge standout for me. Not enough to give it a 5 but this is a solidly firm 4 all day.
Fine, just not for me.
I feel conflicted about this one. This challenge has highlighted to me that I'm just not a fan of Dr Dre and most of his projects. They alway have great beats but are often filled with machismo, toxic masculinity, or extremely juvenile boasting about sex, drugs, and/or violence. 50 Cent doesn't deliver the socially conscious lyrics that I wish he would but he does at least feel more honest than the rest. Maybe it's because he generally avoids the adolescent attempts at humor (with a few cringeworthy exceptions). Or the fact that he does allow himself some moments of vulnerability (to Dr Dre's annoyance). Or the fact that he was actually shot nine times prior to making this album. Like some of his contemporaries, the lyrics speak to an experience of actual people. It may at times sound overly aggressive or toxic. The glimpses of a softer side don't particularly make him into a feminist or anything. But we can that these attitudes were in many ways shaped by experience and decades of institutional racism. The thug persona is for some a survival strategy. The album begs for some political and historical awareness in place of the glorification of violence. But it's hard to completely blame someone who's lucky to be alive for puffing out his chest to his rivals.
There are a handful of clunkers, but the sheer volume of bangers contained on this record is staggering. So many hits, so many earworms.
I’ve never liked in da club, but there’s plenty to enjoy here otherwise
fittyyy! 50 Cent is an OG artist and he has deep songs about his upbringing but also club bangers. I discovered some new bops. His backtracks are honestly simple but so catchy, and that’s probably what’s so great about them is it doesn’t need too much to be great.
I would appreciate if someone better informed than me could explain hip hop's evolution to being the most popular musical form of the early 00s.The samples are less hooky and drawn from a much narrower range of sources than those chosen by, say, De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest. At some point, the art of collaging sound became divorced from hip hop entirely, left to the Avalanches or someone, returning sampling to avant garde tradition starting with Pierre Boulez. Or something. I don't know. I'm not an historian. Perhaps these aren't samples anyway. Maybe they are just beats. In which case, when did it become the prevailing aesthetic that beats should be tinny, plodding, and cluttered? Perhaps these beats are groovy or slinky or something, but the timbre of everything is so course that I can't feel it. The vocal is mumbled and hard to follow, so any complaints about the lyrical content aren't coming from me - I don't know what they are. Of course, hip hop became the most popular musical form of the time by becoming pop music of the time. As the title suggests, this is a project aiming to make 50 Cent rich, but, in the trying, something definitely died. While I was listening to wildly different things that was how it felt to me at the time, that this was product + pose, with nothing else to it. Listening to it properly now, that seems about right. 1 I have grumbled about every rap record we have encountered so far and my common complaint is that the backdrop to the (mere) talking is always little more than one or two bars of music on a loop. Well here is a record that dismantles that preconception like…let’s say shooting a person until their brains come out. Not only does Get Rich or Die Tryin’ have someone footering on a keyboard a good portion of the time - 50 Cent actually sings a bit! Even more surprising is that in this act of what seems to me something like daring, 50 Cent has made the worst rap album I’ve heard yet. Wow. How little I know about rap. Now 50 shows me how little I want to know. 0.5/5
It's like Eminem without any of the humour or self-reflection that redeemed parts of his discography.
Very good!
Good vibes on this, lot of popular, recognisable tracks, just something to listen to in the background for a good time, essential rap album overall.
Honestly, it's the same gangsta rapper BS like many others have done before and after. Even Eminem and other guests couldn't change that.
synes bare virkelig ikke han er en særlig god rapper og beats er kedelige ud over den ene banger. tidlige 00'ere var en virkelig dårlig periode for hiphop
Fiddy er ikke verdens bedste rapper og det er for langt MEN der er dælme et par bangers og jeg synes generelt at beatsene er ret gode, specielt for sin tid! Mindre kedeligt end Marshall Mathers LP på trods af at Eminem styrer
Jesus christ this album is very very long... And aged like milk..
No
Having only been familiar with a couple of singles, I didn’t expect to like this much. But it was alright! I like his delivery, pretty subdued beats, and bits of juvenile humour. Will I listen again? Maybe not. But if someone asks if I like it, I’ll say “Sure!”
Well this was a very unexpected suggestion, don't know why I do like some of his songs, and I had two from this album in my playlist already; have not added any more though
A raw, hook-laden debut that cemented 50 Cent as an icon of early 2000s hip-hop. Some of these songs were played to death, you heard them everywhere. Honestly, while you can't help but bop your head to many of them, I find the album as a whole to be pretty formulaic and I've heard them enough to last me a lifetime.
Dated but solid
Not the best rap. Some of the lyrics are kind of lame, the songs mostly sound the same, and the album feels pretty bloated. I did enjoy it somewhat though.
In da club, já já, ekki nostalgískt en var allt í lagi á sínum tíma. P.I.M.P. er síðra. Restin rennur inn í annað og út um hitt og skilur lítið eftir. Þetta er ekki fyrir mig.
Pretty good, held my interest all the way through. Far from the best rap album I’ve ever heard though.
I don't see the appeal at all. I'm not a huge rap fan but these raps are not that good, the instrumentals are really basic, and I can't help but notice that he's rapping behind the beat sometimes. If you don't have good rhythm then don't rap, but I know he does because he does in some songs. I also thought that the album kind of blended together and I can't tell you how over half of the songs even go they didn't stick in my mind at all. Overall, I didn't like it at all. Favorite Song: Waiting Patiently (I like Eminem) Least Favorite Song: Poor Lil Rich (Idk it was kind of a blur)
I vibed
March 3, 2025 was convinced I only knew "In Da Club", but then "If I Can't" and "P.I.M.P." came on, so I guess I knew more 50 than I thought. What the hell, a 7/8 refrain? GRODT is full of surprises Eminem's contributions work surprisingly well (especially in "Patiently Waiting"), thought his & Fiddy's styles would clash but I was wrong. Shouldn't have been removed from later editions, as it certainly influenced the sound of the harder 2000s hip-hop. There's something nagging me about the overall sound of this album that I can't quite describe- beside my general dislike of gangsta rap. Like, the production is clean, immaculate even, yet it somehow lessens the impact of the violence and drama of the lyrics. Which is good for going multi-platinum, I guess. HL: "What Up Gangsta", "In da Club". "If I Can't", "21 Questions", "Gotta Make it to Heaven", "Wanksta" (bonus track)
Too long and lots of regrettable homophobia but the hits here are undeniable.
This has the 5th Billion Play (1.7B) with "In Da Club" and "P.I.M.P" at over 800k. I understand it being her birthday and we gonna celebrate because you her pimp, but outside of that I can see why his name is 50 cent, because this album ain't worth half a buck
some undeniable classics but overall too long
90s rap, not my preference, but this one was well known.
Has some moments but not my thing. Nothing offensive or bad just seems kinda run of the mill...generic. 2.5 stars
Liked it!
For better or worse, nothing offers more street cred than surviving being shot multiple times. With that as a leading narrative (emphasized as early as “What Up Gangsta”), 50 comes into the booth with a fire under his ass and a recognizable, 1-of-1 delivery. The beats on this record are sinister, bouncy, and state-of-the-art for their time. “Many Men” has basically become synonymous with surviving a situation you shouldn’t have, whether it’s as big as a shooting or as small as a car cutting you off in rush hour traffic. 50’s team knew what they had going, following up with “In Da Club”, an iconic single that enshrined him in the cultural lexicon thanks to a simple set of steel-drum hits syncopated to some crunchy club drums. What’s beyond this is more leaning into drive-by’s, pimped-out cars exhibitions of grit, and some signature 50 Cent hooks, proving that rappers can at least pass as singers every once in a while. Dr. Dre leads a team of producers in a memorable effort - all of these instrumentals are aged, but almost none of them aged *badly*. Shoutout to the VERY east-coast “Back Down” for its creeping, evil, repetitive beat. If you waved the flag for new school gangsta rap back in the day, you could point to “PIMP” to make a strong case for the shifting subgenre. This isn’t perfect front to back, “Poor Lil Rich” is a bit nasaly and repetitive. That repetition gets a pleasant break on “21 Questions” which is about as earnest and romantic as this record gets. 50 rides the album out from there, constantly aiming for crossover success, toeing the line between accessible radio cuts (even keeping the slurs and dated language to a relative minimum for it’s time) and ill-willed posturing for his G Unit. Tight flows wrap the bow on Curtis Jackson’s presentation of 50 Cent to the world. This is also the fourth 4 stars I’ll give in a row! That has to be a record for this list. Making up for the 1 star record from just before that.
While I admit that there are many bangers here, I also don’t really care much for most of them, at least when taken together. For one thing 50 is not that great of a rapper, for another the songs don’t exactly offer any variation in terms of music, rapping or lyrical content.
Es larguísimo pero me gustó. Dos hitazos tremendos de rap y en general buenos temas. No mi onda, pero buen disco.
Gangsta pop
Gangsta
This is a pretty solid example of early 2000s hip-hop. I recognized a handful of the songs and it was well put together, but nothing that really shocked or surprised me. Just felt like early 2k hip-hop. Good album, might return to for the hits.
Thanks for giving me a genre I actually liked. Great album, great consistency. I’m going to have to listen again to find specific songs to add. None really stood out
With the exception of In Da Club, which uses an extremely dated slur one time too many, all of the hits in this album are pretty good – at least for 90s/00s rap standards. Unlike various other hip-hop artists from the same era, 50 Cent is at least unapologetic about something both relatable and admirable: having to work his whole life to get the riches he deserves. (Hence the album name, I guess.) The compositions themselves, though, are extremely spotty, with about half the tracks having little to no interesting hooks to keep the listener engaged. 50 Cent's voice doesn't help matters, being incredibly generic for the genre. Man, even Eminem has a pretty distinctive voice – and I haven't been generous enough to give any of his albums a 2 just yet. One of the main separators, bringing this far above the countless 1-star hip-hop records, is the lack of interlude/skit tracks. In addition, once you start hearing tracks with genuine hooks, melodies, chords, (god forbid) instruments, the music really starts to pick up. Many Men (Wish Death) has a great bluesy lo-fi-esque backing, making it a standout. If I Can't, although a little repetitive, has the same advantage. P.I.M.P. demonstrates that 50 Cent isn't a particularly good singer, but it still sounds better than his lazy/slurred spoken vocal – and for that reason alone P.I.M.P. is relatively good. Judging by the listens on Spotify, most people agree that 50 Cent's music is better with these more "tonal" musical elements. So it's a little surprising to me that many of the remaining songs – including What Up Gangsta, Poor Lil Rich, and U Not Like Me – avoid them entirely. 2/5 Key tracks: Many Men (Wish Death), If I Can't, P.I.M.P.
Rap classic bday song
Fun 50 Cent
Gear: Dunu SA6 Artwork: 💪✝️🟥 Production: 😐🤔🤷 Music: 👦➡️👨➡️👴 Rating: 💰💰💰/5
Solid bumpers on this album, a true rap classic.
50 is early to mid 2000s in my mind. And get rich is 50. It's damn good. The beats couldn't be more classic. But it's not my favorite. I like it but don't love. It's hard with a straight 5 stars. It's better than a 3 but it's not a 4 either. Gotta go 3 sadly. Apologies to the whole G-Unit
Nah, not my thing
Listening again, its actually quite well done
Classic rap album and one of the first I can remember listening to. It starts with the iconic coin dropping and includes classics like "Many Men", "In Da Club", and "21 Questions" with underrated hits like "What Up Gangsta" and "Heat". 50 Cent brings it on every song and a wide array of producers hit their marks production wise as well. It's crazy to think this was his solo debut and he made an album this highly-praised.
I didn't realize I had a soft spot for 50 Cent until listening to this, but it was pretty nostalgic for me. I'm not a big fan of rap but I liked quite a few of these songs.
This is top drawer Hip-Pop. Beats are great, flow is great and the lyrics are genuinely funny "I love you like a fat kid loves cake" still amuses me. Just sit back and enjoy! Best Tracks: In Da Club; P.I.M.P.; 21 Questions
I almost bailed on this album twice. The ONLY reason I didnt give it 1 ⭐ was because while it was horrible, Eminem was the only part of the album that saved my ears from bleeding.
This is an iconic album, truly a classic hip hop record. It’s no surprise at all that this debut solo album sold so many records. 50’s vocal style is so unique, he has this calm musical cadence is his voice that’s so hard to pinpoint, but it’s good. The features on this record are definitive of successful hip hop of the early 2000’s, Eminem’s work on “Patiently Waiting” stands out as excellent among excellence. I have to say this album has really aged well in my eyes, and it brings back a lot of memories of listening to G-unit as a teenager. 4.5*
This is a pretty great piece of early 2000s gangsta rap. I didn't realize this was 50 Cent's debut album, which is pretty impressive. There are a few songs that seem to use almost the same beat, but it's a good beat. There's a good mix of some real shit, some drugs and womanizing, some introspection and even a corny love song. It feels more personal than what a lot of contemporary rappers were putting out, which to me is the biggest success of this album, as well as the really good production. This aged better than I would've expected. 7/10
Loved it.
hooks here are out of this world. If I was making R&B when this was made I would be SCARED. 50 could do both hardcore gangster rap and smooth entrancing little melodies. The last album of its kind in many ways. TCD came along and changed everything
Highlights include: "What Up Gangsta" "Many Men (Wish Death)" "In Da Club" "21 Questions" Funny lines on this album. A little long though.
Get in the bin.
Great album, and everybody know in the club is a banger.
Too long. The really strong tracks get lost among the filler. Add a half-star because this album does not have any of those annoying "skits" on it. Thanks, Fiddy!
In Da Club does most of the heavy lifting on this. 2.5 stars.
50: "I love you baby girl" In the background: gun sounds.
Rap is not a good genre for me. I can't relate to most of it and, most critically, I have audio processing issues that make it very difficult for me to understand lyrics. That means most rap for me lives or dies by its beats, and with a few exceptions most rap is not musically or structurally interesting enough to engage me. In this case, the beats are good, but they are offset by 50 Cent's AWFUL singing and generally mediocre flow. There's also EIGHTEEN songs of this, so as much as I want to reward the production with a star, I cannot in good faith say I enjoyed listening to this.
Top tier rap album
This was a fantastic album. So many hits, and I didn't remember how much Eminem was on there.
Decent. 3/5
Excellent
I thought it would be the lyrics that would make me dislike this album, but I actually objected to the slick and super commercial production more.
I think this era in music gets a fair amount of "hate it or love it" type responses, so I guess this is a "love it" response. Very good album.
I absolutely love this album you can just tell how good the energy from the studio . Even the eminem feature won’t bring me down
## In-Depth Review of *Get Rich or Die Tryin'* by 50 Cent Released on February 6, 2003, *Get Rich or Die Tryin'* marked the explosive debut of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, a pivotal moment in hip-hop history. The album not only established 50 Cent as a major player in the music industry but also revitalized the gangster rap genre. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence, while also highlighting its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrical content of *Get Rich or Die Tryin'* is a blend of bravado, survival stories, and introspection. 50 Cent's lyrics reflect his tumultuous life experiences, including his near-fatal shooting in 2000. This personal narrative adds depth to tracks like "Many Men (Wish Death)," where he confronts his adversaries with raw honesty and vulnerability. The chorus encapsulates the album's essence: a survivor's tale intertwined with themes of revenge and resilience. Other notable tracks include "21 Questions," which showcases a softer side of 50 Cent as he explores love and loyalty. The juxtaposition of tough street narratives with moments of emotional reflection demonstrates his versatility as a lyricist. Songs like "What Up Gangsta" and "Back Down" reinforce his tough persona while maintaining catchy hooks that appeal to mainstream audiences. ### Music and Production The production on *Get Rich or Die Tryin'* is primarily helmed by industry heavyweights Dr. Dre and Eminem, alongside other producers like Sha Money XL. This collaboration results in a polished sound characterized by hard-hitting beats, horror-movie synths, and melodic undertones. The album features a mix of club anthems and introspective tracks, creating a dynamic listening experience. Tracks like "In Da Club" exemplify this blend; it combines infectious hooks with a celebratory vibe that became an instant classic. Meanwhile, songs such as "Gotta Make It to Heaven" offer a more somber reflection on life’s struggles, showcasing 50 Cent's ability to traverse different musical landscapes seamlessly. ### Themes The overarching themes of *Get Rich or Die Tryin'* revolve around survival, ambition, and the duality of street life. 50 Cent paints a vivid picture of his upbringing in South Jamaica, Queens, where he faced violence and hardship. His lyrics often reflect a desire to escape this environment while simultaneously embracing the lifestyle that comes with it. The album also touches on themes of loyalty and betrayal, particularly in tracks like "Patiently Waiting," where he acknowledges the role of friends and foes in his journey to success. This complexity adds layers to his character, making him relatable to listeners who have faced similar struggles. ### Influence *Get Rich or Die Tryin'* had a profound impact on hip-hop and popular culture. It played a crucial role in re-establishing gangster rap during a time when the genre was perceived as waning. The album’s success paved the way for future artists who sought to blend commercial appeal with authentic street narratives. The influence of this album can be seen in the works of subsequent artists such as Rick Ross, The Game, and Jeezy, who adopted similar themes and stylistic elements. Furthermore, its commercial success—selling over nine million copies—set a benchmark for debut albums in hip-hop. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Authenticity**: 50 Cent’s real-life experiences resonate throughout the album, lending credibility to his persona. - **Production Quality**: The collaboration with Dr. Dre and Eminem ensures high-quality production that enhances the listening experience. - **Variety**: The album offers a diverse range of tracks that balance club hits with introspective songs. - **Cultural Impact**: It revitalized gangster rap and influenced countless artists who followed. #### Cons - **Predictability**: Some critics argue that certain themes and lyrical motifs can feel repetitive or formulaic. - **Lyrical Limitations**: While impactful, 50 Cent's lyrical prowess has been compared unfavorably to contemporaries like Nas or Jay-Z. - **Overproduction**: A few tracks may feel overproduced or polished compared to the rawness typically associated with gangster rap. ### Conclusion *Get Rich or Die Tryin'* remains a seminal work in hip-hop history that encapsulates the struggles and triumphs of its creator. Through its compelling lyrics, masterful production, and exploration of complex themes, the album not only launched 50 Cent's career but also left an indelible mark on the genre itself. Despite some criticisms regarding predictability and lyrical depth, its cultural significance is undeniable. As we reflect on its legacy two decades later, it stands as a testament to resilience and ambition in the face of adversity—a narrative that continues to resonate with audiences today.
It’s kinda strange how timid this sounds 20 years later. 2 Killer Tracks…rest pretty conventional
Enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to. Heat in particular is an unexpected banger. Guns, girls and ganj - G unit 3.25/5
Never listened to this through before and what an album! In da club, if I can’t, PIMP all cracking but holds its own throughout. Fiddy gives such a soft gangsta rap that he feel if he were to smash my face in, it would come from a good place
The lyrical content is not interesting to me, especially when he’s discussing his personal beef with other rappers. The production is strong at times, but it’s a low 3 at best.
So much nostalgia on this one. Instant five stars! Key tracks: "What Up Gangsta," "Many Men," "Patiently Waiting," "If I Can't," and "Heat." I loved how 50 was so NY but played with the Southern Drawl with his delivery.
Not good
2/5
A must have.
Way too much middle school nostalgia to be objective.
The end of the album had some great surprises. Sucker for 2003 hip hop
NOST AL GIC
This is superb
Ok we get it- you have guns -like to shoot people- women are all ho’s and F the cops. I was def never the target audience. Not a rap fan but some I can truly appreciate. This isn’t on that list. Rounding up to a 2 - probably because I just listened to the Human League and they make 50 sound almost tolerable.
Never listened to the album or knew that much - it was a little after my gansta rap phase in life, and my favorites were already nailed down. But the story is pretty fascinating - wrote Ghetto Qu’ran, got shot 9 times, got blacklisted from the industry, got found by Eminem and Dre, sold this album at Beatles-level numbers (just with more Glock references).
You kill me 50. Your album was oh so boring and predictable.
Never listened to this past the singles. Better than expected.
A lot of classic singles I’m familiar with and had in rotation for years . The production is layered and polished , 50s bars don’t blow your mind but keep a nice Flow and fit in seamlessly with the production for the most part The subject matter is stagnant and the album flow is ok . It’s lacking that wow factor as an album for me to put it in the upper echelon but a high and solid 3
Yessss!! 50!! I love 50. So many memories with his songs.
rap
I give it 4 millennial stars. 4/5
You know, this isnt terrible. Its not great but the flow is good, the production stands up and the world building paints a picture.
Graduation >>>>>>>
Classic. 4.5 stars only because it’s a little too long
Classic.
Meh
But I can’t quite get there with Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (a title I like a lot, btw). It just isn’t for me. I recognize 50 Cent’s impact on the culture and on hip hop. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-get-rich-or-die-tryin?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Has some of the best club bangers of all time.
Not my cup of milk, brother
Very early 00 rap album. The beats are decent, though often simplistic and repetitive, but I just don't like the profanity and vulgar lyrics. The cover picture and the title of the album are so over the top. Eminem saved this album. Overall not my jam, and I won't listen again.
Everything about this album is just a great time. Great songs, super vivid, catchy. Just a super solid album front to back.
Not really for me.
Pretty good
he has some style but music is all over the place
Very of its time and time hasn't been kind to it overall, but everyone should listen to Rob Harvilla talk about the troll life of Fiddy on his 2000s edition of 60 Songs that Explain the 90's pod, its a trip.
I have a core childhood memory of my power going out and the last thing I was doing before the internet cut was watching the YouTube video for In Da Club, so all I could do for 4 hours was repeat the first 20 seconds of the video that buffered. Must’ve listened to it 100 damn times out of boredom. I like the big songs from this album, aforementioned In Da Club, P.I.M.P, Many Men, 21 Questions. All pretty good. But nothing that’s gonna go down in my own personal canon of great music. 50s come up story is legit tho brother truly got saved from the streets by his music ability. 3/5
phenomenal debut, vile amount of slappers on this bad boy
Pleasant surprise. I'd give it a 4 star rating but it drags for too long.
I definitely know fifty. I know some of these songs and do know that this song is a classic. This just brings me right back to high school
Still the favorite one.
When I was like 12 I listened to this like 10 times a week lol - all the songs are good imo
this era of rap is just absolute garbage to me and this album is its poster boy. basically you've got 3 or 4 songs, some of which sound like they're using Casio keyboard beats, repeated over 54 minutes (thank god the last 4 songs were bonus tracks, which to me means i was under no obligation to subject myself to them)
Was never much of a 50 Cent fan, always thought he was a little soft. Listening to this now and giving it a proper run, I was wrong to doubt this album. Just the right mix of swagger and groove to be timeless, even though some aspects now sound dated, and In Da Club is kind of a miserably boring beat. Someone else said it, but 50’s greatest weapon is his singing voice, something that makes songs like Many Men and If I Can’t hold up decades later. It’s not a hall of fame rap record for me, but it’s not too many tiers down from the top.
Really don't like gangsta rap and the bullshit that surrounds this. Do not particularly like 50 Cent as a rapper or person so was expecting to give this a 1. Surprisingly enjoyed it more than I was expecting and in all good consciousness cannot give it a 1 so its a grudging 2.
Really enjoyed In Da Club, but then the f-slur came up. Fuck off
Saved by Eminem and the hit songs
Once again y'all manage to say some of the most heinous, mask-off garbage about rap music. And I don't even like this album much.
Fitty's troll years have entertained me far more than his rap years.
Very good. 3.5
Álbum divertido, un poco DEMASIADO largo, nada que me vuele mucho la cabeza o que me encante en general pero tampoco estuvo mal, auqnue si tiene un par de bangers. Total del álbum: 66
Not worthy of being on this list, but decent enough.
i think i'd rather die tryin
Not my scene but 21 questions is a tune
TOO long, could probably cut like half the songs. I thought this was better. Choruses are soo repetitive, but just because theres so many songs, theres quite a few good ones. Rapping is fine. Favorite songs: Many men, bloodhound, Gotta make it to heaven, Wanksta, Lifes on the line . Overall around 6/10
-5/10
I’ve long debated how to rate this compared to the classic debut rap records of the time, as it’s much less a personal, artistic statement 50 had been waiting his entire life to make and more of an almost cynical collection of focused grouped singles covering all the necessary bases of the time period (NY gangsta records? Check? R&B tinged song for the ladies? Check. California record, Atlanta record, weed smoking song from a guy who doesn’t even smoke? Check, check, check. Etc). But the reality is those focused grouped singles are phenomenal, backed by immaculate production and 50 spitting his ass off in way he never would again. So while it’s not illmatic or ready to die, it deserves its place among them.
I’ve added a star for “I love you like a fat kid loves cake”
Achieves what it sets out to, but not for me. Good beats. Well produced. I think he could do with more variation in his flow but I don't know the genre well enough to be confident about that. I am not the target audience for the subject matter. I feel bad putting in at a 2 for what's largely a matter of taste, but equally it wouldn't feel right to me among the albums I've given a 3.
Ok album, vulgar
Classic hip hop album, can’t go wrong. No clue how this has a 3 on this site lol
Definitely feels its age, but mans got flow
As people have “grown up” and matured, the general public’s disdain towards gangster rap in hindsight of its popularity has only grown. Now granted, there were people during that time period as well who actively fought against it. I, for one, have never been opposed to it. And I don’t think it should be looked at as this sort of scornful thing in comparison to more notable and serious forms of expression in hip-hop. I will admit that the blatant bigotry and misogyny is off putting. And I shouldn’t be so quick to brush it aside, considering how prevalent it was back then. I will take the blame for that, but this was also two decades ago. So I would hope everyone has realized those things are harmful and not true. I was actually pretty excited to hear this for the first time. Because I was interested to see whether this had any good deep cuts beyond its biggest hits. And truthfully, it does have a few solid lesser known songs. But the biggest draw is really the four songs everyone knows. And still, to this day, I will defend the viewpoint that those songs are bangers. Especially Many Men and 21 Questions. Through my listen, I also found this contains some of the most impressive work I’ve heard from Dr. Dre. It’s impressive that he was still finding ways to sound modern and engaging this far into his career. I enjoy this a normal amount. But even I can admit that the “gangster” aspect of this is almost oppressively in your face. Maybe more so than any other record I’ve heard from the genre. Heat is a good track, but the way the gun sound effects are just worked directly into the beat cracks me up. And I can’t take the chorus of Poor Lil Rich seriously with his delivery, but that’s what makes it one of my favorites. I’m here for the goofiness. I’m here for 50 sounding half asleep and slightly incomprehensible at moments. Which is why I firmly believe this is just as consistent as the genre’s best known records. Rating: 7/10
Solid debut record, gangsta rap / hip hop that's easy to listen and nod your head back and forth to.
Takes me back to first year of uni. At the time, I loved this record, but the years haven't been kind. The beats are still killer, but a lot of 50's bars just sound dated now. In Da Club is and always will be a banger, but the rest is forgettable and way too long.
Many rap classics!
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ isn’t just a debut album — it’s a full-blown cultural moment. 50 Cent came into the game like a force of nature, and this album delivers everything his myth promised: hard-hitting beats, street-certified lyrics, and hooks for days. It’s raw, relentless, and polished in all the right places, with Dr. Dre and Eminem behind the boards and a hunger in 50’s voice that you can’t fake. “What Up Gangsta” sets the tone from the jump — aggressive, no-nonsense, and built to shake car trunks. “Patiently Waiting” pairs 50 with Eminem before their eventual fallout, and the chemistry is electric. It’s a back-and-forth showcase of hunger and intensity, with Em blacking out on his verse. “Many Men (Wish Death)” stands out as a dark, emotional centerpiece — a street anthem soaked in paranoia and pain. “High All the Time” brings a woozy, hypnotic vibe to the mix, while “P.I.M.P.” is a laid-back, steel drum-laced banger that showed 50 could dominate clubs just as easily as corners. And the closer, “Gotta Make It to Heaven,” reminds you that underneath the bravado is a man who’s survived too much to take life for granted. The features are just as iconic — Nate Dogg brings that West Coast smooth to “21 Questions,” Lloyd Banks adds grit on “Don’t Push Me,” and the whole thing plays like a greatest hits album. This album didn’t just live up to the hype — it set a new standard. One of the strongest debuts in hip-hop history, period. Favorite song: "Stay High All The Time"
This was ok, but not for me
You can’t deny the bangers! A lot of shit here as well though. Simpsons: Yes, full guest star
A couple of really good tunes, and a lot of songs that are fine but solid 3s. Album length way too long.
There is a couple of songs on here that I might listen to again but apart from that nothing worth shouting about. In all honesty I don't think this album was aimed at me.
The bits I liked the most were the bits that didn’t feature 39 pence
Well known.
i agree with laura that it’s of its time but i think that also could be BECAUSE this was such an influential album and informed all the rap albums released after it. [this article](https://crackmagazine.net/article/long-reads/retrospective-get-rich-die-tryin/) seemed like a good explanation of its impact in the post-90s meld of east coast and west coast rap and revival of harder gangsta rap: > Where so many big-name rappers in 2003 (Diddy, Nelly) were busy softening rap, blurring the lines between pop and hip-hop, *Get Rich…* was a reaffirmation of gangsta rap. > i totally see/hear that! but as something to listen to it’s not really my thing—as much as i like the beats and a lot of their sonic elements i really struggle to overlook the misogyny and homophobia (the latter especially…woof) in the lyrics especially because i don’t think 50 cent is as clever a lyricist as other “classic” rappers. i can tell it’s well made and i can definitely understand its impact but i’m not falling over myself to listen to it again.
no strong feelings. it sounds very Of Its Time and a little dated but i didn't think it was bad. I think it's harder for me to judge the (small percentage of) albums that are from a time period where i remember music / have an association with that time so to me this just sounds very early 2000s and i can't separate the art from the 2000s-ness of it if that makes sense...
Wow ur like so cool mr gangsta
this album, the first rap record I've been assigned for this list, is one which I've learned a lot about despite never making the time to listen to it before today. my middle and high school years, the time of my life where I first got into hip hop, were in the early 2010s. so, while I was having my mind blown back then from fresh releases by Kendrick Lamar, Earl Sweatshirt, Danny Brown, Death Grips and Kanye West (yes, I know), I was also catching up on the underground classics from the 90s and 2000s that were influencing a lot of my favorite new sounds (RIP DOOM). since my ears gravitated more towards the underground and "midstream" of the hip hop world, I missed out on a lot of the mainstream albums that have defined entire eras and subgenres of rap music over the years. I did a lot of further catching up during my 6 years in college, but here I am listening to a 50 Cent album from front to back for the first time at 27! I'm not too surprised by this site's ambivalence towards this album; it's certainly not reinventing the wheel or presenting a new paradigm for the genre. that being said, this is still a strong batch of tracks overall! 50's style as a rhymer is maybe a little rudimentary at times, but he's extremely believable as a character in the world his lyrics present to you as a listener. he's New York to his bones, but the comparison that first came to my mind when listening to this was actually California's 2Pac: that hard, gangster exterior that masks a lot of deep trauma. plus they both have Dr. Dre in the production credits! 50 handles a lot of his own hooks on this album, and actually holds his own as a singer decently well! there's some serious earworms to be found here if you're willing to surrender yourself to his admittedly repetitive subject matter. the stories of shootouts with cops, selling crack, escapades with women and weed smoking start to wear a bit thin by the end, especially through the bonus tracks. but, to me, there's not really a weak link in this tracklist! it's fairly even in quality from front to back; I just think it's a little long for it's own good. not helping matters is a couple beats here that don't quite feel as timeless as the rest, the synth strings on "Don't Push Me" being the most garish example. overall, though, I think the production is much like 50's own rapping style: simple, yet highly effective. I found this album worth the listen for the first four tracks alone, which I think may be one of the most exciting four-song runs on any album I've ever heard. "What Up Gangsta" makes me feel unstoppable! Eminem is two for two* on great features in this list, between "Patiently Waiting" and Kid Rock's "Fuck Off", the only redeemable moment from Devil Without a Cause! I think this was my first time listening to the explicit version of "In da Club", and the hook on this version is so much snappier with a more direct drug reference! it really elevated the entire track, to the point where it's become one of my favorite rap classics after having spent more time with this version, the jump-scare homophobic slur notwithstanding. "Many Men" was also a song that I immediately clicked with, and the moment where I felt the strongest connection with classic street albums like Me Against the World and Illmatic, with its vivid portrayal of the toll that a life of gang-banging can take on one's mind. probably my favorite song here, but it's close! I hope this album can get a bit of a reappraisal the more distance we get from its release. it may be a bit of a fluke; even as 50 Cent's follow-up album sold like gangbusters, he very quickly found himself outpaced by artists who were more on trend. but, as a time capsule into a world of hip hop that existed for only a brief sliver of its history, one which I was only dimly familiar with as a kid listening to the radio edit of "In da Club" in the car on the way to the doctor's office or wherever else, I found this album fascinating. light 8/10. *three for three if we count "Don't Push Me" as well.
With some exceptions (when I can enjoy the music), I really can't listen to hip hop for more than 15 minutes. I don't enjoy the music on this album.
In Da Club was everywhere and is still referenced in pop culture, but the rest is not anything that really resonates with me
I was waiting for the first hip hop album of the list. I'm surprised it is this one though, I can easily think of 10 better / more influential albums than this
Any albun where every alternate word is "mutherfucka" is an immediate 1 star.
Didn’t like all the F and N words! Just a downer listening to this album.
I'm still not the biggest rap guy, but I recognize good when I hear it.
Pretty good
The worst thing about the CD era of music is that everyone thought that they had to add as much music as they could to an album, and now everything from this time sounds bloated. This album did not need to be an hour and ten minutes. I don't know a lot about 50 cent, and maybe this is just how he talks, but on the first song I heard him slurring some words and for the first half of the album I couldn't help but pictured him drunk and that didn't really help my enjoyment. Some bangers, some not so much, great production/beats throughout. The length of this album is the biggest downside. mid 3.
2,5
Iconic and hold a strong place in music history. Consistently catchy songs throughout
Gangsta
Not good
Better than the beastie boys
First two songs are not very good. Then it gets better with ups and downs. It's too long. Could have been an extra star if it didn't have as much filler. Favorite song: in da club.
Honestly I only really got in 50 recently, despite the fact that he is a legend. Anyways, tons of bangers here even if it's a bit on the long side. 7/10
50 cent has definitely made his mark on the gangsta rap genre, but I just could not get into it.
4.5
The beats are catchy and well made, which is why 50 cent has remained so popular. However, I can't rate it highly compared to the other hip hop albums, since I feel this was one of the big turning points to what rap and hip hop are today. The poetry has been mostly stripped up, and as long as we bop our heads to the beat we're fine with it.
Half decent hip-hop, but questioning why its on this list
Catchy, good beats and i saw this album everywhere growing up so it has a big cultural impact for sure. Whats up with the "you can find me in ___". Is this a where is waldo concept album? but as with 90% of hip hop the lyrical content is the same. violent and self-aggrandizing. so after a couple of albums i just tune it out "yeah,yeah your the realest gangsta like the 90 other guys before you" but in the end it's nice and catchy hip pop.
3.78