Review Summary: The first and the best album released by 50
50 Cent is one of the most well known artists in the mainstream industry today.He is also one of the richest.He became famous and well known to the whole world after releasing his major label debut album Get Rich or Die Trying in 2003.It was also followed by Beg For Mercy in 2004 with G-Unit, around that time he was probably at the peak of his popularity.Many think that Get Rich or Die Trying was his first album to be released but his actual debut was Power of the Dollar which was shelved and released unofficially in 2000 by Columbia records.
Power of the Dollar is NOT the 50 Cent that we all are used to hear.On present day when his music is far from “gangsta” and he sounds like any other mainstream artist then back then, things where very different.The album was produced mostly by The Trackmasters who are probably most known for their work with Nas.Most of the album however doesn’t sound hard hitting ang aggressive if you expected that since Trackmasters are known for their mainstream success and rather lighter and softer beats but that is alright because 50 wrote some good lyrics here and the songs have a point and really a meaning, a fact that you can’t find on his later albums like “The Massacre” and “Curtis”.
The album doesn’t have many guest appearences but it is worth pointing out that the track “Gun Runner” is featuring Black Child who later signed to Murder Inc., a label that is a home to Ja Rule and 50 still has beef with them.Other guests include UGK, Dave Hollister, Noreaga of hip hop duo Capone-N-Noreaga, The Madd Rapper and also R&B group Destiny’s Child.
The album starts with intro and Fiddy does some tough guy talking and the opening track is The Hit and it sounds relaxing, yet it is “gangsta” and lyrics talk about money and homocide.Rest of the albums themes are also handleing the same topics and he also raps about drug dealing and pretty much everything that is needed to rap about to be “hard”.All track are really examples and prove that 50 actually can write lyrics.
First track that is worth really pointing out is “Life’s On The Line” and the track also appears as a bonus track on Get Rich or Die Trying, music video was also made for the song and it shows 50 Cent rapping around New York City and getting chased by the police.Songs lyrics are aggressive and aimed towards his main rival Ja Rule and his label or anyone who had ties with them.50 mainly attacks Ja Rule’s credebility.If you are looking for a good battle song by 50, not mentioning “Back Down”, then this might be your choice.
The second track that I would like to describe more precisely, which is also my favourite from the album is “Ghetto Qu’ran”.It is belived that 50 was shot nine times because of this track,It’s lyrics reveal the drug dealers in his neighborhood in Queens.It is also because of this song why his rivals call him snitch.The song’s hook was also sampled by late rapper Proof, D12 member and close friend of fiddys later mentor Eminem on his album “Searching for Jerry Garcia” on a song titled “Forgive Me”.The song itself has a fast beat (for East Coast) and sounds relaxing, it can be listened several times a row.Definetly a track worth checking out.
The last track on the album is “How to Rob” and it was the first single released.It features Tha Madd Rapper.This is the track that caused huge interests in him because the songs lyrics explain how 50 would rob a number of mainstream rappers and other well known people ranging from Lil’ Kim and Puff Daddy to Busta Rhymes and Wu-Tang Clan.50 has stated that the track was just a joke and wasn’t meant to really insult anyone mentioned in the song but some rappers responded to the song, most notably Jay-Z, Big Pun and comments towards Wu-Tang were responded on Ghostface Killah’s album “Supreme Clientele”.Otherwise the track is very enjoyable and it’s funny lyrics really make it worth listening.
If you are a fan of 50 Cent then you probably like this album anyway, if you are listening to rather old school hip hop and don’t like 50 Cent then you should probably listen to it before rating it because it really is something different, afterall in some cases good albums don’t get the attention they should have.
Recommended tracks:
”The Good Die Young”
“Life’s on the Line”
“Ghetto Qu’ran”
“How to Rob”
