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However, I did pick up a copy of 50 Cent's "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," and I have to say I'm impressed. Is it different from most of the rap albums out today? Not really. What IS different is while others fail in their execution, this one almost hits the dime every time (no pun intended). I found this album to be pretty addicting. It takes awhile for it to grow on you, but when it does you can't get it out of your head.

A word of warning to those who don't like violent music; this is NOT an album for you. It has everything from drugs to violence; from sex to murder; from drug deals to hits, and so on and so on. He does tend to brag about his money from time to time, but nowhere to the extent that everybody at Cash Money does. And I think 50 Cent has much more interesting things to say than most rappers. You can definitely see the 2-Pac influence in the way he rhymes and constructs his delivery.

For the most part, the album's pretty solid. There really isn't a song that I disliked, although there's some I listen to a lot more than others. Those songs would be "in da club," "patiently waiting," "many men (wish death)," "if I can't," "heat," "back down," "blood hound," and "don't push me."

The only drawback to this album is the hype that surrounds it. It's this that I fear will bring the album down the most. While I don't dispute it's a great album, I believe that it has been hyped up A LOT. If you read some of the negative reviews, that's the primary reason for them not being able to enjoy the album. I have to agree, I think it tends to get a lot more attention than it should. However, it's still a really good album and I don't believe that hype has damaged it that much, but it is still a determining factor in liking the album or not for most.

"Get Rich or Die Tryin'" is a raw album with "gangsta" written all over it. If you like rap, then there is a really good chance that you'll like it. As I said, it took a bit for it to grow on me, but when it did I found myself humming the songs to myself. 50 Cent has potential and is able to reveal that on this album. I'll be curious to see what his next project holds for him.


get a dictionary   April 1, 2003
 51 out of 76 found this review helpful

Lots of hype, not many words. Pretty prosaic in my opinion. We all know ground, crown, and down rhyme; let's hear some ill connectors. Perhaps it doesn't work with his gun lyrics, but there are a few rappers who spit the gun talk with style. Not for those looking for lyrical creativity. Not hatin', just keepin' the mind elevated.


Awfully consistent at being terrible   April 25, 2003
 45 out of 67 found this review helpful

after listening to this album, i am convinced 50's IQ doesn't peak beyond 95. if you like dumb lyrics and less than substantive music, than this album is for you.


Solid, if unspectacular, effort   February 15, 2003
 32 out of 44 found this review helpful

50 Cent's first album released since having attained massive name recognition does not disappoint. You know what you're going to get, and, if you include the bonus cuts, you get 18 tracks' worth of it. "It" is 50's lazy-yet-infectious flow over melodic-yet-rugged beats, with lyrical content ranging from macho posturing to macho posturing. Anybody who would mention such output in the same breath as Illmatic, Ready to Die, Nation of Millions, or any other bona fide classic probably became a Hip Hop head five minutes ago when they first saw Eminem on MTV.

That said, this is a thoroughly entertaining album. When the beats are hitting, which is the case on most tracks, 50's aforementioned flow riding the beat is enough to get your head nodding and keep you entertained. Standout tracks include Don't Push Me, Many Men, and Back Down. At this point, dissing Ja Rule is about as daring a move as 3rd Bass dumping on Vanilla Ice in "Pop Goes the Weasel," but the beat is nice, and the disses are appropriately personal.

The downside to this album is that when the beats are lacking, the monosyllabic simplicity of 50's lyrical style and repetitive content aren't enough to carry a track. One need only listen to P.I.M.P. to understand where I'm coming from. Additionally, 50 is not a great singer, and so the fact that he insists on singing on every hook is unfortunate.

In sum, is you like 50, you'll like this, and if you don't, he's not going to convert you with Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Then again, given that he sold a staggering 872,000 copies in less than a week, I doubt he's too worried about converts. A little less singing, and the elimination of a few extraneous tracks would have tightened up the album, but in the final analysis, this is still worth copping.

3.5/5