Apple Music Rank: 82
Album: Get Rich or Die Tryin’
Artist: 50 Cent
Year: 2003
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Was I familiar with 50 Cent? Yes. I remember being told repeatedly in 2002 that he was the next Tupac.
Had I heard Get Rich or Die Tryin’ before? Yes. Once.
Thoughts on Get Rich or Die Tryin’: 2002 was a strange time for me and hip hop. I was in my mid-20s and (foolishly) feeling kind of old. Hip hop had always been a young man’s game and I was already feeling like “get off my lawn” guy even though 25 sounds ridiculously young in hindsight. There had already been several turns in popular hip hop that I disliked. I grew up on De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Digable Planets. Many of them were still making quality music (I just listened to De La Soul’s wildly underrated Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump today) but my hope at the time was that the hip hop torch was being handed from the Native Tongues to the Soulquarians: Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The Roots, and Common. Instead, the Soulquarians were considered niche. Underground. Important only to backpackers like me. No Limit and Cash Money exploded in the late-90s. Popular rappers from that era like Nelly and Ja Rule would ironically beat their chest about being thugs on soft tracks that featured Ashanti or Kelly Rowland or whatever R&B singer was popular at that time. At least Nelly made some fun music, too. Regardless, I was not a fan of the direction popular hip hop had gone.
Enter 50 Cent. He was sold to us as the next Pac. His beats were produced by Dr. Dre and he had Eminem in his corner. Shit, watch the video for “In Da Club”. They’re literally creating 50 Cent in a hip hop laboratory. His reputation was solidified before he ever spit one verse. Word was he had been shot several times, which should mean nothing, but apparently that makes you a better rapper? It actually helps vault you to the presidency today. 50 couldn’t miss. In case you weren’t aware that he got shot, he mentions it less than a minute into his first single while also name dropping Dre, Eminem, Xzibit, and Pac. I rushed to Best Buy to get the album the day it was released. And…I was woefully underwhelmed.
First off, 50 Cent isn’t Tupac. Nobody is or ever will be. Check out this video of Shock G breaking down Pac’s delivery. His rap style was inspired by great preachers like Martin Luther King Jr. 50 raps like he’s half asleep. Today I listened to Get Rich or Die Tryin’ from start to finish for the first time since the day it was released and I’m thinking that the “mumble rap” that my generation despises started right here with this record. He’s monotone, he has little urgency in his delivery, and he raps like opening his mouth more than what’s necessary to mumble would be an inconvenience to him. I’m assuming that’s what makes him unique, but I don’t like it, and he’s definitely not Pac. Not even close. I’d say stop all that talk, but I haven’t heard it in 20 years, so everyone else must’ve figured it out as well after countless albums repeating the same shit over and over.
The thing that really irks me about this album is that everyone used to tell me that my so-called backpacker music wasn’t fun. “Why do you listen to Mos and Kweli, Cha? You need a dictionary to listen to them. They don’t make fun music.” I ask you: What is fun about 50 Cent? This music is miserable. “In Da Club” is an all-time banger, but it has little to do with 50’s contribution. That’s all Dre’s beat. I could rap about my 401k over that beat and it’d sound dope. If you pay attention to the lyrics most of it is laughably stupid. He says, “Come give me a hug if you into gettin’ rubbed,” repeatedly. How were we not laughing out loud when we heard that song in the actual club back in the day? Also, “I got the X if you into takin’ drugs” sounds to me like something a narc would say. It’s not just one song. The whole album is just the same lyrics over different beats.
Your next argument could be, “You like DMX. Wasn’t he essentially saying the same things?” Yes. For the most part. But DMX was dynamic. His delivery was passionate. He could be spitting the most hateful verse you’ve ever heard on a record but he’ll growl and bark while he’s doing it and angrily shout, “I’m not a nice person,” and you’ll laugh your ass off while you’re terrified. 50 is DMX without the charisma. As far as I’m concerned, if Apple wants a similar, far superior record to represent that era of popular hip hop I nominate It’s Dark and Hell is Hot by DMX to replace Get Rich or Die Tryin’ at #82 on the list. Huge upgrade. If they really want to improve their list they’ll replace it with Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star, but what do I know? I’m the weird one for loving Mos Def, but most of you prefer songs by some creep asking girls to “come give me a hug if you into gettin’ rubbed”.
If you haven’t picked up on it yet, I’m not a fan of 50. This album is clearly considered a milestone in the history of hip hop but to me it marks another massive leap in the wrong direction.
Favorite track: It’s easily “In Da Club“. I can hate on dumb lyrics all day, that Dre beat is an all-time classic and 50’s flow works over it.
Will I listen to Get Rich or Die Tryin’ again? No
Would I buy it on vinyl? No
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