50 Cent-Get Rich Or Die Tryin 20 Years Later
The ultimate guide to getting rich. There is no doubt that when you take a chance, you basically tried at whatever you did. 50 Cent did that just by creating a manual to having a lucrative business market. Hip-Hop is just like the stock market. Whatever you place you’re bet on, the company or stock you invested in will determine you’re wins or losses. In this case, Fiddy done proved that with his theatrical debut. A whole album about change, how to invest in yourself, how to destroy you’re oppenents, and what to do when your in a dark place; 50 Cent proved that by delivering a classic in our modern day generation.
Every man’s goal in life is to make it somewhere but also have financial comfort. 50 Cent’s debut album is compared to books like 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene (50 went on to create the 50th Law along with the same author), The Art of War by Sun Tzu, and Contagious By Jonah Burger. The reason for my metaphor is because when you take discipline, respect, financial plans, along with a creative marketing scheme, you got a chance of getting rich. There is a purpose on why 50 Cent did what he did and that is to build a financial backbone. He is very smart because not to many people are rich in rap but getting rich from rap will teach you new things like how to invest in your money. No different from me leaving my current job to getting a $20 an hour job and learning new investment ideas to keep my money afloat or to build on.
After signing with Eminem in 2002, 50 used other peoples beats and created his own songs. This was part of the mixtape game in the early 2000’s. When the DJ’s took over, there were more underground music and freestyles filling up our atmosphere. After hearing the 2002 street album, Guess Who’s Back; Eminem was intrigued and had to sign him to the label. According to MTV News (2002), “ Money XL states that 50 Cent still plans to title his album Get Rich or Die Trying”, (Reid, 2002). With Dr. Dre & Em backing an artist up, this has to be bigger than sliced bread. Understanding concept of money could mean controversy and knowing he has enemies out in the field could mean that he could have to battle his way to the top.
I remember buying DJ Clue mixtapes from Side 1, a local record store and remember hearing 50 Cent. The first thing that popped in my mind was the In Too Deep soundtrack which included his debut single to the world,Rowdy Rowdy. He raps over a theatrical NY instrumental after he left the hospital. The song is called Round Here. Those days were memoirable because there were underground artist like Fabolous, Joe Budden, Paul Cain, Ransom, & Stack Bundles who took over the freestyle game and street songs. 50 Cent was trying to make a change for the rap game which included songs about drug dealing, robberies, & crime.
There is a purpose for anything when it comes to the power of the dollar.Just always remember, that when one door closes, another one opens. 50 Cent was supposed to drop his debut album in 2000 but end up getting hospitalized for 9 gun shot wounds.The issues with 50 Cent in the business was that executives were scared of change. Fiddy was never scared of change.As I go track by track, I will discuss how each track mattered and how Em and Dre contributed to 50 Cent’s marketing lexicon.
Intro
When you hear those quarters drop on the floor and the jukebox is getting played, then it is time for a change.
What Up Gangsta
The perfect intro to an album. 50 Cent floats along the beat with confidence and arrogance proclaiming he is the new man on the block. Many of those who followed 50 Cent managed to understand his personality and how read the mind of someone who is hungry. Syllables were being brought across the song and many of those were scared that 50 stepped on the mic.
Patiently Waiting Feat. Eminem
Eminem has brought a monster creating ruckus with 50 Cent’s controversial lines. Bars like “ You should not throw stones if you live in a glass house/ and if you got a glass jaw, you should watch you’re mouth”, 50 Cent is giving lessons on how to act proper when you are talking to a boss. Eminem’s metaphors comparing 50 to Big, Pac, with a sprinkle of Big L is reminding fans that 50 Cent is a lyrical threat that should not be tested.
Many Men
The ultimate prayer to a hustler. Many of those people who are fans of this great album will know this song entirely because it is a prayer to those on the road of getting rich. If you pay attention, he also raps about karma. For example, he raps about Hommo, a man who was hired to kill 50 but failed.
In Da Club
The commercial hit that put 50 on the air waves. This is the free spirit anthem that has anybody hearing the drums and horns feeling good about themselves.
High All The Time
A catchy ode to Mary Jane. 50 Cent also brings up having smoke cruises and many of those manage to get high of this track. If this was 420, this would be added on my playlist.
Heat
The skit alone reminds me of Life After Death when Biggie called his killer soft on My Downfall. I would compare this song to my Downfall by Biggie because this is confronting death and 50 seems to be laughing while sending shots in the background. A Dr. Dre produced song with gun shots has made this a murderous jam.
If I Can’t
A perfect song to play when you feel no confidence at all and you want to make yourself feel important. I actually liked this song more when I visited and watched independent wrestling circuits and a wrestler used this song as an entrance song for their matches. This is perfect arena music and many of those who are fans agree just as much as I do.
Blood Hound Feat. Young Buck
Blood Hound for the bread and you got a hungry Young Buck rapping about making a come up in the game. This is what you call a jackers anthem. This song reminds me of an original jack boy’s track that he plays before he goes out on the block and handles his or hers business.
Backdown
A scathing diss track to his rival’s, Murder Inc. In this song, he takes 48 Laws of Power to serious as he destroys the head of the enemy before he takes out the body. Murder Inc has not recovered from this but this album represented change. I enjoyed this diss track because it was taunting the other side or the opps. Aries Spears doing the background vocals have cause some kind of paranoia towards Irv Gotti and Ja Rule questioning their rebuttal back.
P.I.M.P
An anthem to someone who is living on top of the world. This song has me feeling like Hugh Hefner making me feel like the woman is at me. Many of those know that P.I.M.P has a remix with Snoop and G-Unit but this song is monumental. This song could be used in movie scores and video games. Produced by Denaun Porter (Kon Artis of D-12), this Caribbean tune makes me want to drink a glass of wine with 2 fine babes on the beach.
Like My Style Feat. Tony Yayo
Another taunt for his haters with 50 Cent bragging about his succes and his come up in the game. Taunting the jealous haters, many of those haters hating his style but 50 is reversing the tables reminding the haters that the fans like his style.
Poor Lil Rich
Poor Lil Rich is the most arrogant song I ever heard and that is why I love it. Lines like “Im a liar man I really don’t care/ I tell the hoes whatever they like to hear”, 50 is coming across this track overly confident but his words are easily captured.
21 Questions Feat. Nate Dogg
Note that when 50 dissed Ja, he took his style as well. This song was not bad at all but 50 actually got his inner Rule on with love songs that would add on the collection for the 2000’s. That was all that was in the air and 50 is going through the questions asking about a woman’s loyalty.
Don’t Push Me Feat. Eminem & Lloyd Banks
Same way I feel about If I Can’t, Don’t Push Me is an agressive song that has you’re speakers shaking. Managing the difference between regular and arena music; Patiently Waiting if used for entrance music will have the crowd worried or ready to see something epic.
Gotta Make it To Heaven
50 is counting his blessings but also declaring he is going to get rich before he dies.
Wanksta
A Sha Money XL produced track along with the late Jam Master Jay; 50 can say this is another Murder Inc diss track. 50 has managed to taunt his enemies and this song did not sit well for those he was beefing with at the time.
U Not Like Me
This is my favorite song of this album because 50 is questioning the realness of his listeners. This song was also on 2002’s, Guess Who’s Back. 50 has made purpose into getting rich. Lines like “ I don’t smile a lot because I don’t see nothing pretty” describes his New York background. This was actually one of the first songs 50 recorded after getting shot.
Life on The Line
The song that started the beef between Murder Inc and 50. 50 is questioning Gotti’s business ventures and his loyalty towards other Queen’s artist. 50 is good at taunting his enemies and he has managed to do that very well.
Overall
Get Rich or Die Trying relegates towards those with a financial goal. Whether it be rap, ball, or even anything that involves pay or money; 50 Cent shows that you should not be afraid of chasing that goal. The dollar is something that is valued because it feeds you, pays your bills, and can even buy you things you like but how you earn and spend is two different things. 50 Cent has been apart of our culture because of how he has the same mentality as others and he manages to get his stash but add on to it.
Coming from a personal vendetta with his street past, 50 has managed to fight his adversaries, make change for the music industry, and also cause an influence to the generation and reminding them about wealth. 50 Cent’s Get Rich is the most prolific unorthodox debut ever and it has left an ecological footprint in the hip hop culture.
Live from The Stove Top,
Andrew Kenekham AKA Druski Dru
Reference
Reid, S. (2002) 50 Cent Inks Deal with Eminem, Dr. Dre. Retrieved from https://www.mtv.com/news/df1as6/50-cent-inks-deal-with-eminem-dr-dre
