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Artist: 50 Cent
Mixtape: Before the Massacre 2050
Rating: *****
Before the
platinum certifications, clothing lines, sneaker
endorsements and just about any other venture Curtis
Jackson’s added to his ever growing G-Unit empire, 50
initially spawned his popularity from the tested and
true application of getting yourself heard; The Mixtape.
He revolutionized the genre of promotion by seizing
Top-40 tunes (i.e, Jonell’s “Round & Round”, Rapheal
Saddiq’s “You Should Be Here”) and transforming them
into grime-infected anthems filled with scripts of
misogyny violence, and anti Ja Rule semantics. We loved
it. While most can agree that its been awhile since 50
has released a full length mixtape, he returns to his
origins on G-Unit Radio Part 10 - 2050: Before the
Massacre (Shadyville/G-Unit). With DJ Whoo Kid in
tow, 50 satiates the appetites of those awaiting his
Valentines Day Massacre LP by blessing the streets
with a temporary dosage of what is yet to come. .
Spanning in at about 16 tracks and 3 skits, the disc
opens with the Dr. Dre produced and Olivia assisted
“Candy Shop”. He shamelessly revamps his “Magic Stick”
formula into a seduction-drenched cut that most will
want to digest without hesitation. He then tints the
tempo with “Gotta Get Mine”. The track is stamped with
50’s signature sarcasm and charisma, spitting memorable
lines like: “This rap shit just came to me son, it like
I be having visions/after being shot the fuck up, I make
better decisions”. While the aforementioned cut poses as
an instant standout, we all know that a 50 Cent CD
wouldn't be complete without its fair share of shots
towards the Murder Inc. posse. On “I’m An Animal”, he
punches an Alchemist produced, piano driven instrumental
with jabs towards Ja Rule, Irv Gotti and Kenneth
“Supreme” McGriffith. “Ai ‘Preme if you write me a
written apology I’ll squash the beef with you...Nahhh
nigga, I ain’t squashing shit!,” he says on tracks tail
end. Most can attest to the fact that 50 isn't the most
lyrical cat in the game and on “Put A Hole in Yo Back”
it blatantly showcases that claim with 50 at times
falling behind the beat’s (“Rock Co.Kane Flow”
instrumental) stop & go pace.
In all, Before The Massacre is where his former
mixtape series 50 Cent Is The Future left off.
The rare references to his established wealth marks a
plus for those seeking him in his rawest form and those
catchy hooks always makes whatever havoc he document on
record an easy listening. But until the Valentines
Day Massacre makes it way unto the public, 50 treats
listeners with enough concrete-oriented gems and
homicidal nostalgia to hold tight.
check out 50's biography
[click
here]
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