50 Cent (feat. Kidd Kidd & Kendrick Lamar) - We Up (Mixtape, 2013)
The Aftermath labelmates finally link up, surprisingly, for what is easily one of the most intoxicating songs Curtis has released in years. This is merely a preview, and neither Kendrick or Kidd appear here, but this is the type of beat Fifth was put on this earth to ride. This is apparently going to appear on Kidd Kidd’s upcoming mixtape, but this belongs on Street King Immortal more than any of the leaks thus far.
50 Cent - Definition of Sexy (mixtape, 2012)
In the span of a few months of terrible singles featuring Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, Eminem and even Too $hort, Curtis dropped his only genuinely good song in recent memory (included on the rather forgettable Murder By Numbers). “Definition”, which suffers from a terrible name courtesy (show some, Curtis) of a rapper who usually poses with his shirt off, finds 50 harmonizing over a silky beat, reminiscent to something found on his Sincerely Yours, Southside tape from a few years back. If you can get past the visuals the title may conjure, this is 50 making the type of song he was born to - the kind of song that sounds like it’ll have no place on his upcoming album.
50 Cent - The Big 10 (G-Unit, 2011)
Despite threats of not releasing this until he hit 10,000 likes on Facebook/broken Hulkshare links, 50’s latest mixtape has finally dropped. Features production from Jake 1, DJ Khalil, Illmind, Scoop Deville, among others. Also, a random Yayo appearance among other new G-Unit members.
Soulja Boy (feat. 50 Cent) - Mean Mug (SODMG/Interscope, 2010)
I was originally too harsh on the Curtis-assisted Mean Mug, when the original bootleg version of this song and video leaked. It’s grown on me since, and this overly cinematic video definitely has a part in it, as well as the new extended chorus (FUCK YO MEAN MUG, NIGGA, FUCK YO MEAN MUG!) I said earlier this year that Soulja’s evolved into one of the most interesting rappers to follow over the past two years (essentially ever since that Teen Of The South mixtape with DJ Scream), and this year he’s really hit a stride when it comes to making big, booming Southern anthems. Although this still isn’t my favorite Soulja track this year (that’d be Listen), it’s definitely a good choice for the quintessential street banger. Also.. does this mean there’s a new Curtis album coming in 2011? Please?
sometimes I sit and stare at life from a different angle/don’t know if I’m God’s child or I’m Satan’s angel
applebird replied to your video: 50 Cent - I Get Money (G-Unit/Interscope, 2007) …
50 being musically relevant again would be fly, but it won’t happen.He’s a 3 trick pony whose time has passed. Outside of Many Men & Hate it or love it he is limited to street life songs,bully disses & im rich songs. 50 is stale & it’s his own fault.
This is admittedly very true, although you forgot 50 being a nympho (ayo). Although 50 has more songs that go beyond those subjects (Ryder Music, As The World Turns, Do You Think About Me, etc.), he is a street-level rapper at heart, which BISD proved, and gangsta rappers aren’t marketable in 2010. It’s probably for the best that he stays in his current position - a mentor to the rappers following in his footsteps and guardian of G-Unit - but I think that rap could use more machismo-driven rappers like 50 to balance out all those sensitive rappers in skinny jeans. In 2007, there was a sense of equality; 50 Cent and Kanye West stood side by side at the top of the rap game. In 2010, everyone’s trying to follow in Kanye’s foosteps (and honestly, coming off as cheap imposters, since Kanye is more talented and inspired than most rappers, uh, ever - or at the very least, he’s far more musical), and gangsta rappers (Gucci, Waka, Ross.. am I forgetting anyone?) are essentially being buried underneath all this new found sensitivity in rap. I like those rappers as much as the next guy (as long as the next guy isn’t someone whose blog I read reguarly), but the radio is sorely lacking that gangsta shit.
I don’t think it’d be hard for 50 to score a comeback hit - after all, Eminem did (granted, it wasn’t that good) - he has a great ear for pop music, and knows (knew?) how to make hits. I don’t think it’s so much that 50’s time has passed (although I don’t neccessarily disagree, let the new bloods run wild - at the same time, get some balance), I just think that 50’s kinda settled into his own niche since 2008. He realized that Curtis was the end of his hit-making days it seems, and decided to make the music he wanted to, and it’s had some great results thus far. However, all these remixes he’s making of popular songs lately is kinda making me question how much longer it is before he re-emerges.
50 Cent - I Get Money (G-Unit/Interscope, 2007)
It’s painful to think that this song came out over three years ago already - one of those time flies moment that’s utterly hard to believe in retrospect. It’s hard to believe that song exists in a time before Lil’ Wayne dropped Tha Carter III, before Gucci Mane became a genuinely great rapper, before every rapper wanted to be Kanye West, and before T.I. started doing songs with Rihanna (he was still doing songs with Justin Timberlake, they were just really fucking good). 2007 seems like forever nowadays, but somehow this song exists in a vacuum that feels downright unearthly. I Get Money was the last genuine commercially successfully street-banger to come out of New York - no, those BP3 songs don’t qualify. There’s a timeless quality to it; something that’s kinda hard to put your finger on, mostly because of where it originated.
Curtis was a strange album; an uneven mess overall, with some genuinely great songs hidden beneath Straight To The Bank and Amusement Park. I’m not even talking about the Thicke and Timberlake songs, which I admittedly enjoyed; I mean the bangers like Man Down, Curtis 187, I’ll Still Kill, Guns Come Out, and above all, I Get Money. The beat on here is obviously the highlight, probably one of the most memorable hip-hop instrumentals of the last decade. 50 wasn’t really trying at all on here, from a lyrical standpoint; and that kinda adds an extra dimension to the song. I think it’s been pointed out many times before that 50 Cent is, and will always be, a great rapper when he wants to be. He doesn’t always want to be though, and although that can get frustrating, it’s merely part of the allure here.
50’s got that post-Ross Boss swagger down so pat on this song, that it’s ridiculous. The video helps to add to the song’s mythos, with bundles of money stacked inside of Wonderbread bags and an all-green setting and wardrobe that’s just a feast for the eyes. 50 is cheesing through the entire video, that smarmy expression just asking for you to be pissed off at him he raps the clumbsily sly bling like blaow, you like my style; haha, I’m running to the back right now.
Sadly, this was the last genuine hit Curtis has ever scored. Before I Self Destruct is as underrated as an album comes, but it lacked anything as fondly memorable as I Get Money. 50 doesn’t do much musically nowadays, as he’s too worried about keeping his homies secure and being funny on Twitter, which is more than respectable. At the same time, I miss those syrup-slurred sing-song verses more and more everyday. The rap game needs 50 Cent to be relevant again.
G-Unit (feat. Joe) - Wanna Get To Know You (G-Unit/Interscope, 2003)
This was my favorite song for the winter of 2003/2004, and I have so many memories connected to this song (as does everyone who was riding with the Unit back then, I’m sure). Buck does alright here, but damn, Banks and 50 really care this track to another level. Back in ‘03, Buck was admittedly my favorite member of the Unit aside from 50, as his drawl made him stand out more amongst the New York crew. Over the years, my admiration of Buck has only lessened (although I still ride for both Straight Outta Ca$hville and Buck The World) while my favoritism towards Banks has only grew. 50 will always be my favorite member of the Unit, which is honestly something most people don’t admit after some point in 2005, when the Massacre was (unfairly) deemed a critical failure. However, even in 2003, Banks was showing signs of how he’d go onto be one of the best pure spitters, dropping game here with a ridiculous amount of monotone charisma (ala Method Man), making 40 years olds feel like young ladies.
G-Unit - I Smell Pussy (G-Unit/Interscope, 2003)
G-Unit borrowing the melody from R. Kelly’s TP-2.com jump-off, The Greatest Sex, made for one of the most overlooked for-the-ladies joints in The Unit’s catalogue, which also surprisingly doubled as a diss towards Murder Inc thanks to 50’s clever intro. 50’s chorus is as hypnotizing as it’s ever been (take me to ecstacy without taking extacy) and the original trio of Banks, Yayo and 5th all deliver great verses, although Banks’ flawless double-time flow is the most notable. I can’t say I love you, I don’t know what that means.
Revisiting all this G-Unit is making me terribly reminiscent. G-Unit’s music made up the majority of my teenage years, and I can’t believe I’ve avoided revisiting it for so long.
the big homie and the little homie. I swear Curtis has lost his mind though. I wonder if he’s concealing his face so much lately because he’s cooking?
