Arts & Entertainment

50 Cent talks smack but lacks substance 

By Ernest Salas
The Daily Cougar

Rappers need to adhere to certain rules if they want to be considered hardcore gangstas: Stay real; gain street credibility by surviving multiple gunshot wounds; diss as many "soft" rappers as you can; carry firearms; have a rap sheet as long as Yao Ming is tall; and talk about the good old days when you used to pop caps into everyone who looked at you funny.

50 Cent does all those things, and he reminds us every chance he gets.

He got his start when he was discovered by Jam Master J. But a series of miscues (bad managing, packaging and blacklisting) derailed 50is plans for world domination. He regrouped and starting building a fan base in the underground scene.

Get Rich or Die Tryini is 50is first real major-label debut. Heis got the backing of two of the rap gameis most powerful people (Dr. Dre and Eminem), but that doesnit keep him from suffering from a severe case of inconsistency.

"In Da Club," the albumis first single, has one of the best beats on the album and, thanks to Dre, some of the tightest production. But it doesnit define him. Itis just a straight-up party track. Itill make you bounce, but it wonit leave a lasting impression of who 50 is.

He wants to let you know his "plan is to put the rap game in a choke hold/ I'm feelini focused man, my money on my mind/ I got a mill out the deal and Iim still on the grind." He falls into the same trap of other young artists in that he tells instead of shows. 

But he does diss the competition.

"Back Down" continues his much-hyped feud with loveable gangsta Ja Rule. He tears into Ja because he doesnit think heis still real: "You can buy cars but you canit buy respect in the hood/ Maybe I'm so disrespectful cuz to me youire a mystery/ I know (brothers) from ya hood, you have no history/ Never poked nothin,i never popped nothin,i (brother) stop frontini/ Jay put you on, X made you hot/ Now you run around like you some big shot."

So whatis left once 50 gets done talking about his cash, guns, drugs and women? Thereis really not a whole of substance. "In Da Club," "Heat," "If I Canit" and "Back Down" stand out because of Dreis help, while "21 Questions," "Gotta Make it to Heaven" and "High All the Time" sink under heavy-handed production.

Thereis enough in Get Rich or Die Tryini that tell fans heill be around for awhile, but not enough that it lives up to expectations.

50 Cent

Get Rich or Die Tryini Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records

The verdict: 50 Cent does a lot of talking, but the album lacks consistency to make it a strong debut.
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