Rating: NNN
Not since the crack-dealing exploits of Biggie Smalls has a thug MC had as much street cred as 50 Cent. The former drug-hustling 27-year-old has already been shot nine times and stabbed by a Ja Rule associate, has served time in prison and been accused of involvement in the murder of Jam Master Jay. All of this experience is put to use on 50’s wildly anticipated debut, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’. The level of violence and mayhem here is cartoonish, from the cover photos of the diamond-clad, gun-toting MC to the surprisingly catchy “I’ll kill you” chorus of Heat. Without Eminem’s endorsement, though, it’s questionable whether 50 Cent would be stirring up such noise. While producer Dr. Dre whips up a bounce on the four tracks he produces, 50 rhymes as though his jaw’s been wired shut, and his tales of murder have little of the compelling flow of BIG. There’s nothing here that’s nearly as entertaining as How To Rob, 50’s classic how-to guide to sticking up rich MCs, and little that comes close to the offhand rhymes of the mix tapes that helped seal his street rep. Nice ice, though.
