50 Cent
- The Massacre -March 2005
Review
by Loose Cannonz
Production:
Eminem (1, 4, 6, 16); C.Styles & Bang Out (2, 13); Black Jeruz &
Sha Money XL (3); Needlz (5, 19); Scott Storch (7, 14, 18); Dr. Dre
(8, 15); Hi-Tek (9, 12); Disco D (10); Cue Beats (11); J.R. (17, 20);
Buckwild (21); Cool and Dre (22).
1. Intro
2. In
My Hood - 50 Cent's sophomore LP, The Massacre, had it's title chopped
down from the ever-frightening words, Valentine's Day, upon the postponement
of its release date. Regardless, the opening "In My Hood"
keeps within that historic date, supplying harsh bullet-ridden lyricism
to a smooth, 40s-mafiaesque backdrop. Dangerous LLC let Fiddy spray
the hood over pinpoint keys, addictive conga drumline, and sweet sax
play on the outro. Lyrically, unless you just started listening to rap
last week, y'all know by now that 50 Cent switched the style up; whether
that's in part due to his jaw bein' touched up, or the "dumbing-down"
for commercial airplay, I'll let y'all figure that one out. And even
when residing in CT as of late, "In My Hood" has G-Unit's
frontman observing the concrete jungle of Southside Queens so keenly
that it should remind diehards of early mixtape material. Solid start.
- 4
3. This
Is 50 - I would never have guessed this was in-house producer Sha
Money XL's machine by the rugged keys that change up, strangely resembling
"Higher," and synthetic gangsta waves interweaving the old
Wu-ish drum-roll. Fifty rambles on about his collection of tips-not
steak of course-but really, before the track is over you'll have no
idea what dude just said. This is a big change from the days of having
the whole block recite every bar from Get Rich Or Die Tryin', but when
you filthy rich things done change. I like the beat. - 3.5
4. I'm
Supposed To Die Tonight - 50 Cent contemplates what rap legends
Biggie and 2Pac more likely went through in their days as rap's most
loved-and beloved targets among haters everywhere. Eminem's production
doesn't sound rushed, as many layers of searing elements were placed
together over tentative tick-tock drums to give "I'm Supposed"
that theatrical feel. 50 does his job, lettin' through the notion that
bygones never become bygones when the ghetto prodigy gain some shine:
"This is nuttin' new, I been in this position before / Grandma
crib, niggas outside of her door / Different day, same shit / Ol' mac,
new clip / 32 hollow tips, gloves no rubber grip / I'm a boss but niggas
never show no respect / I catch 'em slippin', I have 'em tongue kissin'
my tech… / It's elementary, life is but a dream / You know row
row ya boat, ya blood forms a stream… / Sometimes I sit and look
at life from a different angle / Don't know if I'm God's child or Satan's
angel." - 4
5. Piggy
Bank - Finally, Piggy Bank has arrived! The song Funk Flex refused
to play! The much debated, discussed, speculated diss track from 50
Cent attacking the rap industry (well, the chosen enemies 50 has in
order to boost record sales…like Chamillionaire once said "controversy
sells"). Needlz, whose resume includes some heavy G-Unit heat,
packs the percussion and typically clickity clank drums with Fiddy targeting
a few of NYC's favorites, referring to Jada has strictly a "local
rapper" along with this shake-head shit: "That fat nigga thought
'Lean Back' was 'In Da Club' / My shit sold 11 mill, his shit was a
dud," and "Kelis said her milkshake bring all the boys to
the yard, then Nas went and tattooed the bitch on his arm." Tho
not worth the hype, no one marketing himself better in this game than
Fiddy. - 3.5
6. Gatman
and Robbin (featuring Eminem) - Yikes. What the?!? As if the title
wasn't obvious enough, Em helps our assumptions live on with a poor
emulation of the Batman theme; the instrumental plays off a running
violin riff that isn't even close to the DC Comics theme, all too repetitive
even so. Not only is "Gatman and Robbin'" a far cry from "Patiently
Waiting," but doesn't touch the instant banger, "We Ain't,"
from The Game's album. On the rhyme tip, 50 comes off hard but with
nothing to quote, instead repeating many of the stale bars we've heard
him freestyle on current mixtapes. Eminem goes rapid singy-song, further
pushing his own innovation rhyming to the beat; even so, it's plain
out not the same type of heat the heads wanna hear (maybe Anticon cats,
who knows). Like the Joel Schumacher versions, see once, never to return.
- 1.5
7. Candy
Shop (featuring Olivia) - Strictly for the ladies in the club on
the original tip of Valentine's Day, 50 delivers the seductive lyrics
that capture that very essence ala "Magic Stick." Scott Storch's
violin swaying backdrop is hypnotic, and the bassline is real. Of course,
"Candy Shop" doesn't match GRODT's radio-favorite "21
Questions" in terms of quality, but it's a moneymaker that'll have
them shakin' it, that's fa sho. - 3.5
8. Outta
Control - Dr. Dre does it once again! Unfortunately, 50 does too.
Another masterfully produced track from the good doctor is nearly ruined
by the Queens rapper's staleness on the mic. There are hundreds of emcees
that would kill to be able to slay some rhymes over the piping organ
licks, triumphant synths, and stampeding drums (ala "Higher,"
again). I believe Fifty just went into the studio and wrote this one
on the spot. The hook doesn't match his club hits from the past, either.
Sad really, but luckily enough for heads the beat will make them new
Pioneers sound like a solid purchase. - 3
9. Get
In My Car - With success comes fame, with fame comes money, with
money comes…hoes. Fifty 'splains the ends of the game from 2-faced
foes to chickens out for their own cluckin'. While Hi-Tek's guitar lick
here is redundant, the sparse handclaps help "Get In My Car"
become fairly enjoyable, while Fifty has never really come off sillier
or more boring on the mic. Note: those not expecting dope lyrics or
even a care to look for dope lyrics should love both "Outta Control"
and "Get In My Car." But it's the beats AND rhymes that make
up music, and one of those areas has been lackin' too much. - 3
10. Ski
Mask Way - Ready to rip mixtapes this week (see: Big Mike, DJ Clue),
"Ski Mask Way" is finally that heat we been waiting to hear
from 50 ever since thoughts of The Massacre came about. The soulful,
xylophone-looped production could do for Disco D what "H To the
Izzo" did for Kanye. No joke. This is the best production on the
LP yet; and if not the best, the best fit for the "make money-take
money" style we all come to know and love from 50: "This is
the flow right here that fucked with Geoffrey's [Atkins] career."
Ahh. - 4.5
11. A
Baltimore Love Thing - A concept song from 50? Naw… "A
Baltimore Love Thing" is a narrative about the sadistic realities
in the love/hate extremity of relationship heroin: the addictions, human
characteristics, etc. The Cue Beats loop is simple, but just the right
layer of soul for 50's brightest performance at the halfway mark. Look
for the US Army-inspired hook. Jokes. - 4.5
12. Ryder
Music - Hi-Tek brings back that formula that made The Game's "Runnin"
so ill, with more velvety West Coast sounds for 50 to spit some rhymes,
smoke a hizzy, and ride the sunset to. The Warren G-reminiscent synthesizing
hasn't been done in a minute, but props to Talib's former producer for
bringing that back. Tek showcases he's got the wide array of beats,
cause if he can cook up for both Black Star and Aftermath shit, then
you know son is a problem. 50 isn't anywhere near electrifying as the
50 of old but his style matches the beat to a tee. Feelin' this. - 4
13. Disco
Inferno - Essentially, "In Da Club" part two. Dr. Dre's
wesside drums behind 50's singy-song hook and rump-shaker flows allowed
"Disco Inferno" all the hype The Massacre needed. I'm sure
y'all heard it a million times. The strange thing is, on its million-and-second
listen it still sounds fine. You can't front on a catchy joint when
you hear it as much as you wanna hate it. - 4
14.
Just A Lil Bit - Scott Storch does it again! This time Lil' Kim's
white love thing sets off one of the strongest productions of the year,
as if we expected anything else. "Just A Lil Bit" is definitely
a sell-out club attempt, but the sounds from the orient and hard-hitting
claps make this one addicting. The satir-led interlude is trump tight
as well. After a few spins, despite the sleekness of the hook, you'll
be done cause Fifty adds nothing new. The ladies will disagree. - 3.5
15. Gunz
Come Out - Dr. Dre!!! GRODT's "Many Men" was a favorite
and Dre comes close to that feeling again with some hard shit while
a very hungry 50 Cent unloads over the Scottish pipe organs and head-nodding
drum pattern. Bullets, bitches, and bling takeover your Terrordome,
but with Fifty back to normal for a hot second, that's a warmer than
welcome shot. "Gunz Come Out" should stay in heavy rotation
for a minute. - 4
3. My
Toy Soldier (featuring Tony Yayo) - As the only G-Unit member to
be featured, aside from the whole click on a Documentary remix, you
know who's next in line. And with Fifty Cent not progressing any from
his debut classic, Tony may be the only original G-Unit member who hasn't
changed since the days of Automatic Gunfire. Oddly enough, Eminem supplies
the very Los Angeles beat; with irony in the fact there's been more
West Coast flavor on The Massacre than The Game's The Documentary. Only
thing missing is Nate Dogg. Good news is, with the ever-starving Yayo
on board, Fifty doesn't let up any weight lyrically and brings the heat
once again. It's a shame Fif couldn't keep this rapid-fire delivery
throughout the sophomoric effort. Will Yayo drop a classic like Fifty
before him, be revered as Buck did with his, or end up in the coulda-been-better
pile next to Banks? - 3.5
4. Position
Of Power - While 50 could have easily enlisted the production powers
of Neptunes, Timbo, Just Blaze and Kanye on board, he went after up-and-comers
doing they thing under the street's shadows. J.R., who shot 'em, no
one hopefully 'cause this joint is nice. The drums throughout The Massacre
sound like clips shot off with the Mac, and the piano loops help 50
paint that grimy picture of reality, exploring his meteoric claim to
worldwide fame: "Got a hundred mill off music, a hundred grand
off crack / I'm goin' to see my jeweler so I can blow off a stack."
50 is in that "Position Of Power" only because his grind game
cannot be touched. He may no longer be in any Top 5 Rappers lists, but
his stay on top of the retail world might only see Eminem. - 4
5. Build
You Up (featuring Jamie Foxx) - A major difference between Get Rich
and Massacre-besides the obvious, 50 Cent not as tight-is the amount
of lovey-dovey songs the latter got compared to the former. Having "P.I.M.P."
and "21 Questions" and even "In Da Club" is fine;
but having a whole album filled with them? I don't know. Don't get it
twisted, 50 still rollin' gangsta on every other track, despite the
fact it's a lot harder to believe him with the abundance of babycake
beats. Has Fifty crossed over as much as archenemy Ja Rule? I haven't
heard an album since "Holla" took over the airwaves so I would
be in no position to tell you. But with "New York" ringing
off cell phones nationwide, does anyone perchance see a role-reversal
here? Ja's grind game is not nearly as emphatic as 50's…and I don't
see too many Murder Inc. t-shirts flying off the racks (when was the
last time you saw Ja Rule on the cover of a mixtape?), so most likely
that's a no. But let's think about it people…not even "Ray"
could save this one. - 3
6. God
Gave Me Style - Being on top does have it's consequences, and 50
knows that, speaking on how lonely life can be on top. It's funny how
celebrities oftentimes claim this perception, but with no room for privacy
or no room for general "human" feeling, much of what 50 say
is true. The swaying throwback-led production is Kanye-but rather than
hiring the Grammy winner outright, he smartly saved some bank by finding
a couple of wannabees-bringing that soul that helped fill up Game's
album nicely. What Fifty lacks, however, is the emotion Game was easy
to convey to the masses with his debut. Again, when you so rich, what
type of emotion one gonna have? More than likely, that's the point of
"God Gave Me Style." - 4
7. So
Amazing (featuring Olivia) - See #18, but with the ever-delicious
Olivia providing the hook instead. Move over Nelly… - 2
8. I
Don't Need Em - I was feelin' this beat from Buckwild 'til I remembered
the beat was high-jacked from "Metal Lungies," a Ghostface
joint ironically featuring the Lox. Maybe now the Wu-Tang Clan will
get up on this G-Unit vs. the World trend. Ahh…that battle wouldn't
even be close now would it. Wu-Wu-Wu-Wu-Tang! But on the real, even
if the beat were completely new, 50 Cent brings nothing new. So this
one is only aight, anyway. - 3
9. Hate
It Or Love It (Remix) (featuring G-Unit) - The same exact song as
the hit smash off The Game's Documentary, except with new hooks and
verses from The Game, Tony Yayo, Lloyd Banks, Young Buck…and NOT
50 Cent…..(where's Spider Loc? Little Scrappy?)….. - 4
Song
Rating - 3.5
Rhymes - 3 (closer to 3.25)
Beats - 3.5 (closer to 3.75)
Originality/Replay - 3 (closer to 3.25)
Overall
Rating - 
(out
of 5)
Even
after being pronounced the "Name-Dropping" Rapper of the Year,
The Game's debut outshines 50 Cent's sophomore by a Coast-to-Coast margin.
More surprisingly, even with all the Dre-tuggin and Eazy E-huggin, Game
outshines 50 on the lyrical tip, and it's not even close. Earlier this
year, The Game delivered better one-liners, better verses, and raw emotion
to his raps while G-Unit's head-honcho brings along the same ol' stuff
you could hear on the latest DJ Whoo Kid mixtape. Aside from a few surprisingly
conceptual or introspective tracks, 50 comes with the same ol' click-clack
catch you with the mac shit that gets as tiring as a Ja Rule song with
Ashanti. In fact, we're wondering if 50 is becoming the very same man
he hates. "Piggy Bank," while dope, wasn't worth the hype
spread across the streets; the collaboration with Eminem falls flat
on its face, err, mask; the G-Unit track was nothing new, literally;
and the amount of clubby-lovey songs would make Chingy seem gangsta.
How does The Messacre still get the 3.5? Why, for the very same reason
The Game's album is the best release this year: production. While more
inconsistent to the likes of The Documentary, Dr. Dre, Scott Storch,
Hi-Tek, and underlings provide enough pop in the cannon for 50's trademark
raucous to grunge over. 50 Cent is no longer a rapper, he's a rock star;
and as long as we don't take him as serious as he would like us, we
should be fine with that too.
1 mic =
Trash, 1.5 mics = Maybe 1 Hit, 2 mics = Step Ya Game Up, 2.5 mics =
Disappointing = 3 mics = Diehards Only, 3.5 mics = In the Deck, 4 mics
= Straight Crack, 4.5 mics = Among Year's Best, 5 mics = Classic Album
05/13 - 
All
the News 
Home
HHG
on Myspace
Back
to reviews
