Get Rich or Die Tryin' (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Type = studio
Artist = 50 Cent


Released = February 6 2003
Recorded = 2002
Genre = East Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop
Length = 69:32
Label = Aftermath, Interscope, Shady
Producer = Dr. Dre (exec.) , Eminem (exec.) Mike Elizondo, Midi Mafia, Denaun Porter, Darrell "Digga" Branch, Rockwilder, Megahertz, Rob "Reef" Tewlow, Sha Money XL, Dirty Swift, DJ Rad, Sean Blaze, John "J-Praize" Freeman, Red Spyda, Terence Dudley (USA)
Reviews = *Allmusic rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:svz1z88a4yv3 link]
*AllHipHop rating|4.5|5 [http://allhiphop.com/stories/reviews/archive/2003/02/11/18133989.aspx link]
*"Blender" Rating|4|5 [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=803 link]
*"Entertainment Weekly" (B) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,422805,00.html link]
*"The Guardian" rating|3|5 [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/reviews/story/0,,899347,00.html link]
*Pitchfork Media (7.0/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17711-get-rich-or-die-tryin?artist_title=17711-get-rich-or-die-tryin link]
*RapReviews (8.5/10) [http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2003_02F_getrich.html link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/50cent/albums/album/301556/review/6067729/get_rich_or_die_tryin link]
*"XXL" rating|5|5
*Yahoo! Music (favorable) [http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/l_reviews_a/28371.html link]
Last album = "Guess Who's Back?" (2002)
This album = "Get Rich or Die Tryin"' (2003)
Next album = "The Massacre" (2005)
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = Alternate cover
Type = Studio album

Singles
Name = Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Type = studio
single 1 = In da Club
single 1 date = November 19 2002
single 2 = 21 Questions
single 2 date = April 29 2003
single 3 = P.I.M.P.
single 3 date = August 12 2003
single 4 = If I Can't
single 4 date = September 16 2003

"Get Rich or Die Tryin"' is the commercial debut album by New York City rapper 50 Cent, released through Interscope Records. The album was supposed to be released on February 11 2003 but due to leakage and heavy bootlegging on the Internet, it was released five days earlier on February 6 2003.

It was produced by Eminem and Dr. Dre, and features the singles "In da Club", "21 Questions", "P.I.M.P.", and "If I Can't".

Background

The single "In da Club" was "Billboard" magazine's number one single for the year. It was the first time since 1994 that an artist had both the number one song and album for the year (Ace of Base held that distinction last with "The Sign"). The song depicted club culture and its "vibes" and ebbs.

"Get Rich or Die Tryin"' was also released in an edited version that was highly censored. This version of the album completely cuts all violence, profanity, and drug content. Also the track "Heat" is cut from the edited version of the album due to heavy use of violent language including references to weapons and murder, but especially having a shotgun pumping beat throughout the song. The edited version lacks censorship in the song "Don't Push Me" and still contains one use of "goddamn" and references to shooting somebody.

The album also contains disses of artists such as Ja Rule, Irv Gotti, Cadillac Tah, and Black Child. The song "Back Down" was listed on "XXL"'s list of the greatest diss tracks of all time. [ [http://www.xxlmag.com/Features/2005/june/diss-songs/index.html XXL Magazine | Features | 2005 | June | Shots Fired ] ]

Early pressings of "Get Rich or Die Tryin"' included a limited edition bonus DVD. There was a second version with a red CD and a blue DVD. This version consist of a making-of documentary and the videos for In Da Club, Heat and Many Men.

Instrumentals for two songs featured on the album, Back Down and Heat, were originally songs composed by Rakim and Dr. Dre. They were originally intended to be used on Rakim's debut Aftermath album, "Oh My God," but due to creative differences, this album did not work out.

Reception

Commercial reception

The album spent a total of 12 weeks at #1 on the "Billboard" 200, 11 weeks on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and 8 weeks on the UK Albums Chart. It was the second best selling album of the decade (just behind eminems marshal mathers Lp), selling 6.4 million copies in the by the end of the year. The album has sold over 9 million copies in the U.S. and over 13 million worldwide, and has been certificated 9x Platinum by the RIAA. Candace Anderson (September 17 2007). [http://media.www.thecurrentonline.com/media/storage/paper304/news/2007/09/17/ArtsAndEntertainment/Kanye.West.And.50.Cent.Go.Head.To.Head.In.Record.Sales.Competition-2973076.shtml Kanye West and 50 Cent go head to head in record sales competition] . TheCurrentOnline. Accessed July 18 2008.] [Byrnes, Paul (January 18 2006). [http://www.smh.com.au/news/film-reviews/get-rich-or-die-tryin/2006/01/18/1137553646571.html Get Rich or Die Tryin'] . "The Sydney Morning Herald". Accessed April 13 2008.]

Critical reception

"Get Rich or Die Tryin"' has been called the most hyped rap debut in over a decade. [ [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:svz1z88a4yv3 allmusic ((( Get Rich or Die Tryin' > Overview ))) ] ] The album opened to positive reviews, many praising the production, 50 Cent's melodic flow, and his hard-hitting wit. Allmusic called the album impressive and incredibly calculated in their positive four star review. [ [http://wm05.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:svz1z88a4yv3 allmusic ((( Get Rich or Die Tryin' > Overview ))) ] ] Christian Hoard, a writer for "Rolling Stone", comended 50 Cent's undeniable showcase of skill, radio-ready tracks, and marketable thug persona in addition to the album's production for its dark synth grooves, buzzy keyboards, and persistently funky bounce. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/50cent/albums/album/301556/review/6067729/get_rich_or_die_tryin 50 Cent: Get Rich Or Die Tryin' : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone ] ] It is one of only 16 rap albums to receive a perfect rating from "XXL" magazine.

ingles

"In da Club" was the 1st official single released to promote 50 Cent's commercial debut album "Get Rich or Die Tryin"'. The song was produced by Dr. Dre with co-production from Mike Elizondo. The track was released in late 2002 as the album's lead single and was well received from music critics. "In da Club" became 50 Cent's first number one single and was one of 2003's most popular songs after reaching number one in the United States and peaking inside the top five on the majority of the European charts it entered. At the 46th Grammy Awards, it was nominated for Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Song.

"21 Questions" was the second official single and featured Nate Dogg, who gives additional vocals on the chorus and outro. The song was written by 50 Cent, K. Risto, J. Cameron, and V. Cameron for 50 Cent's commercial debut album "Get Rich or Die Tryin"' (2003). Released in 2003 as the album's second single, it became his second consecutive number one song in the United States after "In da Club". The track was produced by Dirty Swift and samples Barry White's "It's Only Love Doing Its Thing". Lil Mo made a remix to the song titled "21 answers".

The "P.I.M.P." remix was the third single and official remix of "P.I.M.P.". It features G-Unit and Snoop Dogg and peaked at #3 on the "Billboard" 200. The song begins with 50 Cent's first verse from the original version of the song, followed by verses from Snoop Dogg, Lloyd Banks, and Young Buck. In some countries, the song is featured as a bonus track. "If I Can't" was the fourth and final single. Unlike his previous singles, this track received little attention and peaked at only #76.

Track listing

References